What Health Insurance Actually Costs for Canadians Over 60 Living Abroad

Real numbers, not ranges that span $50 to $1,000. Here’s what you’ll actually pay — provider by provider, age by age.

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This is the question that stops more Canadian retirees from moving abroad than any other: “What will health insurance cost me?”

Most expat websites answer with useless ranges — “$100 to $800 per month depending on your situation.” That doesn’t help anyone budget for anything.

So here’s what it actually costs, broken down by provider, age bracket, and coverage level. All prices researched as of early 2026. We’ll also cover the local healthcare options in Mexico, Portugal, and Thailand that can dramatically reduce what you spend.

Note on pricing: International health insurance is priced in USD. We’ve included CAD equivalents at approximately 1.37 CAD/USD. Get a direct quote for your exact age, health status, and destination — published rates are indicative, not guaranteed. All prices exclude USA coverage (always exclude the USA if you won’t use healthcare there — it saves 40-50%).

The Price Jumps at 60, 65, and 70

Before comparing providers, understand the age brackets. Insurance premiums don’t increase gradually — they jump at specific ages:

If you’re 63 and thinking about moving abroad “in a few years” — buy your insurance before 65. Signing up at 64 locks you into providers that might not accept you at 66. This is the single most time-sensitive decision in this guide.

Provider-by-Provider Pricing (Ages 60-65)

Prices for worldwide coverage excluding USA, with $1,500 deductible where applicable. Your actual quote will vary based on exact age, health history, and coverage options.

What Each Provider Actually Offers

Cigna Global Senior — The Gold Standard

If you’re over 60 with any pre-existing conditions, this is the benchmark everything else is measured against.

• No upper age limit — the only major international provider that will cover you at any age. If you’re 72 and shopping for coverage, Cigna is likely your only comprehensive option.
• Named pre-existing conditions covered: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, arthritis, joint and back conditions, osteoporosis. These are the conditions most Canadian retirees actually have.
• Plan levels: Silver ($1M), Gold ($2M), Platinum ($5M)
• Deductible options: $0 / $375 / $750 / $1,500 / $3,000 / $7,500 / $10,000
• 10% senior discount on plans with $750+ deductible
• Direct billing at hospitals worldwide — you don’t pay upfront and seek reimbursement
• Ages 70-79: $539-786/month USD ($738-1,077 CAD)

Money-saving tip: Pay annually instead of monthly. Cigna charges a 10% surcharge for monthly payments. On a $400/month plan, that’s $480/year saved by paying upfront.

SafetyWing Essential — Good Supplement, Not Primary for 60+

We have an affiliate relationship with SafetyWing, and we’re going to be honest with you: SafetyWing Essential is not the right primary insurance for a 60+ retiree with health conditions.

Here’s why:

• Covers emergencies only — no routine doctor visits, no prescriptions, no ongoing care
• Pre-existing conditions are not covered
• $250,000 per incident limit (comprehensive plans offer $1M-5M)
• Cuts off at age 69

SafetyWing Essential is good for: supplemental coverage alongside a local healthcare system (like Mexico’s IMSS), gap coverage during travel, or younger healthy expats who don’t need comprehensive plans.

For a 62-year-old with blood pressure medication and a history of joint problems? Cigna Global is the honest recommendation.

IMG Global Medical — Budget Comprehensive Option

IMG’s GlobeHopper Senior plan offers comprehensive coverage at lower premiums ($129-240/month). The trade-off: cardiac coverage drops sharply after age 64 — from full coverage to a $25,000 cap at 65-69, and $15,000 at 70+.

If you have no cardiac history and want to keep premiums lower, IMG is worth a quote. If you have any heart-related concerns, Cigna’s unlimited cardiac coverage is worth the premium difference.

