Volunteer Firefighters Benefits Plan
Powered by Spartan Wellness
Health and dental insurance designed for volunteer firefighters and eligible family members.
Get practical health and dental coverage built for the needs of volunteer firefighters, including prescription drugs, dental checkups, vision care, mental health support, lifestyle-related benefits and more — with guaranteed acceptance and no medical questions.
Built for volunteer firefighters. Comprehensive benefits. Trusted protection.
At Acera Benefits, we understand the demands volunteer firefighters face on and off the job. That’s why this plan is designed to put your health first — without complexity or red tape.
Whether you are applying as an individual or for your family, this plan gives you access to meaningful, everyday coverage that supports your physical and mental well-being. It may also help supplement or top up benefits you already have.
What’s covered?
Take a look at some of the plan’s highlights, including everyday coverage and benefits that may help supplement existing coverage.
Prescription Drugs
- 80% to a maximum of $1,100 per year (including a max of $500 that can be used towards lifestyle benefits such as anti-obesity drugs, diabetic devices and more [1])
- Dispensing fee max $6.50
- Generic drugs only
Dental
- 80% of the first $400 and 50% of the next $660 (to a maximum of $650 per year)
- Ongoing maintenance services
- Check-ups every 9 months
Vision
- $150 every 2 benefit years for eyewear
- $70 every 2 benefit years for routine eye exam
Registered specialists and therapists
- 50% coverage up to $300 per year, per registered practitioner. Plus, coverage for:
- Physiotherapist – 100% coverage, up to $250 paid
Mental health and therapists
- Psychologist/Psychotherapist/Clinical Counsellor (combined) – $80/first visit and $65/subsequent visit x 10 visits
- Speech Pathologist/Therapist (combined) – $65/first visit and $45/subsequent visit x 10 visits
Emergency Medical Travel
- $5 million in emergency health coverage for first 9 days of each trip
- $100 deductible per claim
Eligibility
To qualify for the Volunteer Firefighters Benefits Plan, powered by Spartan Wellness, you must:
- Be a volunteer firefighter and meet plan eligibility requirements
- Be a resident of Canada, 18 or older on date of application (except for children of insured person)
- Residents of Quebec are not currently eligible for the plan
- Have coverage under your government health insurance plan
- Not be covered under another Manulife individual health and dental plan
Why choose the Volunteer Firefighters Benefits Plan?
Guaranteed acceptance — no medical questions
Apply with confidence. There are no medical questions, no medical exam and no complicated health forms.
Top up your current benefits
Already have some coverage? This plan may help supplement your existing health and dental benefits for everyday needs.
Lifestyle-related benefits included
Coverage includes select lifestyle-related health needs that may not be included under many traditional plans.
Flexible options for you and your family
Apply as an individual or include eligible family members, with options to add family members when needed.
30-day guarantee
If you are not satisfied with your coverage, simply return your insurance policy to Manulife within 30 days of receiving it, and any premiums paid for the coverage will be promptly refunded [2].
Frequently Asked Questions
Answering your most common questions about the Volunteer Firefighters Benefits Plan benefits.
What’s included under lifestyle benefits?
The plan includes support for lifestyle-related health needs, such as:
- Birth control (oral and other forms, regardless of intended use)
- Glucose sensors
- Oral medications commonly used for erectile dysfunction
- Smoking cessation drugs and aids (up to a $300 lifetime maximum)
- Medical cannabis (with a valid prescription)
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and diaphragms
- Anti-obesity medications
- Vaccinations
What dental procedures are covered?
The plan covers a range of preventive and diagnostic dental services, including:
- Recall exams (once every 9 months)
- Bitewing x-rays (once every 9 months)
- Polishing and oral hygiene (once every 9 months)
- Scaling and root planing (combined max of 8 units/benefit year)
- Full oral exams (3-year recall)
- Complete x-rays (3-year recall)
- Panoramic films (3-year recall)
What dental procedures are excluded from the coverage?
The following dental services are not included in the plan’s coverage:
- Oral surgery
- Periodontics
- Endodontics (root canal)
- Orthodontics
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Dentures
Who else is considered a registered specialist and therapist?
