Canadas Aging Baby Boomers: Planning Health Insurance for the Future

by Anna Dorbyk

The first of Canadas aging baby boomers are poised to turn 65, and with this milestone birthday comes a variety of new health care concerns. In response to these changing medical needs, the Canadian health care system is preparing to handle some 10 million boomers whose reasons for visiting the hospital will range from hearing loss to long-term care. The aging of this Canadian demographic is inevitable, but falling into financial debt in order to pay for these services can be avoided. By thinking ahead to what medical services may be required, individuals are able to customize their health insurance accordingly.

Living in a country like Canada where health care is provided for all is an undeniable luxury. Yet, despite the many benefits of Canadian health care, there are gaps that exist in coverage. These gaps dictate the need for supplementary health insurance. Sadly, there are many instances where people have met with unexpected illness, but there are also many health issues that can be planned for. Aging is one such issue.

Some of the most common services required by seniors include: x-rays for weakening bones, a visit to the podiatrist for any number of foot related issues and testing and fitting hearing aids for hearing loss. Each of these services may be an inevitability for the aging individual, but they may not all be covered by the Canadian government. Provincial health plans vary from province to province with certain provinces offering a proscribed amount of money yearly for various necessities, such as a trip to the podiatrist. A visit to a specialized doctor or the purchase of a hearing aid can be very costly, and with little to no coverage, people are often left with a substantial financial burden. Supplemental health insurance is the best way for seniors to plan for and minimize these costs.

Opting for supplemental health insurance allows you to customize your plan to suit your individual needs. For many seniors, the prospect of spending time in a hospital is not a pleasant one, but with supplemental coverage, a private room in a health care facility can make the stay more comfortable. Not only does health insurance ease the worry that individuals may have concerning their own personal welfare, but it also helps to assuage the fears of family members on whom the burden of long-term care would fall.

As ten million Canadians begin to approach the time in their life when retiring is imminent, it becomes a necessity to plan for whatever eventualities the future might hold. Thinking ahead to answer the various demands of aging helps guarantee a peace of mind for yourself and your family and ensures that you are ready to face the challenge of lifes milestones.

Anna Dorbyk is the editor for Canada Health Insurance and is a graduate student in Communication Studies at Concordia University. For more information on health insurance for Canadians please visit www.canada-health-insurance.com.