The Best Insurance Plans for Retirees in Saskatchewan
Your health insurance has a different role when you retire than during your working years. If you’re like many Saskatchewan residents, you’ve been covered by your employer’s benefit plan for years. But what happens to that coverage when you retire? If you’re in your 50s and early 60s, you’re probably asking yourself these questions right about now.
Key Takeaways: The Insurance Plans for Retirees in Saskatchewan:
Retirement should feel worry-free, with health and travel protection that keeps pace with your plans.
- Seamless switch: apply within 90 days of leaving work benefits for guaranteed acceptance, no medical questions.
- You can pick from Basic, Classic, or Enhanced tiers and mix and match for coverage that fits your lifestyle and budget.
- Coverage for prescription drugs, health practitioners, and mental-wellness support keep everyday costs manageable.
- $5 million emergency medical coverage and up to 65 days per trip let you chase sunshine without worry.
More than 135,000 people in the province are projected to retire over the next five years. When you’re ready to retire, it’s time to start shopping around for the best health insurance so that you can transition from your workplace coverage to a worry-free retirement of your own. You work hard for your money and your retirement, so you deserve the peace of mind of knowing that you will continue to be covered when it comes to your medical needs, from prescription drugs to dental care and more.
Why Retirees Need Health Coverage Beyond Government Programs
Basic provincial health care in Saskatchewan covers your doctor visits and hospital services. It does not cover some other expenses important to your life as a retiree. Examples of uncovered expenses include prescription medications, vision care (glasses or annual eye exam), dental services, physiotherapy or massage therapy and even emergency medical services if you are travelling outside of Canada. As you age, these expenses can mount, and in the case of a sudden illness or injury, you could be faced with large, unexpected bills if you do not have insurance to cover the shortfall.
For this reason, a personal health plan is so important in retirement. It allows you to access preventative care (like massage therapy and chiropractic treatments to keep you mobile and pain-free) and provides coverage for recurring medical needs (such as prescription medications and diabetic supplies) without breaking the bank.
Equally important is travel coverage. Many retirees plan to travel or spend winters abroad, but emergency medical care outside Saskatchewan can be very costly. The best insurance plans for retirees include strong travel insurance. For example, our Saskatchewan Blue Cross Retiree Plan provides up to 65 days of coverage per trip with up to $5 million in emergency medical protection anywhere outside the province or country.
With coverage like that, you can chase the sunshine or visit family across the globe knowing you’re protected if something goes wrong.
Bridging the Gap After Your Employer Benefits End
One of the biggest challenges for early retirees (typically those aged 50–64) is replacing the health benefits they had through work. Employer group plans often cover things like prescriptions, dental and paramedical services. Coverage doesn’t automatically continue when you retire, so rather than risking a lapse in protection, it’s best to plan for a new plan to take effect when your group benefits end. Saskatchewan Blue Cross recognizes this need for you. Our Retiree Personal Health Plan is specifically designed to support you through this important and exciting transition by ensuring there’s no interruption in your coverage when you move from a group plan to a personal plan. To make it even smoother, consider choosing your coverage before your workplace plan ends so it’s ready to start on your new plan’s effective date.
To easily transition to our Retiree Personal health plan, coverage must be in effect with 90 days of your work benefits ending. Acceptance is guaranteed with no medical questions or health exam required. There are no waiting periods, so your coverage starts right away without any gaps. This means you won’t find yourself uninsured at any point, a huge relief for anyone worried about how they’d manage health expenses on their own.
Consider this scenario: you retire at 60 and your company benefits expire at the end of the month. Enrolling in a Retiree Plan immediately allows you to continue your health coverage into retirement seamlessly. Our retiree coverage is built to “fill the gaps many retirees encounter once group benefits end.”
In short, timing is everything, and retirees have a fantastic opportunity to secure the best insurance by acting within that crucial window after their retirement date.
Coverage Tailored to You
So, what makes the Saskatchewan Blue Cross Retiree Plan stand out as one of the best insurance options for Saskatchewan retirees? In a word: flexibility. Our plan recognizes that retirement isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey; your retirement health plan shouldn’t be either. You can tailor your coverage to fit your lifestyle, health goals, and budget.
The plan offers three tiers of coverage: Basic, Classic, and Enhanced.
You can choose the level that matches your needs. Each tier builds on the previous one, increasing the range of benefits and coverage maximums available. All three options include the core health benefits that most retirees need, but the Enhanced tier provides the most comprehensive protection (for example, higher drug coverage limits and longer travel duration). It is also worth noting that part of that flexibility promise from earlier, you can combine coverage from across all plans and create an “à la carte” solution of sorts.
Here’s a closer look at what’s included:
- Comprehensive Health Benefits: Every Retiree Plan comes with extended health coverage for things like vision care, ambulance, accidental dental and more, plus a built-in VIP travel insurance component. Even the Basic plan covers your essential health needs (11 core benefits), including virtual care services and robust mental wellness benefits. The Classic and Enhanced plans expand that to around 30 different benefits, ranging from extensive health practitioner services to higher reimbursement levels for many treatments.
