Prioritize your health and the health of your family and staff
Doctors of BC is introducing a new health and dental plan with three plan options, effective July 1, 2026. Full details of the new plan are below.
If you are currently enrolled in, or will be enrolled in, the legacy Health Benefits Trust Fund (HBTF) Standard plan before summer 2026, your coverage will automatically transition to the new Health and Dental Enhanced plan. Visit the Health and Dental Benefits Trust (HBTF) Legacy page for information on the current HBTF plan.
Whether you run a solo medical practice or own a multi-staff clinic, the Health and Dental plan offers comprehensive and customizable coverage designed to fit your needs and budget. We negotiate with insurers to ensure flexible benefits at competitive rates.
Additionally, plan premiums and health spending account claims are often tax-deductible. Health and Dental provides an affordable way to protect yourself, your family, and your staff from unforeseen medical costs.
Member advantage
Competitive member rates
Get group-discounted coverage for yourself, family, and staff. Join over 5,000 physician enrolees and benefit from collective purchasing power.
Exclusive plan designs
Choose from three plan options and customize a health spending account to create a plan that’s best for you.
Continuity
Coverage extends to other provinces and continues into retirement. As an enrolee, you will qualify for the special Lifetime plan once you turn 70.
Association support
Doctors of BC is the leading insurance provider for doctors in the province and is uniquely not-for-profit. Our commitment to members is reflected in many ways:
- A Board of Trustees, comprised of doctors like yourself, helps oversee the management of the plans to ensure they are protecting members well.
- A team of non-commissioned, licensed advisors is available to provide unbiased and expert advice.
- A dedicated insurer claims support phone line provides members prompt service.
Coverage details and choices
The plan covers expenses related to routine health care, regular dental care, and costs associated with illnesses and accidents that are not covered by your provincial or territorial health insurance. You can receive reimbursements either at the point of purchase—typically for dental, drug, and some paramedical services—or through a simple online receipt submission process.
Coverage types include Single, Couple, and Family coverage.
Plan choices
You may choose from three plan designs—Essential, Enhanced or Premier. Choose which option fits your budget and needs.
Note: You can lower your coverage or, with evidence of insurability, upgrade to a higher coverage level during the annual open enrolment (November 1–30).
Extended health care
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deductible | $50 Single/$100 Family | $50 Single/$100 Family | None |
| Lifetime maximum | $500,000 | $1M | $1M |
Drugs
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual drug maximum | $25,000 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Fertility drugs lifetime maximum | $2,400 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Prescription drugs | 70% | 80% | 90% |
Hospital and medical supplies
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major medical | 70% | 80% | 90% |
| Hospital | 70% | 80% | 90% |
| Hospital accommodation | Private | Private | Private |
Paramedical
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paramedical | 70% | 80% | 90% |
| Paramedical practitioners* | $500/calendar year per practitioner, with combined maximum of $1,000/calendar year | Combined maximum of $1,000/calendar year | $750/calendar year per practitioner, with combined maximum of $2,000/calendar year |
| Mental health practitioners** | Combined maximum of $1,000/calendar year | Combined maximum of $1,000/calendar year | Combined maximum of $1,000/calendar year |
*Paramedical Practitioners include acupuncturist, audiologist, chiropodist, chiropractor, dietician, kinesiologist, massage therapist, occupational therapist, osteopath, physiotherapist, podiatrist, speech therapist.
**Mental Health Practitioners include psychologists, social workers, registered clinical counsellors, registered professional counsellors.
Medical equipment
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearing aids | $1,000/4 calendar years | $1,000/4 calendar years | $1,000/4 calendar years |
| Orthotics | $500/3 calendar years | $500/3 calendar years | $500/3 calendar years |
Vision
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision care | $150/24 months | $250/24 months | $500/24 months |
| Eye exams | $80/12 months children, or $80/24 months adults | $80/12 months children, or $80/24 months adults | $80/12 months children, or $80/24 months adults |
Travel medical
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency out-of-country medical | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Maximum | Up to 60 day trips, $5M | Up to 60 day trips, $5M | Up to 60 day trips, $5M |
Dental
| Essential | Enhanced | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deductible | $50 Single/$100 Family | $50 Single/$100 Family | None |
| Basic services | 70% | 80% | 90% |
| Major services (crown, bridges, dentures) | 50% | 60% | 60% |
| Child orthodontics | Not covered | 50% $2,000 lifetime maximum | 50% $3,000 lifetime maximum |
| Dental visits | 1 every 9 months | 1 every 9 months | 2 every 12 months |
Insurance for staff
In addition to the extended health and dental benefits, Medical Office Staff receive additional core benefits:
- Staff Life insurance: If a staff member dies, their named beneficiary(ies) will receive a lump-sum tax-free benefit of the preselected amount of $20,000 or $50,000.
- Staff Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance: If a staff member dies directly due to an accident, their named beneficiary(ies) will receive a lump-sum tax-free benefit of the preselected amount of $20,000 or $50,000. This coverage also provides benefits for the loss of, or use, of a portion of the body due to accidental injury.
- Staff Long-Term Disability insurance: If a staff member is totally disabled and unable to work due to accident or illness, they will receive a taxable benefit of a preselected amount of $1,000–$2,500 per month, until the earlier of their return to work or reaching the age of 65. Staff must provide evidence of insurability for amounts greater than $1,000.
Optional Health Spending Account
You can add the Health Spending Account (HSA) to the Health and Dental plan if you are incorporated. The HSA allows your corporation to fund eligible medical expenses not fully covered by the Manulife insurance plan, such as deductibles, co-insurance, or ineligible health and dental costs.
