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By Indira Duarte
Updated 7 days ago
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If you are planning to move to Canada, one of the first questions you may ask is: does Canada have free healthcare?The short answer is yes, but with some important details you need to understand.
This article is written for newcomers, immigrants, international students, and workers who want a clear explanation of how the healthcare system works in Canada and what is covered, and what is not. Canada’s health care system operates as a universal health coverage model, designed to provide medically necessary services to all eligible residents. Coverage must be provided to 100% of eligible residents and remains in effect when residents travel within Canada or move to another province or territory. The goal is to help you prepare before you arrive and avoid surprises later.
Canada has a public healthcare system called Medicare. It is funded mainly through taxes and gives residents access to essential medical services without paying at the hospital or doctor’s office.
In this decentralized health system, each province and territory operates its own health plan and public health insurance. Each province and territory has its own health insurance plan, which receives cash assistance from the federal government on a per-capita basis. Provincial health insurance plans must be administered on a non-profit basis by a public authority and must cover all medically necessary services, mainly hospital and physician care. Provincial and territorial plans must meet the five conditions of the Canada Health Act—Public Administration, Comprehensiveness, Universality, Portability, and Accessibility—to receive full federal funding.
Healthcare in Canada is not run by a single national system. Instead:
All provinces must follow the Canada Health Act, which sets the minimum standards for public healthcare across the country.
Canadian Medicare covers what the law calls medically necessary services. These usually include:
These services are funded by public money, mainly through the Canada Health Transfer, which the federal government sends to provinces each year.
One key feature of Medicare is first-dollar coverage. This means you usually pay nothing upfront for doctor visits or hospital stays. There are no co-pays or deductibles for insured services.
Not all health services are included under the Canada Health Act. Common services that are not covered include:
These services are usually paid out of pocket or through private insurance.
When you arrive in Canada, public health insurance covers basic medical care, such as doctor visits and hospital treatment. However, public coverage does not include all health services.
Because of these limits, many newcomers need private or supplementary health insurance, especially during their first months in Canada. About two-thirds of people in Canada also use private insurance, often through an employer.
Private insurance usually helps pay for:
Private insurance is very important if your province has a waiting period before public coverage starts, which can be up to three months. Some provinces also offer special assistance programs for people with high medical costs, but these usually apply only after you are fully registered.
To use public healthcare, you must:
Without a health card, you may need to pay for services yourself.
Each province and territory decides when coverage begins. In some provinces, newcomers must wait up to three months before public insurance becomes active.
Because of this waiting period, newcomers are strongly advised to buy private health insurance to cover their first months in Canada.
Coverage rules and start dates can differ by province, so it is important to check local requirements.
Public healthcare coverage is similar ans share the same base across Canada, but it is not exactly the same everywhere. Provinces may have different rules for their provincial health plans, but the idea is the same: you must apply, and coverage does not always start immediately.
Each province controls how healthcare is delivered and funded through its own provincial health plan. It has its own healthcare system with specific eligibility requirements and coverage details, so it is important to review the rules for your destination.
Let’s take a look at the differences in coverage across each province.
Health insurance for Canada provided in Alberta is known as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).
New permanent residents might be eligible for coverage on the date of their arrival in Alberta, so long as all validation requirements are met.
You will need to register for coverage. You can do this by submitting AHCIP registration forms and providing proof of residency in Alberta, government-issued ID, and proof that you are legally entitled to be in Canada. Suitable documentation includes a utility bill or pay stub, a passport or driver’s license, and a permanent resident card or port of entry immigration document.
Coverage provided by AHCIP includes medically-required physician services, psychiatrist visits, medically required diagnostic services, and certain dental surgeries. Some additional coverage is available for people under 19 and over 65.
Learn more about healthcare in Alberta.
Health insurance in British Columbia is known as the Medical Services Plan (MSP).
If eligible, you should apply for MSP as soon as you arrive in British Columbia, as you may have to wait up to three months after your arrival date for MSP to start covering your health care costs.
MSP coverage provides healthcare in Canada and includes services provided in British Columbia by physicians and midwives, dental and oral surgery performed in a hospital, necessary eye exams, x-rays, and some orthodontic services.
Residents used to pay a monthly premium for MSP, but this fee was eliminated in 2020.Learn more about healthcare in British Columbia.
Permanent residents in Manitoba are eligible for Manitoba healthcare coverage, known as Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living, as soon as their permanent residence status is granted.
In order to receive your health card and be eligible for coverage, you will need to present a photocopy of your passport, along with all immigration documents provided to you, and a completed Manitoba Health Registration Form.
Healthcare in Manitoba provides coverage for physicians’ services, surgeries, and x-ray and laboratory services when ordered by a physician.
Learn more about healthcare in Manitoba.
Medical care in New Brunswick is provided by New Brunswick Medicare.
Applications for coverage should be submitted to Medicare directly. This application will need to include an “Application for Registration – Medicare” form and copies of all Canadian immigration identification records, as well as an entry stamp on your passport. Once eligibility has been confirmed, you will receive a letter indicating your coverage start date.
Learn more about healthcare in New Brunswick.
Health coverage in Newfoundland and Labrador is provided by the Medical Care Plan (MCP).
To apply for coverage under the MCP, permanent residents will need to complete the Application for Newfoundland and Labrador Health Care Coverage form, as well as some other forms. They will also need to submit their Permanent Residence card or record.
