Dental care is the costliest and most frequently delayed type of health care in Canada—even among those with insurance—according to new findings released Tuesday.
The data comes from the 2025 Insurance Access and Affordability Study by PolicyMe, a Toronto-based insurance technology company, in partnership with the Angus Reid Forum. The online survey polled 1,502 Canadians between May 9 and 12.
The survey found that dental care is the most commonly delayed service, with 35 per cent of respondents saying they’ve skipped or reduced dental visits. Dental care is also the most frequent out-of-pocket health expense, with 60 per cent of Canadians saying they’ve paid for it themselves—more than for prescription drugs (55 per cent) or vision care (54 per cent).
“Even with insurance, many plans don’t fully cover dental cleanings, procedures or orthodontics,” said Andrew Ostro, CEO and co-founder of PolicyMe. “So people end up paying out of pocket anyway, which can be a barrier, especially for families, young adults and retirees on fixed or lower incomes.”
“This shows a real need to modernize benefits and give Canadians access to more comprehensive, flexible options that actually fit their needs today.” Andrew Ostro, CEO and co-founder of PolicyMe.
Out-of-pocket costs continue to rise
Even when care isn’t delayed, Canadians often find themselves paying out of pocket. The survey found 29 per cent of respondents had spent more than $1,000 out of pocket on health or dental services in the past year, while nine per cent spent over $3,000.
Older Canadians (aged 55 and up) reported the highest out-of-pocket costs, averaging $1,321 annually—almost double the $686 average for those aged 18 to 34. Regionally, British Columbians reported the highest annual average at $1,188, while residents of Saskatchewan reported the lowest at $908.
“This shows a real need to modernize benefits and give Canadians access to more comprehensive, flexible options that actually fit their needs today,” Ostro said.
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Majority with insurance still delay care
The findings suggest that cost remains a major barrier to accessing care even for those with coverage. About 52 per cent of insured Canadians said they’ve delayed health appointments due to cost, compared to 71 per cent of those without insurance.
“In many cases, the plans people have are insufficient to fully cover the services they need, often due to high deductibles, co-pays or exclusions that leave essential services unaffordable,” Ostro said. “Canadians need to be taking a closer look at the coverage they have and see if there are better plans available.”
“Gen Z is aging out of parental plans and entering a workforce that often lacks traditional benefits.” The report.
Fear of losing coverage amid economic instability
The survey also found that 36 per cent of Canadians are concerned their employer-sponsored coverage could be reduced or eliminated due to economic pressures. Concerns were highest in British Columbia (43 per cent) and among Gen Xers (42 per cent).
Although 78 per cent of Canadians reported having some form of health or dental insurance, older Canadians remain the most likely to be uninsured—21 per cent of those aged 55 and up said they have no coverage at all. PolicyMe’s generational data echoes that finding, showing that 21 per cent of Baby Boomers and 20 per cent of Gen Zers are uninsured.
“Gen Z is aging out of parental plans and entering a workforce that often lacks traditional benefits,” the report noted, “while Boomers are transitioning off employer-sponsored coverage and into a complex individual market.”
PolicyMe also noted an increase in first-time insurance buyers among Canadians aged 55 and older.
The finding is in line with the government’s own data. According to the Canadian Oral Health Survey for fiscal year 2024, cost was cited as a “major barrier” to care, with 24 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and up reporting they had avoided seeing a dental professional in the past year because of it.
This is why the federal government introduced the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), following Statistics Canada data showing that nearly one-third of Canadians lack dental insurance—an issue that proved to be a popular vote-winner.