How it works
As an employee, you are personally reimbursed for the medical expenses you have paid, resulting in your business covering the expense, which can then be claimed as a tax-deductible business expense. This is generally more tax-efficient than paying for the expenses personally. A 7% administrative charge applies to each submitted expense.
Please consult your tax advisor to determine if the HSA suits your needs and to identify an appropriate limit amount.
Lifetime plan
If you are enrolled in the Health and Dental plan, your coverage will transition to the Lifetime plan once you turn 70. The balance of your health care lifetime maximum on your previous plan will be transferred to the Lifetime plan.
Eligibility
Physician enrolment
Physicians can enrol in the plan if they are:
- A member of Doctors of BC
- Under the age of 65
- Actively working
- Residing in Canada, except in Quebec
- Are enrolled in a provincial or territorial medical services plan
If you do not qualify for a Training completion special offer (listed below), a written questionnaire may be necessary to provide medical evidence of insurability. Benefits for physicians begin immediately on the coverage start date, with no waiting period.
Physician members can enrol themselves and their dependents. Dependents include a legal or common-law spouse, unmarried children under 22, full-time students under 25, and dependent children with a mental or physical disorder, with insurer approval.
Medical Office Staff enrolment
If the Health and Dental plan is already in effect, new staff must enrol within three months of their start date. If they apply after this window, they are regarded as late applicants and must provide medical evidence. Staff coverage begins either three months after employment starts or upon application approval, whichever occurs later.
Staff members can enrol themselves and their dependents. Dependents include a legal or common-law spouse, unmarried children under 22, full-time students under 25, and dependent children with a mental or physical disorder, with insurer approval.
Optional Health Spending Account
To include the HSA feature with your insured health and dental coverage, you must be enrolled in and actively participating in the insured plan. You can add the HSA either during your initial enrolment or during the options period from November 1 to 30.
The definition of a dependent eligible for the HSA differs from that of eligible dependents covered under the insured Health and Dental plan, which is limited to the insured member's spouse and eligible dependent children.
Eligible Dependents
The Income Tax Act allows the HSA to reimburse medical expenses belonging to eligible dependents, which include the following:
- A person who is either legally married to an Employee or living with an Employee and who is publicly represented as an Employee’s spouse;
- An unmarried Child under 18;
- An unmarried Child under age 25 who is registered and attending as a full-time student at an institute of higher learning;
- An unmarried Child who is incapable of supporting themselves because of a mental or physical handicap; or
- A relative of an Employee or an Employee’s spouse who is living with the Employee on a full-time basis.
Training completion special offer
Members who qualify for the training completion special offer receive a 50% discount on premiums for the first 12 months and have guaranteed acceptance without evidence of insurability.
To be eligible for this special offer, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Completed residency or fellowship within 90 days.
- You are starting practice for the first time in your medical career.
- You have not been a member enrolee in the Doctors of BC HBTF or Health and Dental plan before.
How much does it cost?
Physicians under age 70 and Medical Office Staff monthly rates
| Benefit | Essential | Enhanced | Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Dental | Single: $190.83 Couple: $351.51 Family: $523.06 | Single: $224.83 Couple: $413.36 Family: $615.08 | Single: $281.56 Couple: $519.51 Family: $773.08 |
Medical Office Staff only monthly rates
| Benefit | Rates | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Insurance | $20,000 $50,000 | $3.11 $7.77 |
| AD&D Insurance | $20,000 $50,000 | $0.38 $0.94 |
| Long Term Disability | $1,000 $1,200 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 | $18.59 $22.30 $27.88 $37.17 $46.47 |
Training Completion Special Offer monthly rates
| Benefit | Essential | Enhanced | Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Dental | Single: $95.42 Couple: $175.76 Family: $261.53 | Single: $112.42 Couple: $206.68 Family: $307.54 | Single: $140.78 Couple: $259.76 Family: $386.54 |
Over Age 70 Physicians monthly rates
| Benefit | Lifetime plan |
|---|---|
| Health and Dental | Single: $246.93 Couple: $453.85 Family: $675.24 |
Apply or get advice
Enrolment before May 1, 2026
If you are applying before April 30, 2026, please enrol in the Health Benefits Trust Fund Legacy plan, and you will be automatically transferred to the new Health and Dental plan on July 1.
- Complete the HBTF (Physicians with or without staff) online application.
- Complete the Medical staff enrolment form (use if enrolling MOAs to an existing plan or in addition to an initial physician enrolment package).
- The application deadline to add the Cost-Plus feature to HBTF plans for the 2026 calendar year is now closed.
Enrolment on or after May 1, 2026
If you will be enrolling on or after May 1, 2026, please contact us at insurance@doctorsofbc.ca.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of insurability if they are:
- A doctor who does not meet the training completion special offer criteria;
- A medical office staff member applying after 90 days of starting employment; or
- A medical office staff member applying for more than $1,000 of Long Term Disability coverage.
- A written questionnaire will be sent to you after you submit your enrolment form. Once Manulife receives the completed form, it may take 4 to 6 weeks to determine your eligibility. Coverage is subject to approval.
Book a free consultation
A licensed, non-commissioned Doctors of BC Insurance advisor can assess your situation and give you personalized recommendations and quotes. Contact an advisor.
Make a claim
Claims under the new Health and Dental plan can be submitted starting July 1, 2026. If you are submitting a claim under the current HBTF plan, see Make a Claim for step-by-step instructions.