Certain foreign workers and international students may also be eligible for coverage under the MCP.
Learn more about health care coverage in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The NWT Health Care Plan is the health insurer for residents of the Northwest Territories (NWT). These forms can be submitted online or mailed.
MSI provides first-day coverage to permanent residents moving to Nova Scotia. Those holding a valid work permit are also eligible for coverage, which will begin on the date of arrival in Nova Scotia or the date the work permit was issued (whichever is later).
To register for a Health Card in Nova Scotia, you must call the MSI Registration and Enquiry Department.
Learn more about health care in Nova Scotia.
Learn more about health care in Nunavut.
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan, or OHIP, is Ontario’s provincial health care plan. It can take up to three months after you’ve been approved for coverage before OHIP will cover the costs of your health care in Ontario. OHIP pays for doctor visits, hospital stays, abortions, podiatry, ambulance services, eligible dental surgery, and other services. If you live in northern Ontario, OHIP can also cover the cost of travel for health services. You can apply for OHIP at any Service Ontario office. You will need to provide:
Learn more about navigating the health care system in Ontario.
Health coverage in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is provided to those holding a valid PEI Health Card. Health coverage is provided to citizens and permanent residents three months after you establish residency in PEI.
Permanent residents applying for a PEI Health Card will need to complete an online form and attach a copy of their Confirmation of Permanent Residence document, or both sides of their Permanent Residence card.
Work permit holders and international students may also be eligible for health care coverage in PEI.
Learn more about health care in Prince Edward Island.
New residents arriving in Quebec from outside Canada will have to wait up to three months after their date of registration to become eligible for health care coverage in Quebec.It is recommended that you apply for coverage as soon as possible after arrival in Quebec.
You will need to complete the registration form to apply – this is not available online, so you will need to call the Régie or visit a Régie office to obtain one. If you visit an office in-person, you can complete the form during the same visit so long as you have the necessary proof-of-identity documentation with you.
For permanent residents, this documentation includes originals of your permanent resident card (or other document issued by immigration authorities which proves permanent residency) and, in most cases, your Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Proof of residence in Quebec can be demonstrated by providing a copy of a residential lease, deed of purchase for a residential property, or attestation from an employer.
Temporary workers, who can provide an immigration document showing their employer’s name and stating they may work in Quebec for at least six months, are also eligible for health care coverage in Quebec.
Learn more about health care in Quebec.
Permanent residents and eligible temporary residents moving to Saskatchewan may be eligible for health coverage on or before the first day of their third month after arriving in Canada.
Copies of documents proving your legal entitlement to be in Canada, residency in Saskatchewan, and identity must be provided. You can apply for the Saskatchewan Health Card online.
All medically necessary services, including both inpatient and outpatient services, are included with Saskatchewan Health Card coverage. Saskatchewan also provides some supplemental services, including dental services and prescription drugs, to recommended individuals.
Learn more about health care in Saskatchewan.
Yukon Health Care Insurance provides coverage for residents of the Yukon. You must register for coverage in person.
Primary care is the starting point for most medical services in Canada. For many people, a family doctor is their main contact for health care.
Family doctors usually:
Finding a family doctor can be difficult in some areas. Canada faces shortages of family doctors and nurses, especially in rural and remote regions. Because of this, many people experience long wait times for specialist care, mental health services, and some surgeries.
While governments are working on primary care reforms, access remains uneven across the country.
If you do not have a family doctor yet, you can:
For step-by-step guidance, see our full guide: How to Find a Family Doctor in Canada
Hospital care and emergency services are fully covered under Medicare.
However:
Most dental care in Canada is paid through employer insurance or out of pocket. Because of high costs, many people delay or skip dental care. To help address this, the federal government introduced new dental programs, including the Canada Dental Benefit and the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). These programs are expanding, but coverage is still limited and eligibility rules apply.
Canada offers universal coverage, but long wait times remain a major challenge. Many people wait weeks or months for specialist visits or surgery. After-hours care is also limited in many regions.
International comparisons show that:
On the positive side, Canada performs well in preventive care, such as cancer screening. Life expectancy is 81.7 years, higher than the OECD average, and preventable deaths are relatively low.
Canada has many skilled healthcare professionals, but access is not equal everywhere. Rural, northern, and remote communities often face staff shortages. An aging population and higher demand for services also add pressure to the system.
Governments are investing in solutions such as:
These efforts are improving access, but progress takes time.
Canada is working to expand public coverage and improve access. Recent initiatives include:
These reforms are still developing and may take several years to fully apply across the country.
To sum it up, this short checklist covers the main steps newcomers should follow to get healthcare in Canada:
If you are pregnant and moving to Canada, see our guide for pregnant newcomers for more detailed information.
This depends on the province or territory where you live. Some provinces offer health coverage as soon as you arrive and meet the eligibility rules. Others have a waiting period of up to three months. During this time, you must pay for medical care yourself, so private health insurance is strongly recommended for newcomers.
Most medically necessary surgery is covered under public healthcare if it is performed in a hospital and you have a valid provincial health card. This means you usually do not pay upfront for the surgery itself. However, some related costs, such as medications, private rooms, or rehabilitation services, may not be covered.
Most Canadians do not pay directly for doctor visits or hospital care, as these are funded through taxes. However, people still pay for services not covered by public plans, such as dental care, prescription drugs, vision care, and some ambulance services. Many Canadians use employer insurance or pay out of pocket for these costs.
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