Do an employee's group health benefits continue for their surviving spouse or children after death in Ontario?

It depends entirely on the specific group benefits plan; there's no single rule that applies to every employer's coverage. Some group plans include a defined continuation period for surviving dependents after an employee's death, sometimes with an option to convert to individual coverage. Others end coverage on the date of death, or shortly after, with no continuation at all. The details live in the plan booklet and the insurer's contract with the employer, not in any general law that applies across all workplaces.

Because this varies so much, surviving family members shouldn't assume either outcome. The practical step is to contact the employer's HR or benefits department, and the insurance carrier directly, as soon as possible after a death to find out exactly what applies and whether any conversion deadline needs to be met quickly. Missing a short conversion window, where one exists, can mean losing the option entirely.

If you're the one setting up or reviewing your own workplace benefits, it's worth asking your HR department now what happens to your dependents' coverage if you die, rather than leaving your family to figure it out during an already difficult time.