Affordable Health Insurance in Nova Scotia
MSI (Medical Services Insurance) handles your doctor and hospital visits in Nova Scotia. For the dental, vision, drug and paramedical costs it leaves out, compare private plans and get personalized quotes in minutes.
What health insurance costs in Nova Scotia
Real monthly premiums from the current Nova Scotia rate tables for a single adult, before any optional add-ons. The range spans every plan sold here, from the lightest to the richest, so a low starting price usually means lighter coverage.
| Profile | Starting at | Up to | Cheapest plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-year-old, single | $49.96/month | $386/month | Personal Health Insurance - Basic |
| 45-year-old, single | $55.17/month | $386/month | Canada Life Freedom To Choose Guaranteed Without Drugs |
| 62-year-old, single | $59.23/month | $392/month | Canada Life Freedom To Choose Guaranteed Without Drugs |
How Nova Scotia compares to the rest of Canada
Private plans are sold nationally, but they are not priced the same everywhere. Comparing the cheapest plan available in each province shows where Nova Scotia sits. Its position changes with age, because the cheapest plan switches from an age-rated product to a flat-rate one as you get older.
| Profile | Nova Scotia | Rank | Cheapest province |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-year-old, single | $49.96/month | 3 of 13 | Newfoundland and Labrador, $49.30Nova Scotia is 1.3% higher |
| 45-year-old, single | $55.17/month | 10 of 13 | Newfoundland and Labrador, $49.30Nova Scotia is 11.9% higher |
| 62-year-old, single | $59.23/month | 6 of 13 | Newfoundland and Labrador, $53.01Nova Scotia is 11.7% higher |
The same plan costs more here
These plans are sold across the country, but a Nova Scotia resident pays more for identical coverage. Figures are for a 30-year-old single adult.
- Health Coverage Choice - Plan B (No Dental) costs $193.49/month in Nova Scotia against $109.61 in Quebec, a 76.5% difference.
- Health Coverage Choice - Plan C (No Dental) costs $259.51/month in Nova Scotia against $147.13 in Quebec, a 76.4% difference.
- Health Coverage Choice - Plan A costs $128.48/month in Nova Scotia against $95.18 in Quebec, a 35% difference.
Who you can buy from in Nova Scotia
3 insurers sell individual health and dental coverage in Nova Scotia, across 23 plans.
What MSI covers in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia residents are covered by Medical Services Insurance, MSI, for medically necessary physician and hospital care. MSI does not cover routine adult dental, vision or most prescription drugs, so private health and dental coverage fills those gaps.
A province that funds children’s dental directly
Nova Scotia is unusual in that MSI itself funds the Children’s Oral Health Program, covering basic dental care such as a yearly recall exam, x-rays, a fluoride treatment and fillings for children with a valid MSI card up to a set age. Adults, however, still pay for their own routine dentistry. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan is the public backstop here: it covers eligible residents under the $90,000 family-income line who have no private dental insurance, and now spans all ages.
Outside Halifax, much employment is seasonal or with small businesses that lack workplace benefits. Those households are the typical buyers of individual plans from Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life; Alberta Blue Cross does not sell in Nova Scotia.
Health Insurance Companies in Nova Scotia
Availability of insurance companies and their products can vary from one province/territory to the next. The following health insurance companies are available to residents of Nova Scotia:
Alberta Blue Cross
Canada Life
Manulife
Sun Life
Ready to get started?
Join the other families in Nova Scotia covered by affordable health insurance from Aeva.
Let us take care of getting you and your family covered.
Health insurance in Nova Scotia: common questions
- Does MSI fund any dental care in Nova Scotia?
- Yes, but only for children. MSI directly funds the Children’s Oral Health Program, covering basic dental such as a yearly recall exam, x-rays, a fluoride treatment and fillings for children with a valid MSI card up to a set age. Adults still pay for their own routine dentistry.
- What does MSI leave out for adults?
- For adults, MSI covers physician and hospital care but not routine dental, vision or most prescription drugs. Nova Scotians cover those through workplace benefits, a private plan, or the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan if eligible.
- Who sells private coverage in Nova Scotia?
- Canada Life, Manulife and Sun Life sell individual plans across the province; Alberta Blue Cross does not. Outside Halifax, seasonal and small-business work is common, so many residents without group benefits rely on these plans.