World Nomads — The Age-Neutral Option

World Nomads is unusual: a 65-year-old pays the same rate as a 25-year-old. No age-based pricing. That makes it attractive for older travellers, but remember: it’s travel insurance (emergencies only), not expat health insurance. No routine care, no prescriptions, no pre-existing condition coverage. Good for snowbird trips under 12 months.

The Deductible Strategy

Your deductible choice has a dramatic effect on premiums:

The high-deductible strategy works especially well in Mexico and Thailand where a doctor visit costs $10-50 CAD and prescription medications cost 50-90% less than Canada. You pay for routine care out of pocket (which is cheap) and only use insurance for serious medical events. This can save $150-250/month on premiums.

Local Healthcare: Your Secret Weapon

International insurance isn’t your only option. Each country has a local system that Canadian retirees can access — and combining local + international coverage can cut your costs significantly.

Mexico: IMSS Is Exceptional Value

Mexico’s public healthcare system (IMSS) is available to temporary and permanent residents. Annual enrollment costs roughly $91 USD/month for someone in their 60s. It covers hospitalization, doctor visits, and medications.

The strategy: IMSS for routine care (~$91/month) + a catastrophe-only international plan (~$130-150/month) = ~$220-240 USD/month total (~$300-330 CAD). That’s comprehensive coverage for less than Cigna alone.

IMSS quality varies by location. Major cities have good facilities; smaller towns can be unpredictable. Many expats use IMSS for routine visits and private hospitals for anything serious.

Portugal: SNS Is Nearly Free

Portugal’s public system (SNS) is available to D7 visa holders. GP visits cost EUR 5-10. Emergency visits EUR 15-20. Chronic disease management is often free. Specialist wait times can be long, but the routine care is solid.

The strategy: Register with SNS (nearly free) + private Portuguese insurance for faster access (~EUR 180-250/month for 65+). Or SNS + catastrophe-only international plan.

Thailand: Insurance Required for Visa

Thailand’s O-A and O-X retirement visas require health insurance with at least 3,000,000 THB (~$83,000 USD) coverage. Local Thai insurance for visa compliance costs under THB 20,000/year (~$46/month) — but with high deductibles and limited benefits.

The strategy: Cheap local plan for visa compliance (~$46/month) + pay out of pocket for routine care (specialist visits $60-150 CAD, MRI $200-500 CAD). Thailand’s private hospitals are excellent and affordable by Canadian standards. Many retirees skip comprehensive insurance entirely and self-insure for routine care.

What It Costs vs Staying in Canada

It’s worth putting these numbers in perspective. Canadian healthcare isn’t actually “free”:

The gap is smaller than most people assume. And the quality of private healthcare in Mexico City, Lisbon, or Bangkok is often faster and more attentive than what you experience in the Canadian system.

The Bottom Line: What to Budget

Our recommendation for most Canadian retirees 60-70:

• Mexico: IMSS + catastrophe international = ~$300-330 CAD/month. Best value of the three countries.
• Portugal: SNS + private Portuguese insurance = ~$250-400 CAD/month. Quality care, very affordable.
• Thailand: Local visa-compliant plan + self-insure routine = ~$200-350 CAD/month. Works because Thai private healthcare is affordable out of pocket.
• If pre-existing conditions are a concern: Cigna Global Senior at any price point. The coverage is worth it.

Health insurance abroad costs more than “free” Canadian healthcare. But when you factor in the lower cost of living, cheaper prescriptions, faster specialist access, and the quality of private care available — most Canadian retirees come out ahead.

Get a quote. Do the math. The number is less scary than the unknown.

For the overview of health insurance options, see our health insurance guide. For what happens to your provincial coverage when you leave, see our provincial health insurance guide.

Insurance pricing changes frequently and depends on your individual age, health history, and coverage choices. The figures in this guide are approximate, based on publicly available pricing from provider websites as of early 2026. Always get a direct quote for your specific situation. This guide is informational and does not constitute insurance or medical advice. Consult qualified professionals before making healthcare decisions.