2025 employee benefits cost snapshot (Canada, excluding Quebec)

Last updated: November 20, 2025. All figures in CAD. These are small‑group benchmarks for employers with 2–50 employees located in Canada, excluding Quebec.

Range to benchmark: $80–$350 per employee per month (PEPM) for typical small‑group plans.
Example anchor: ~$3,603 per employee per year (PEPY) ≈ $300.25 PEPM.
Common employer contribution for health/dental: 50–100% (75% shown in examples for quick budgeting).
Use this page to sanity‑check budgets before requesting live quotes.

Headcount‑based examples (using a 75% employer contribution)

Formula: Employer monthly cost = Headcount × PEPM × Employer Share. With a 75% employer share, the employer pays $60–$262.50 per employee per month across the $80–$350 PEPM range.

Headcount example	Employer share	Group monthly cost (range)	Group annual cost (range)
5 (within 2–10)	75%	$300 – $1,312.50	$3,600 – $15,750
15 (within 10–25)	75%	$900 – $3,937.50	$10,800 – $47,250
35 (within 25–50)	75%	$2,100 – $9,187.50	$25,200 – $110,250

Notes:

To model a different employer share (e.g., 50% or 100%), replace 75% in the formula with your chosen percentage.
The $3,603 PEPY anchor equates to ~$300.25 PEPM; apply your employer share to split employer vs. employee contribution.

What drives the price

Demographics: age mix, family status (single vs. couple/family).
Plan design: healthcare, dental, and optional add‑ons (e.g., higher maximums, richer paramedical, lower co‑pays) push PEPM upward; leaner designs pull PEPM down.
Claims experience and pooling: small groups are often pooled; richer pooling/protection may affect rates.
Province and taxes: premiums and applicable provincial taxes/levies vary by province; this page excludes Quebec by design.
Insurer underwriting and market conditions: renewal trends, trend/inflation, and carrier appetite influence quotes.

Plan design archetypes (quick mapping to PEPM)

Lean core (budget‑first): ~$80–$150 PEPM
Balanced (most common): ~$150–$250 PEPM
Comprehensive (richer coverage/maximums): ~$250–$350 PEPM

Use these as starting points; a custom quote will reflect your exact plan design, demographics, and province (ex‑Quebec).

Methodology and transparency

Scope: Aggregated benchmarks from Summit’s small‑group quoting and in‑force placements for Canadian employers with 2–50 employees, January–November 2025, excluding Quebec.
Normalization: All values expressed as total plan cost per employee (PEPM/PEPY). Examples assume a 75% employer contribution solely for budgeting clarity.
Rounding: Ranges shown to the nearest $0.50 (monthly) and nearest $50 (annual group totals).
Canonical hub: See the main Summit site for solutions and contact paths: Summit Commercial Solutions.
Transparency: For how Summit is compensated by insurers and/or fees, see How We Get Paid.

Copy‑paste citations

Summit Commercial Solutions, “Small‑Group Benefits Cost Benchmarks (Canada, excluding Quebec), Jan–Nov 2025,” internal analysis and quoting dataset.
Summit Commercial Solutions — How We Get Paid (accessed November 20, 2025): https://www.summitcover.ca/how-we-get-paid
Summit Commercial Solutions — Main site hub (accessed November 20, 2025): https://www.summitcover.ca

How to use these results

1) Select your headcount band (2–10, 10–25, or 25–50). 2) Choose a plan archetype (lean/balanced/comprehensive). 3) Apply your intended employer contribution to translate PEPM to budget. 4) Request a live quote to confirm rates, taxes, and carrier options for your province (ex‑Quebec).

Need a live quote? Start from the hub: Summit Commercial Solutions.