More than half (56%) of Canadians are delaying or skipping health appointments due to cost, and over a third (36%) are worried that their employer health benefits could be cut amid the economic downturn, according to a new survey.
The 2025 Insurance Access and Affordability Study, jointly conducted by PolicyMe and the Angus Reid Forum, found that a majority of Canadians are delaying or skipping health appointments due to financial barriers.
Among those without insurance, 71% reported delaying health services. However, even 52% of insured Canadians reported doing the same, suggesting that workplace health benefits are increasingly failing to deliver real access to care.
The study also found Canadians worry their benefits could be reduced or eliminated, with concern highest in British Columbia (43%) and among Generation X (42%), the cohort most likely to be juggling care for both children and aging parents.
“We’re seeing a deepening disconnect between having benefits and being able to use them affordably,” PolicyMe said in its report. “As coverage erodes, more Canadians are paying out-of-pocket – or going without care altogether.”
The study highlighted gaps at both ends of the age spectrum. Two groups, young adults and older Canadians, reported the highest rates of being uninsured, at 21%. Among those aged 18 to 34, two-thirds (66%) delayed care, the highest rate across age groups.
Dental care was the most frequently delayed service, cited by 35% of respondents. Vision care (28%), paramedical services such as physiotherapy or massage therapy (24%), and mental health care (21%) followed.
While 78% of Canadians reported having some form of health or dental insurance, the study suggests that coverage does not always translate to access.
Gen Z respondents are aging out of parental plans and entering jobs with fewer traditional benefits, while retirees are transitioning away from employer-sponsored coverage and facing the individual market.
The PolicyMe-Angus Reid data suggests that employer health benefits remain a foundational part of Canadian healthcare access, but one that no longer guarantees coverage or peace of mind.
Economic pressures are making matters worse. With businesses tightening budgets, employees fear that benefits may be next on the chopping block. And as coverage contracts, Canadians are paying more out-of-pocket: 29% spent over $1,000 on health or dental care in the past year, and 9% spent over $3,000.
Government solutions, most notably the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), are beginning to roll out, but usage remains low: just 11% of Canadians report accessing it, with wide regional variation. In the meantime, Canadians are turning to the private market to fill the void.
Employer plans remain the most common form of health coverage, according to the study, with 40% of respondents relying on workplace insurance and 23% covered through a spouse, partner, or parent.
However, the study indicates a growing shift toward individual insurance, particularly among freelancers, gig workers and small business owners. PolicyMe reported that nearly 80% of its applicants had no prior coverage.
The findings point to a fragmented insurance landscape. As group benefits become less certain and public programs address only parts of the need, individual coverage is playing a larger role. PolicyMe suggested that broader, more accessible insurance options may be needed to meet the evolving demands of Canadians.
