Finding the right health insurance often feels like choosing between plans that don’t quite fit. Either you’re paying for coverage you’ll never use, or you’re missing benefits you actually need.

Customizable health insurance plans solve this problem by letting you select specific benefits based on your situation. Whether that’s prescription drugs, dental care, travel protection or something else entirely. In this guide, you’ll learn what customizable coverage actually includes, how to build a plan that fits your life in Saskatchewan and where to find flexible options from local providers.

Key Takeaways: How to Build a Customized Health Insurance Plan in Saskatchewan

• Building a custom health insurance plan starts with understanding what Saskatchewan’s public plan covers and where it stops.
• Personal health insurance lets you choose coverage for prescriptions, dental, vision, travel and paramedical services based on your needs.
• A tailored plan helps control monthly premiums while still protecting you from large, unexpected healthcare expenses.

What Is a Customizable Health Insurance Plan

A customizable health insurance plan like Saskatchewan Blue Cross’ Blue Choice® lets you select specific coverage options based on your individual or family needs rather than purchasing a fixed package with predetermined benefits. Instead of accepting a one-size-fits-all approach, you choose which additional benefits matter most. Whether that’s prescription drugs, dental care, travel coverage, or something else entirely and adjust coverage levels to fit your budget.

Think of it like ordering at a restaurant where you build your own plate rather than choosing from set meals. You pick what you actually want and leave out what you don’t. This flexibility means you’re not paying for coverage you’ll never use.

Before diving deeper, a few key terms will help:

• Premium: The amount you pay regularly, usually monthly, to keep your coverage active
• Benefits: The specific services your plan covers, like prescriptions or physiotherapy
• Coverage limit: The maximum amount your plan pays for a particular benefit each year
• Deductible: What you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance starts covering costs

Why Customizable Health Insurance Plans Matter for Saskatchewan Residents

Saskatchewan’s provincial health plan covers essential medical services like doctor visits and hospital stays. However, it can leave gaps that can hit your wallet hard when you least expect it.

Here are some services that are not typically included under provincial health coverage:

• Prescription medications: Most drugs purchased outside a hospital aren’t covered, so you pay full price at the pharmacy
• Dental care:  Cleanings, fillings and most routine dental work are not covered under Saskatchewan Health coverage, but the province does cover limited oral surgery in specific medical situations, limited orthodontic services for cleft palate and extractions that are medically required before certain major treatments. 
• Vision care: Eye exams, glasses and contacts generally aren’t included
• Paramedical services: Massage therapy, physiotherapy and chiropractic care require out-of-pocket payment
• Travel emergencies: Medical costs outside Saskatchewan, especially outside Canada, are not covered in full.

Your health priorities also shift throughout life. A young professional might focus on mental health support and basic prescriptions. A growing family often prioritizes dental benefits for kids. Someone approaching retirement might value paramedical services and travel coverage more. Customizable plans can adapt to these changing needs.

What to Look for in a Customizable Health Plan

When building your plan, you’ll encounter several common benefit categories. Understanding what each one covers helps you decide where to put your premium dollars.

Prescription Drug Coverage

Prescription drug coverage helps offset the medication costs your doctor prescribes. Since Saskatchewan Health doesn’t cover most outpatient prescriptions, this benefit often delivers the most immediate, tangible value. Plans typically cover a percentage of drug costs—commonly around 80%—up to an annual maximum.

Dental Benefits

Dental benefits usually cover preventive care like cleanings and exams, basic services like fillings and sometimes major work like crowns. 

Vision Benefits

Vision benefits help pay for eye exams, glasses and contact lenses. Both categories let you address small issues before they become expensive problems.

Paramedical Services

Paramedical services include treatments from licensed practitioners outside traditional medicine. This category covers massage therapists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, naturopaths and similar professionals. Many Saskatchewan residents find this coverage valuable for managing chronic pain, recovering from injuries, or simply maintaining an active lifestyle.

Travel Insurance

Travel medical emergency coverage protects you when you leave the province. Even a trip to Alberta or Ontario can result in unexpected bills since your home province only pays what the same service would cost locally. International travel carries even greater risk. A single hospital stay in the United States could cost tens of thousands of dollars. While Saskatchewan Health will cover some out-of-country hospital stays, it is limited. Coverage is up to $100 CAD per day for inpatient services, and up to $50 CAD for an outpatient hospital visit, and will only cover up to two visits in one day.

Mental Health Support

Coverage for counselling, psychology and other mental health services has become increasingly important. Many plans now include benefits for registered psychologists, clinical counsellors and social workers. This coverage makes professional support more accessible without the full cost falling on you.

How to Build Your Own Customized Health Plan

Building a health plan that truly fits involves more than picking the cheapest option or the one with the longest benefits list. A thoughtful approach ensures you get meaningful coverage that fits your budget.

