Nearly two-thirds of Canadian women delay, skip healthcare due to long wait times: report

‘We need a system that starts earlier, moves faster and delivers care with empathy, agency and trust,' says expert

BY Jim Wilson 27 May 2025

Having surged during the pandemic, interest in virtual care is strong among women in Canada, according to a recent report.

Overall, 31% of women have already accessed virtual care, and more than half of those who haven’t say they would be willing to try.

"Tools such as virtual consultations, remote monitoring and proactive care models are already improving access — enabling faster, more continuous engagement across the health system. Many now rely on workplace benefits to fill the gap, making employers an increasingly vital point of access," says the report by Maple, a virtual care platform provider.

Due diligence is important in offering virtual care, according to a previous report.

Challenges to women’s access to proper health care

The interest in virtual care comes as women report excessive struggle in accessing proper health care, accoridng to Maple’s survey 1,505 online Canadian women who are members of the Angus Reid Forum, conducted April 2 to 7, 2025.

Specifically:

54% of women say the health system does not meet their needs.
76% believe the system is not designed with their needs in mind.
74% feel their health concerns are not taken seriously.
43% have experienced delays in receiving appropriate treatment.
35% report misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses.

Among members of the "sandwich generation"—middle-aged adults caring for both their aging parents and children—93% report that these dual responsibilities have negatively impacted their own health.

Additionally, 62% of women have delayed or skipped care due to long wait times. Young women, especially those aged 18 to 24, are disproportionately affected.

“We won’t fix women’s health care by working around the edges,” says Brett Belchetz, CEO and co-founder of Maple. “We need a system that starts earlier, moves faster and delivers care with empathy, agency and trust. That’s what we’re building here at Maple.”

Many workers continue to encounter significant gaps in the benefits offered by their employers, according to a recent report from RBC Insurance.

Best practices for offering virtual care

According to Optum, employers should consider the following when offering virtual care as a benefit to workers:

Make it comprehensive. Choose solutions that offer a full spectrum of services, including mental health, chronic disease management, and wellness support.
Ensure connection to in-person care. A virtual care model should seamlessly integrate with in-person services to enhance confidence in the system.
Integrate with existing benefits. Choose a platform that fits into your current benefits ecosystem.
Foster patient-provider relationships. Ensure employees can build continuity with care providers.
Offer flexibility. Allow employees to choose when, where, and how they receive care.
Enable personalised care. Look for a platform that supports individualised health journeys.
Provide a seamless digital experience. Make it easy for employees to manage their health on-the-go through intuitive, mobile-friendly platforms.

Here are some ways to improve your company's compensation and benefits, according to a previous report.