Modern benefits with Alan
Choosing group benefits in Canada shouldn’t be this confusing. Some providers are insurers. Some are third-party admins. Some only resell plans.
If you’re a founder, COO, or People lead at a 15–250 person company, chances are you’ve googled something like: “Best group benefits providers in Canada”, “Humi vs SimplyBenefits vs Alan”, “How do I switch from Sun Life?”
This guide gives you an honest breakdown of the main options, what they do well, and where the trade-offs are.
Provider | Type | Best For | Admin Load | Claims UX | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alan | Insurer + Platform | Teams 15–100 wanting one provider for all | Low | Real-time, in-platform | Fully integrated experience |
Chambers of Commerce Group InsurancePlan | Pooled Plan | Companies under 15 employees | Low | Manual | Predictable pricing, limited flexibility |
Collage / GroupHEALTH / BBD | Broker-Tech Hybrid | Mid-sized teams | High | Fragmented | Broker model with some tech tools |
Humi | HR + TPA | Startups already using Humi HR/payroll | Medium | Depends on carrier | Plan sits on partner insurers like Empire, Beneva |
Manulife / Sun Life / Canada Life | Traditional Insurer | Larger orgs with broker support | High | Legacy portals | Widely used, less transparent |
SimplyBenefits | Digital TPA | Teams working with brokers | Medium | Partner processes claims | Not a carrier, but cleaner front-end |
Before comparing options, it helps to know the main models in Canada:
Each type has trade-offs around flexibility, speed, transparency, and cost.
Regulation Note: Group benefits in Canada are provincially regulated. Your provider must be licensed in your province (Ontario, Alberta, BC, Quebec). That’s one reason why switching or expanding coverage can vary by region.
Type: Integrated Insurer + Platform
Type: Pooled Plan
Type: Broker-Tech Hybrid
Type: HR + TPA
Type: Traditional Insurers
Type: Digital TPA
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for benefits in Canada. The right choice depends on your team size, how much admin work you want, and how you handle HR today.
If you’re unsure, start with a comparison. Upload your current plan to see if you’re overpaying or under-covered. That insight helps you decide between a pooled plan, a TPA, or an integrated provider.
Not always. Traditional insurers work mainly through brokers, but integrated providers like Alan sell directly to employers.
Pooled plans combine many small employers to stabilize rates but limit flexibility. Traditional plans are underwritten per company and allow customization.
Most companies switch at renewal. Review your plan, compare options, and give notice. Providers like Alan can handle switching for you and import existing data.
At 15+ employees, pooled plans often become pricier than custom plans. That’s a good time to review options with an integrated or traditional insurer.
Integrated insurers like Alan handle claims directly in-app. TPAs like SimplyBenefits process claims through their partner insurer.
Updated on 06/10/2025
Published on 06/10/2025
Author
Alan
Canada
Updated on
6 October 2025
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