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Moving to a new country comes with plenty of adjustments and understanding what to do during a medical emergency is one of the most important.
Medical emergencies are scary. They often happen when you least expect and how you respond can have a big impact. If you recently moved to Canada, you’re navigating a new medical system and that can make it even scarier. This is why it’s important to understand what to do during a medical emergency.
Canada has a publicly funded healthcare system, but it works differently from those in many other countries, and not all newcomers are covered. Knowing who to call, where to go, and what healthcare coverage you have before an emergency happens can save valuable time, reduce stress, and help you avoid unexpected medical bills.
Whether you’ve recently arrived as a permanent resident, temporary worker, international student, or visitor, here’s how to handle a medical emergency as a newcomer in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Call 911 immediately if you or someone else is experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency.
- If your condition isn’t life-threatening, urgent care centres, walk-in clinics, 811, or your family doctors may be better options.
- You can receive emergency medical care even if you don’t have provincial health insurance, but you may have to pay.
- Having the right health insurance can help protect you from unexpected healthcare costs during emergencies.
What to Do During a Medical Emergency in Canada
Medical emergencies are a part of life. None of us wants to experience them, but sooner or later, many of us will have to navigate a crisis. Knowing what to do in advance can help you navigate the emergency, even during the stress of the moment. If a medical emergency arises, here’s what you can do handle the situation:
Stay Calm and Assess the Situation
The first step is to stay as calm as possible and quickly assess whether the situation is life-threatening. This includes situations such as chest pain or other signs of a heart attack, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke (including facial drooping, arm weakness, or difficulty speaking), loss of consciousness, serious burns, major head injuries, or a severe allergic reaction.
Call 911 for Life-Threatening Medical Emergencies
If someone (including you) has symptoms that could be life-threatening, call 911 immediately.
The emergency dispatcher will ask questions about the person’s condition and your location before sending the appropriate emergency responders (ambulance, EMT, etc.). Stay on the line until you’re told to hang up and follow any instructions you receive while waiting for help to arrive.
If you’re not proficient in English or French, don’t worry. In most provinces, emergency dispatch centers have interpretation services available. Ask for an interpreter, or just clearly state the language you can comfortably speak. (For example, say “Spanish” or “Arabic”.)
If the situation isn’t life-threatening, you don’t need to call 911. Instead, choosing the right healthcare facility can help you receive the care you need more quickly while keeping emergency resources available for those who need them most.
Choosing the Right Healthcare Facility in Canada
Not every illness or injury requires an emergency room (ER) visit. Canada’s healthcare system has several types of healthcare facilities; each geared to a different use case.
When Should You Go to an Emergency Room in Canada?
Emergency departments are intended for serious medical conditions that require immediate treatment. If you or someone else is experiencing a medical emergency, you should either call 911 or head straight to an emergency room.
When you arrive, you’ll first be assessed by a triage nurse, who determines how urgently you need care based on the severity of your condition. Don’t expect a first-come-first-served approach at the ER.
That said, the triage staff will likely administer some first aid, if it is needed and hasn’t been done already.
Wait times at the ER can vary significantly, depending on your situation, the time of day, as well as staffing levels in the hospital. Someone with a minor injury may have to wait several hours if the emergency department is treating patients with heart attacks, strokes, or other life-threatening conditions.
If you’re able to do so, bring:
- Your provincial health card (if you have one)
- Government-issued identification
- Your private health insurance information, if needed
- A list of your medications
- Information about any allergies or existing medical conditions
However, don’t delay seeking emergency care if you don’t have these documents with you. Instead, you can ask a family member or friend to get these for you while you wait in triage.
When Should You Visit an Urgent Care Centre or Walk-in Clinic?
If your condition is urgent but not life-threatening, you may receive care more quickly at an urgent care centre or walk-in clinic, depending on what’s available where you live.
Urgent Care Centres typically provide care for urgent issues that are not life-threatening. Walk-in clinics can also provide care to urgent non-life-threatening issues, but a walk-in clinic is broader, typically providing first-come first-served care to patients for both urgent and semi-urgent issues.
If you’re unsure where to go, many provinces provide access to 811, a free telephone service that connects you with a registered nurse. They can assess your symptoms, recommend the most appropriate type of care, and advise whether you should seek immediate medical attention.
If your situation isn’t urgent, schedule an appointment with your family doctor (if you have one) or visit a walk-in clinic. Whenever possible, it is best to seek preventative care before a health issue becomes urgent.
Can You Get Emergency Medical Care Without Provincial Health Insurance?
Yes, Canadian hospitals provide emergency medical treatment regardless of whether you have provincial health insurance. If your condition requires immediate care, you won’t be turned away because you don’t have a health card. However, just because you receive treatment it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free.
If you aren’t covered by a provincial health plan or private health insurance, you will receive a bill for the care you receive. Depending on the treatment required, emergency medical costs can quickly become expensive.
This situation most commonly affects newcomers who are waiting for provincial health coverage to begin, international students or foreign workers who aren’t eligible for provincial healthcare in their province, and visitors to Canada. That’s why it’s important to arrange appropriate health insurance before you need medical care.
Our trusted partner, Cigna Healthcare, offers customizable plans that can support a wide range of healthcare needs, whether you’re moving permanently or staying in Canada temporarily.
Stay protected in Canada!
Stay protected from day one in Canada!
Tips for Handling a Medical Emergency as a Newcomer in Canada
Get Health Insurance as Soon as Possible
One of the best ways to prepare for a medical emergency is to arrange for healthcare coverage that begins as soon as you arrive in Canada.