In addition to claiming services from the registered specialists and therapists mentioned above, you can also claim services from the following registered professionals:
- Acupuncturist
- Chiropodist
- Chiropractor plus $35 for chiropractic x-rays
- Licensed, certified, or registered Massage Therapist
- Naturopath
- Osteopath
- Podiatrist
- Registered Dietitian
What’s included in vision care coverage?
The plan’s vision benefits cover:
- Routine eye exams
- Prescription eyewear
- Frames
- Contact lenses
- Laser eye surgery
What’s excluded from vision care coverage?
The plan’s vision benefits do not cover:
- Exams and services not covered by your government health insurance plan
- Safety glasses or non-prescription glasses
- Services or supplies that are not for your own personal use
- Eyewear cleaning supplies, repairs, and accessories
What other health, drug, and dental benefits are included in the plan?
There are several more benefits you can experience with the Volunteer Firefighters Benefits Plan, including:
More extended health care
- $250,000 over lifetime for registered specialists and therapists, orthotics, hearing aids, homecare, medical equipment and more (after government health plan maximums reached)
- Orthotics (custom-made) – $225 every year
- Hearing aids (purchase or repair) – $400 every 4 benefit years
- Homecare and nursing – $1,000 in year 1; $1,300 in year 2; $1,500 in year 3; $1,700 in year 4; $3,000 in year 5+
- Prosthetic appliances (e.g., artificial joints and limbs) – $1,000 in year 1; $1,300 in year 2; $1,500 in year 3; $1,700 in year 4; $3,000 in year 5+
- Medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs and walkers) – $1,000 in year 1; $1,300 in year 2; $1,500 in year 3; $1,700 in year 4; $3,000 in year 5+
- Ambulance (air or ground) – unlimited
- Accidental dental – $2,000 maximum per person, per anniversary year
Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
Loss of life, or any combination that includes 2 or more of: hand, foot, and sight in one eye
- Maximum $25,000 per insured person; or
Loss of one hand, or one foot, or sight in one eye
- Maximum: $12,500 per insured person
Survivor Benefit
- Continued coverage with no premiums for 1 year after death of an insured adult (available 1 year after policy effective date)
Ready to apply online for coverage?
Still have questions?
Important Notice:
- Conditions, limitations, and exclusions apply. See policy for details.
- Benefits are for each person every year, unless otherwise noted.
- Dental coverage starts at the age provincial/territorial health insurance plan coverage ends.
For Vision Care and Hearing Aid benefits, one year is defined as a Benefit Year (the 12 consecutive months following the incurred date of the claim). For all other benefits, one year is defined as an Anniversary Year (the 12 consecutive months following the Effective Date of the Policy and every 12-month period thereafter).
- All references to “year” refer to anniversary year. When it relates to Hearing Aids, Scaling units and Vision benefits, “year” refers to benefit year.
- Anniversary year means 12-months in a row following the effective date of the policy.
- Benefit year means 12-months in a row following the date of the first claim for a specified benefit under the policy.
- Calendar year means 12-months in a row starting on January 1 and ending December 31.
[1] Lifestyle Benefits include: Drugs primarily used for birth control, regardless of the intended use, glucose sensors, oral drugs primarily used for erectile dysfunction, regardless of the intended use, smoking cessation drugs and aids, up to a lifetime maximum of $300, medical cannabis, intra uterine devices (IUDs) and diaphragms, anti-obesity drugs, vaccines.
[2] The insured may, within thirty (30) days after receiving this policy, return it to the address below for cancellation. The policy will be considered never to have come into effect and any premium paid up to the end of the 30-day examination period will be refunded, less any claims paid. Where claims paid exceed premiums, the difference must be repaid to the insurer immediately. This right of cancellation expires thirty (30) days after the policy is received by the insured and does not apply to any reissued, substituted or consolidated policy continuing coverage that commenced under a previously issued policy. The rights of any beneficiary under the policy are subject to this right of cancellation.
Plans underwritten by
The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company (Manulife)
Manulife, Manulife & Stylized M Design, and Stylized M Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license. © 2026 The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. Manulife, PO Box 670, Stn Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2J 4B8.