1. Assess Your Health Needs and Budget

Start by looking honestly at how you and your family actually use healthcare. Do you take regular medications? Visit the dentist twice a year? See a massage therapist monthly? Reviewing your spending over the past year gives you a realistic picture of where coverage would help most.

At the same time, figure out what you can comfortably afford in monthly premiums. Higher premiums usually mean better coverage, but the goal is finding the right balance for your situation.

2. Review Your Provincial Coverage Gaps

Take stock of what Saskatchewan Health already provides and identify where you’re exposed. If you rarely need prescriptions, drug coverage might be less urgent than dental benefits. If you travel frequently, emergency medical coverage becomes essential. Everyone’s gaps look a little different.

3. Choose Your Core Benefits

Select the coverage categories that address your most pressing concerns first. For many people, this means prescription drugs, dental and vision as a foundation. These benefits form the backbone of your plan and typically deliver the most day-to-day value.

4. Add Optional Coverage

Once your essentials are in place, consider additional benefits that round out your protection. Enhanced paramedical limits, or travel insurance, can fill remaining gaps. Think of these as finishing touches that make your plan truly personalized.

5. Compare Plans and Providers

Not all insurance providers offer the same experience. When evaluating your options, look beyond price alone:

6. Enroll and Review Annually

After selecting your plan, complete enrollment and set a reminder to review your coverage each year. Life changes—new family members, different health concerns, shifting priorities—may call for adjustments.

How Much Do Customizable Health Insurance Plans Cost

The cost of customizable health insurance varies based on several factors. Rather than a fixed price, think of premiums as reflecting the specific coverage you’ve selected.

Key factors that influence what you’ll pay:

• Coverage level: More comprehensive benefits with higher limits cost more than basic coverage
• Age: Premiums typically increase as you get older
• Family size: Adding a partner or children raises your premium, though family rates often provide better value than separate individual plans

The advantage of customizable plans is that you control costs by selecting only the coverage you actually want. You’re not forced to pay for benefits you won’t use.

Where to Buy Customizable Health Insurance in Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan residents have several options for obtaining health insurance, each with its own advantages.

Through an Insurance Company

Purchasing directly from a benefits provider gives you the most control over your coverage. You select exactly the benefits you want and work with the provider to build a plan that fits. This option works well for self-employed individuals, those without workplace benefits, or anyone wanting to supplement existing coverage.

As a not-for-profit organization focused on Saskatchewan residents, Saskatchewan Blue Cross offers flexible health and travel insurance plans designed specifically for people in this province. Get a quote or learn more about coverage options that fit your needs.

Through a Partner or Family Plan

If your partner has coverage through their employer, you may be able to join their plan as a dependent. This can be cost-effective, though comparing that coverage to what you could obtain independently is worthwhile.

How Customizable Health Plans Compare Across Canada

Health insurance works differently depending on the province or territory you live in. Saskatchewan Health coverage pays for medically necessary physician services and hospital care, but many common expenses like prescriptions, dental, vision and travel emergency costs can still fall to you. That means you should choose a benefits provider that understands Saskatchewan’s provincial coverage, where the gaps show up most often and what options make sense for people living in this province.

A locally-focused benefits provider like Saskatchewan Blue Cross that has served Saskatchewan for 80 years knows exactly what your provincial health plan covers, where the gaps exist, and what coverage makes sense for people living here. 

Find the Right Customizable Health Plan with Saskatchewan Blue Cross

Building a customized health insurance plan doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With nearly 80 years of experience serving Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Blue Cross offers flexible plans that let you choose the benefits that fit your life—backed by local service from people who understand your community.

Get a quote or explore your options to start building your customized health plan today.

“This blog is for informational purposes, not a contract or policy, nor a complete description of all benefits. Maximums are per insured per policy year, unless otherwise stated.”

FAQs about Customizable Health Insurance Plans

What is customized insurance?

Customized insurance allows policyholders to select specific benefits and coverage levels tailored to their individual or family situation rather than purchasing a fixed package. This approach ensures you’re paying for coverage you’ll actually use.

Can I buy my own private health insurance in Saskatchewan?

Yes, Saskatchewan residents can purchase individual or family health insurance plans directly from providers like Saskatchewan Blue Cross. Private plans supplement your provincial health coverage by filling gaps in areas like prescription drugs, dental care and travel emergencies.

Can I change my customized health plan after enrollment?

Most benefits providers allow policyholders to adjust coverage during annual renewal periods. Some also permit changes after qualifying life events like marriage, the birth of a child, or a change in employment. Checking with your provider about their specific policies is worthwhile.

What is the difference between customizable and standard health insurance plans?

Standard plans offer fixed benefits packages where everyone receives the same coverage. Customizable plans let you select specific coverage types and levels, so you can prioritize the benefits that matter most while managing your premium costs.