If you’re eligible for provincial healthcare, apply as soon as you establish residency. Depending on the province, you may first need to obtain a provincial ID or complete other registration requirements before you can apply for a health card. While some provinces provide coverage immediately, others have a waiting period before your provincial health insurance takes effect. Check the rules for your province here.
If there’s a waiting period, consider purchasing travel medical insurance or private health insurance to protect yourself until your provincial coverage begins. If you’re working in Canada, check whether your employer offers group health insurance, but keep in mind that workplace benefits often have their own three- or six-month waiting period.
Even after you’re covered by a provincial health plan or employer benefits, supplemental private health insurance can help fill important gaps. Public healthcare generally doesn’t cover expenses such as prescription drugs outside hospitals, dental care, vision care, and many paramedical services.
Our partner, Cigna Healthcare, provides flexible health insurance plans that can complement provincial or employer-sponsored coverage, helping you choose the level of protection that’s right for your situation and budget.
Know Where to Get Medical Care Before You Need It
One of the easiest ways to prepare for an emergency is to familiarize yourself with your local healthcare options before something goes wrong.
Take a few minutes after moving to identify the nearest hospital emergency department, urgent care centre, and walk-in clinic. It’s also worth saving 911 and 811 in your phone so you don’t have to search for the right number during a stressful situation.
Keep Your Medical Information Easily Accessible
If you have allergies, take prescription medications, or have an existing medical condition, keep that information somewhere easy to access, such as your phone or wallet. It’s also helpful to have your health insurance details and an emergency contact readily available.
Having this information on hand can help healthcare providers make informed treatment decisions, particularly if you’re unable to communicate clearly during an emergency.
Tip: Some phones, such as the iPhone, have a built-in medical ID that can be accessed even when your phone is locked. You can save your blood type, allergy, medication, and health condition information, organ donation preferences, and emergency contact there. Just remember to keep it up to date.
Learn Basic First Aid
While first aid is never a substitute for professional medical care, knowing how to respond before emergency services arrive can make a meaningful difference. The Canadian Red Cross and YMCAs across Canada regularly offer first aid training.
Learning how to recognize the signs of a heart attack or stroke, control severe bleeding, or respond to choking or burns can help you provide immediate assistance until trained professionals take over.
How Private Health Insurance Can Help During a Medical Emergency
Canada’s public healthcare system covers medically necessary hospital and physician services for eligible residents, but it doesn’t cover every healthcare expense, and not everyone is eligible for coverage immediately after arriving.
If you’re waiting for provincial healthcare to begin or don’t qualify for public coverage, private health insurance can help protect you from the potentially high cost of unexpected medical care.
Even after you’re enrolled in a provincial health plan, private health insurance can complement your public coverage by helping pay for eligible expenses that provincial plans don’t typically cover, such as prescription medications outside hospitals, physiotherapy and other paramedical services, dental and vision care, and ambulance fees in some provinces.
Choosing health insurance before you need it can give you greater financial protection and one less thing to worry about if a medical emergency occurs.
Our trusted partner, Cigna Healthcare, offers flexible health insurance plans designed for newcomers, whether you’re moving permanently or temporarily. You can customize your coverage based on your healthcare needs and budget.
Exploring private cover options can help you avoid gaps in protection
Exploring private cover options early can help you avoid gaps in protection
Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Emergencies in Canada
Can I go to a Canadian hospital without a health card?
Yes, hospitals will provide emergency medical treatment even if you don’t have your provincial health card with you. If you aren’t covered by provincial or private health insurance, you will likely be responsible for the cost of your care.
Do newcomers have to pay for emergency medical care in Canada?
It depends. If you’re covered by a provincial health insurance plan, medically necessary emergency hospital care is generally covered. If you aren’t covered, you will likely receive a bill for eligible expenses.
Should I call 911 or go directly to the emergency room?
Call 911 if someone has a life-threatening medical emergency or requires an ambulance. If your condition isn’t life-threatening and you can safely travel to the hospital yourself, you may choose to go directly to the emergency department or another appropriate healthcare facility.
Does private health insurance cover medical emergencies in Canada?
Your coverage will depend on the policy you’ve chosen. Many private health insurance plans help cover eligible emergency medical expenses for newcomers who aren’t yet covered by provincial healthcare or who need additional protection beyond their public coverage.
Where can I get non-emergency medical advice?
Many provinces offer 811, a free health information service staffed by registered nurses. They can provide advice about your symptoms and help you decide where to seek care. Think of it as a virtual triaging service, not holistic emergency care.
Are ambulance services free in Canada?
Not always. While medically necessary hospital care is generally covered for people who are eligible for provincial healthcare, ambulance services are often billed separately. Coverage and fees vary by province and territory.
In some provinces, eligible residents pay a reduced fee, while others may face higher charges if the ambulance use isn’t considered medically necessary. If you aren’t covered by a provincial health plan, you may be responsible for the full cost of ambulance services. Many private health insurance plans include coverage for eligible ambulance expenses, helping reduce your out-of-pocket costs. You may also be able to get ambulance costs reimbursed through a Health Spending Account (HSA), if you have one through your employer’s plan.
More Helpful Healthcare Resources for Newcomers to Canada
- Learn how prescriptions work in Canada.
- New to Canada? Our article Coverage on Your First Months in Canada dives into health insurance coverage, who qualifies for provincial plans, and what to do if you don’t.
- Learn how to compare health insurance providers in Canada.
- Between jobs? Understand your health insurance options after leaving a job.
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