85% of Canadians Face Gaps in Healthcare Between Appointments

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- A new report from Maple, Canada’s leading virtual healthcare platform, reveals that a significant portion of Canadians experience challenges in navigating the healthcare system between appointments. According to the findings, 85 per cent of Canadians have encountered waiting, care coordination, or other challenges over the past two years. Among those affected, nearly two-thirds felt primarily responsible for keeping care moving forward, taking on tasks such as following up on test results, coordinating appointments, tracking medications, and figuring out next steps.

The report, titled "The Space Between Care," is based on a national survey of 1,527 Canadians conducted among members of the Angus Reid Forum. It highlights the hidden workload and emotional strain that Canadians endure while waiting for tests, referrals, and treatments. Key findings include that 63 per cent of affected Canadians felt personally responsible for keeping their care moving forward. Additionally, 56 per cent did not receive adequate updates while waiting for care, and 44 per cent did not feel supported between healthcare interactions. Similarly, 50 per cent of Canadians managing care for someone else did not feel supported between healthcare interactions.

The report also found that 24 per cent of respondents reported worsening symptoms or health conditions while waiting. This lack of continuity and support takes a heavy toll on the physical and mental health, as well as daily life, of Canadians. Keeping care moving requires significant practical labour that impacts productivity, with 23 per cent of respondents reporting reduced concentration at work or school. Furthermore, 18 per cent missed work or school, and 15 per cent lost income or incurred additional expenses during their wait for care.

Women, caregivers, and Canadians managing chronic or complex conditions face the greatest obstacles. Among women, 62 per cent reported receiving inadequate updates while waiting for care, compared to 50 per cent of men. Canadians coordinating care for aging parents were particularly vulnerable, with 70 per cent reporting heightened stress and anxiety.

The report identifies opportunities for improvement, with 81 per cent of Canadians surveyed believing that technology-enabled care could help reduce the burden between appointments. For employers, insurers, and plan sponsors, this extends to helping Canadians access care through their health benefits. While 43 per cent of respondents believe benefits make timely care easier to access, 45 per cent did not find that their extended health benefits did so. This points to an opportunity to strengthen the support available through benefit plans, while simultaneously helping Canadians better understand their coverage and how to use it throughout their care journey.

Maple, founded in 2015, is committed to providing same-day, proactive, and ongoing care through secure text, audio, or video. Since its inception, the company has given over eight million people access to healthcare.