With every optional filter off, we asked our comparison engine for the single cheapest private health plan in five provinces at ages 20–80. One plan swept all 35 cells — and it costs about $10–$31 a month at any age.
$10.00/mo — What a 20-year-old in Alberta or Ontario pays for the cheapest private health plan in Canada (GMS BasicPlan).
Rates pulled live from our own comparison engine on July 15, 2026 for single-adult profiles in SK, BC, AB, MB, and ON. Filter states were verified before every reading.
We asked our comparison engine one narrow question in five provinces — Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario — at ages 20 through 80: with every optional filter off, what is the cheapest private health plan, full stop? This page records what came back on July 15, 2026.
Key findings
- One plan — GMS BasicPlan — was the cheapest result in all 35 province-age cells.
- The lowest reading in the grid was $9.50/month (Alberta, age 70); the highest was $31.00/month (Manitoba, age 80).
- At age 20 the plan costs $10.00–$12.00/month depending on province.
- Price barely rises with age: an 80-year-old in Ontario pays $22.25/month versus $10.00 at age 20.
The Cheapest Health Plan in Canada, Period
With every filter off, one plan swept all 35 cells: GMS BasicPlan (medically underwritten, open enrollment — anyone can apply anytime).
| Age | SK | BC | AB | MB | ON |
|---|
| 20 | $12.00 | $10.50 | $10.00 | $11.75 | $10.00 |
| 30 | $12.00 | $10.50 | $10.00 | $11.75 | $10.00 |
| 40 | $12.75 | $10.75 | $10.25 | $12.00 | $10.25 |
| 50 | $13.00 | $10.75 | $10.75 | $14.00 | $10.50 |
| 60 | $15.25 | $14.50 | $14.00 | $15.75 | $13.50 |
| 70 | $17.75 | $15.00 | $9.50 | $23.25 | $17.25 |
| 80 | $24.50 | $20.25 | $10.75 | $31.00 | $22.25 |
The headline: an entry-level private health plan costs about $10–$31 a month in Canada at any age — less than most phone plans. It's a starting point (core health benefits, minimal extras), but it exists, it's cheap, and it barely rises with age.
Because this winner is medically underwritten, it is not the answer for everyone. If a health questionnaire is a problem, the floor of the market looks different — we measured that separately in the cheapest guaranteed health insurance in Canada. And if you're buying for a specific benefit rather than "something in place," see what the cheapest real massage/physio/chiro coverage and dental with a $1,000+ maximum cost.
How we measured this
Rates come from our own comparison engine — the same price-ranked results any visitor sees — pulled on July 15, 2026 for a single adult profile in each province, with every optional filter off. We verified the filter state before every reading. "Cheapest" means the lowest monthly premium in the price-ranked results at that age and province.
Limitations
- Carriers reprice through the year — these are July 15, 2026 readings, not permanent prices.
- Rates are profile-specific: age, family size, province, and effective date all move the premium.
- The cheapest plan is an entry-level product with minimal extras; it is the floor of the market, not a recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
What does the cheapest health plan in Canada actually cover?
It is a starting point, not a flagship: core health benefits with minimal extras. GMS BasicPlan is medically underwritten and open enrollment, meaning anyone can apply at any time but a health questionnaire applies. If you need serious paramedical, dental, or drug coverage, expect to step up a tier.
Is the cheapest plan guaranteed acceptance?
No. GMS BasicPlan is medically underwritten — the insurer reviews a health questionnaire and can decline or adjust an offer. Guaranteed-acceptance plans, which cannot turn anyone down, start at higher prices; we measured those separately in our cheapest guaranteed health insurance finding.
Will I pay exactly these rates?
Not necessarily. The rates shown were generated July 15, 2026 for a single adult, and premiums vary with age, family size, province, and effective date, and carriers reprice over time. Run the comparison tool with your own details for current pricing.