- Prescription Drug Coverage: Retiree Plan options help reduce out-of-pocket costs for eligible prescriptions. The Basic plan pays 70% of prescription drug costs up to an annual maximum (e.g., $1,000 per year), Classic pays 75% (with a higher maximum), and Enhanced pays 80% with an even larger maximum (note: Enhanced includes a $6 deductible per eligible prescription). All tiers cover vaccines and smoking-cessation drugs. Basic and Classic follow the Saskatchewan Drug Plan Formulary, while Enhanced uses the Saskatchewan Blue Cross Formulary, which includes Exception Drug Status (EDS) medications and a broader range of drugs not listed on the provincial formulary.
- Travel Insurance Built In: As mentioned, the Retiree Plan’s travel coverage is a game-changer for anyone looking forward to travel in retirement. All plans include out-of-province emergency medical coverage up to $5 million per trip, with the trip length covered varying by tier. Basic and Classic plans cover shorter journeys (up to 30 days per trip), while the Enhanced plan covers extended travel up to 65 days per trip. This is perfect for “snowbirds” or anyone planning an extended vacation. Just note that like most travel insurance, a 90-day stability clause applies. Any pre-existing condition needs to be stable for 90 days before your trip.
- Optional Dental Coverage: Dental care can be a significant expense in retirement, so the Retiree Plan gives you the choice to add a dental module if you need it. This option is flexible: you can select Basic, Classic, or Enhanced dental coverage, or opt out of dental coverage entirely if you already have it elsewhere (for example, if you’re eligible for the federal Canada Dental Benefit). The dental add-on covers routine services like cleanings and fillings (with higher percentage coverage at Classic/Enhanced levels) and even major work like crowns or bridges at the Classic and Enhanced levels.
All of these features are packaged under the Retiree Plan with guaranteed acceptance (no medical underwriting) when your new plan is in effect within 90 days of your group benefits ending. There’s peace of mind in knowing that, regardless of any pre-existing health conditions, you won’t be turned away or charged extra due to your health history. Once your plan’s effective date arrives, coverage begins with no waiting periods. It’s a straightforward way to move from group to personal coverage without hurdles or surprises.
Let us help you coast into retirement with confidence as your plan provides coverage for eligible expenses once it takes effect. Get a quote today.
Comparing Costs And Benefits
Retiree health insurance plans in Saskatchewan vary by age, health needs, and level of coverage. Most providers offer three main plan types: Medically underwritten plans, Conversion plans, and Guaranteed Acceptance plans. Medically underwritten plans require a medical questionnaire (health review) and are geared toward individuals without pre-existing conditions seeking affordable coverage. Conversion plans are designed for those leaving an employer benefits plan, allowing them to transition to personal coverage with guaranteed acceptance, meaning no medical questions or waiting period. With our Conversion and Retiree plans, you have 90 days to transition when leaving an employer benefits plan.
Saskatchewan residents have plenty of options when it comes to finding a provider for their health insurance post-retirement, but not all plans are made equally. We’ve included a couple of options that stand out and identified which might be best for you based on your current needs. We’ve compared the top coverage tiers across all providers below:
FAQs About Retiree Insurance In Saskatchewan
How can I keep my coverage if I’m away from Saskatchewan during the winter?
You can maintain your coverage while you’re away as long as you continue to meet Saskatchewan residency requirements. This typically involves living in Saskatchewan a minimum of five months each year and holding a valid Saskatchewan Health Card. Your Retiree Plan stays in force during your time outside the province, and it includes emergency medical travel benefits for out-of-province trips (per-trip limits vary by tier—e.g., up to 30 days on Basic/Classic and up to 65 days on Enhanced). If you’ll be away longer, you can purchase top-up travel insurance to extend your protection.
Is it possible to alter plans if my health requirements shift after retirement?
Yes. With the Saskatchewan Blue Cross Retiree Plan, you can adjust the level of coverage within each benefit module at any time, or remove optional dental coverage. If you remove an optional benefit, there’s a 24-month wait before you can add it back to your plan. (Rules can differ with other insurers.)
Helpful tip: Before you buy, review the policy details and ask questions so you’re confident the plan you choose fits your needs now and into the future. See our Retiree Plan FAQ.
What will occur with my partner’s insurance if I retire while they keep working?
If one partner has coverage through their job and the other has retirement insurance, coordination of benefits is relevant. Claims are initially sent to the primary plan (typically the plan of the individual who received the service), and afterward, the secondary plan might pay for any eligible remaining expenses.
Is dental and vision care usually part of retiree health plans?
Dental: Many retiree plans include (or offer as an add-on) dental coverage for routine exams, cleanings, and fillings, with major services often covered at a lower percentage and sometimes with waiting periods. Annual maximums typically range from $500 to $1,500 per year, with some plans providing a separate lifetime maximum for orthodontics.
Vision: Plans may include routine eye exams and an allowance for glasses or contact lenses. Vision allowances commonly fall between $150 and $300 every 24 months, depending on the plan tier.
Coverage details and maximums vary by insurer and plan; always review the policy for exact amounts and eligibility.
What are the differences between retirement health plans and coverage provided by employers?
Employer-sponsored group health insurance typically offers broader coverage at a lower cost due to shared premiums and risk pooling, with employers often covering a portion of the monthly premium. These plans are less flexible and tied to employment, but they include standardized benefits and simplified enrollment. In contrast, individual health insurance plans, like retirement plans, offer greater customization and portability, allowing you to tailor coverage to your personal needs. However, individual health insurance plans usually come with higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.