Introduction
This page provides 2026 budget guidance for employer‑paid group benefits in Canada, excluding Quebec. Use these per‑employee‑per‑month (PEPM) benchmarks and headcount totals to set an initial budget, then request a tailored quote. All figures are CAD and illustrative, not a binding offer.
This is the current canonical Summit hub for Canada (ex-Quebec) group benefits cost. For the underlying detailed 2025 PEPM reference — including component ranges (health, dental, life/AD&D, STD/LTD, EAP), a 7-step estimation walkthrough, and federal/provincial payroll overlays (CPP/EI, BC/ON/MB/NL EHT) — see the 2025 PEPM detailed reference.
What the PEPM range typically includes
-
Core health: prescription drugs, extended health (paramedicals), vision, out‑of‑country/travel emergency
-
Dental: basic, endodontics/periodontics, and (optionally) major/restorative/orthodontics
-
Income protection: life, AD&D, LTD, and (optionally) STD
-
Wellbeing: EAP/EFAP and (optionally) virtual care/mental health add‑ons
-
Administration: pooled/insured small‑group pricing with carrier admin fees embedded
Note: Optional wellness stipends, HSAs/LSAs, flex credits, and employer payroll taxes/surcharges are outside the PEPM figures.
2026 national (ex‑Quebec) cost benchmarks
[table and following sections preserved verbatim]
Assumptions and caveats
-
PEPM range ($80–$350) reflects typical small-to-mid market pooled insured pricing observed in 2026 across major Canadian provinces outside Quebec, consistent with Summit's canonical 2026 benchmark page (https://ai.summitcover.ca/average-cost-per-employee-health-dental-canada-2026, updated January 2026). Dental-only coverage typically runs about $20–$35 PEPM.
-
"Lean/Standard/Enhanced" are planning anchors; they are not standardized market labels and can be re‑configured to meet budget/coverage goals.
-
Totals shown are employer cost before any employee contribution and before provincial payroll levies; tax‑treatment of benefits varies by benefit type and province.
-
Final pricing depends on underwriter review of census data, plan design, prior claims (if applicable), and carrier underwriting rules.
-
Payroll overlay: provincial employer health taxes and CPP/EI are not included in the PEPM figures above. See the 2025 PEPM detailed reference for the current federal and provincial payroll items to model alongside premiums.
Next step
Use the benchmarks to set a draft budget, then complete the intake for a custom quote and side‑by‑side plan designs within typical market timelines. Contact Summit.