Healthcare in Canada

For Canadian residents who have previously lived in countries like the UK, Australia or NZ, or many European countries, this type of system might seem familiar. But Canada’s system is actually quite unique, in that it’s made up of 13 provincial and territorial health care insurance plans — instead of one larger federal/national level plan.

At the governmental levels, the provinces/territories are each responsible for managing, organizing, and delivering health care services for the residents of that province/territory. At the federal level, the government sets and administers national standards, provides funding, and supports delivery of healthcare to certain groups of people, including some refugees.

So what does this all mean for you when you come to Canada?

Well, it means that you will have to dig into the specific coverage and requirements of your province or territory for starters!

Key Takeaways

• Canada’s healthcare system is provincial, not national – Each province or territory manages its own health insurance plan, with varying rules, coverage start dates, and eligibility for newcomers, including permanent residents, international students, and temporary workers.

• Waiting periods and gaps in coverage exist – Some provinces impose a wait of up to three months for newcomers to access public healthcare, and public coverage often excludes services like prescription drugs, dental care, and mental health support.

• Private insurance is often necessary – Many newcomers rely on private insurance during waiting periods or to cover services excluded from public plans; temporary residents may even be required to have private insurance before arrival.

• Eligibility and registration processes differ by province – Each province has its own steps and required documents to apply for health coverage; some offer immediate coverage, while others have delays and documentation requirements.

• Access and quality vary depending on location and income – While some find Canada’s healthcare effective, others experience long wait times or limited access, especially in rural areas or without supplemental private coverage.

Who Is Eligible for Healthcare Coverage in Canada?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as some foreign workers on work permits and some international students, may apply for public health insurance from their province or territory. We dig into eligibility for the provincial and territorial health care plans later in this post.

In some provinces, new permanent residents will have access to provincial health insurance coverage as soon as they arrive. In others, there is a waiting period of up to three months. As for temporary workers and international students? Access to publicly-funded coverage varies across Canada.

As a result, you may want to look into private health insurance to cover your needs during this period. Visit BestQuote, or get a free quote here from Cigna, to see which policies may be available to you. Temporary residents, including workers and students, can review their options for travel insurance in Canada here (in some cases, it may be mandatory to take out an insurance policy before arriving in Canada).

But — Canada’s public system isn’t the only healthcare system in Canada. There are also a host of healthcare services and products that are not covered by the public funding. These products and services are often referred to as ‘gaps in Canada’s system‘. In other words, there are aspects of healthcare that are not free in Canada — like prescription medications, and some paramedical services.

As a result, even newcomers to Canada who are eligible for public coverage in their province of residence may purchase private health insurance for services not covered by provincial coverage for healthcare in Canada. Insurance can cover prescriptions, dental and optical services, and other forms of paramedical care (such as physical therapy or mental health services).

Many (though not all) employers will also provide this kind of coverage as a term of your employment (or at least offer subsidized private health insurance), though coverage may only be available if or when you complete a probationary period of employment. So, if you’re coming to Canada to start work, you may not be covered by Canada’s public or private systems for 3-6 months — or even longer in some cases.

Related: Canadian travel insurance guide for newcomers travelling outside Canada.

Do you use prescription drugs and are wondering how to get them in Canada? Check out our guide on prescriptions for newcomers.

Is the Canadian healthcare system good?

Your answer to this question will likely vary depending on factors like where you live, whether you have issues finding a family doctor, and quite frankly whether you can easily afford the aspects of Canada’s healthcare system that aren’t publicly funded.

For instance, there are growing numbers of telehealth providers that provide convenient online/over-the-phone appointments for those who can’t get in to see their family doctors soon enough. But these providers are often only accessible for a fee or through private coverage. One example is Maple, a partner of Moving2Canada. Maple lets you skip the walk-in clinic and get 24/7 access to medical care, including prescriptions, sick notes, lab work and specialty care.

For people who are able to afford additional coverage or who get it through their employers or who live in areas with healthy levels of family doctors and specialists, Canada’s healthcare system can seem quite good. Sure, there are delays in non-urgent care but that exists in almost every healthcare system in the world.

However, for others, particularly those who aren’t able to access primary care, the healthcare system in Canada may seem to extremely poor. There are often long waits for non-life threatening visits to the hospital, even for painful conditions like broken bones. And access to mental health resources in Canada is often expensive and not well covered — even by many private health insurers. So, whether you perceive Canada’s healthcare system as good likely depends on your needs as well as your financial situation.

What happens if you don’t have health insurance in Canada?

Anyone without health insurance is going to need to pay for access to Canada’s healthcare system — either the publicly funded system and the private providers or non-covered products and services.

So, if you’re in Canada without access to healthcare and you fall and break your arm or otherwise need to see a family doctor or visit a hospital, you will need to cover the costs out-of-pocket. These are often extremely expensive.

We strongly recommend private coverage for those who are coming to Canada (either to live or visit) and who won’t have immediate coverage through Canada’s publicly-funded system. Consider getting a quote from BestQuote if you’re in this situation, or through Cigna Healthcare if you want longer-term (4+ months) coverage or more comprehensive coverage in multiple countries.

Healthcare in Canada outside your province of residence

Medical coverage in any Canadian province will give you access to basic health services in any other province across Canada.

For example, if you are covered by the province of Ontario and need to access emergency medical services when physically present in Manitoba, you may obtain those services.

However, it is important to keep in mind that this comes with some restrictions, and you may incur costs for some services, such as ambulance transportation, some emergency dental services, and the purchase of prescription drugs, if you receive them outside your province of residence. Knowing this is crucial to understanding healthcare in Canada.

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:

• a completed Registration for Ontario Health Coverage (0265-82) form; and
• three separate, original identification documents:
  • proof of your Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status (e.g. Canadian birth certificate, Permanent Resident Card),
  • proof that you live in Ontario (e.g. Ontario driver’s licence, income tax assessment), and
  • a document that supports your identity (e.g. a credit card, or a passport from any country).

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.

Health care in Canada: More helpful information

Now that you know more about health care in Canada, it’s time to explore some other helpful resources.

Get started by researching the cost of private health insurance coverage. We recommend two companies that provide free quotes to help you understand your options. Visit BestQuote, and get a free quote here from Cigna, to see which policies may be available to you.

• Travel insurance for Canada
• Getting a driver’s license in Canada
• Your first week in Canada
• More resources for living in Canada

How to Choose Health Insurance in Canada

When choosing health insurance in Canada, be sure to check the coverage each provider is offering.

Here are some questions you should ask before choosing health insurance:

• What it covered? look at exactly what health issues are covered. Some providers may exclude certain health issues from coverage.
• When it pays a benefit? There may be restrictions on when health insurance pays out.
• How payments are paid out? Some providers pay monthly, some will give you a lump sum. Others will only pay once you have incurred the expense. Check how payments are paid out to make sure they align with your financial circumstances.
• Is there a cap on how much they will pay? Some providers may cap the amount they will pay out.

These are all important considerations when choosing Health Insurance in Canada.

Understanding Medical Services for Newcomers

Navigating medical services can be complex for newcomers. Each province operates their medical services differently however in most cases, your first point of contact for medical services should be primary health care services provided by each province. Most provinces also have a telephone health information service staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by knowledgeable, experienced nurses and is free of charge for residents of Canada. When in doubt, call your provinces health information line.