Let's give three cheers for publicly-funded health care. Canada is widely appreciated for its accessible healthcare system, Medicare.
Medicare ensures that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents receive essential medical care, free of cost.
It covers hospital care, and doctor visits, while prescriptions and some services such as dentistry and optometry, etc, are paid out-of-pocket.
For newcomers, depending on the province, there may be a waiting period before provincial health care coverage begins. The waiting period can be up to 3 months long, and if a medical situation or emergency were to arise during this period, it could cost up to thousands of dollars, paid out-of-pocket.
To avoid a major financial burden, it's highly recommended to purchase private, short-term health insurance until Medicare coverage is granted.
When it comes to health care coverage, each province/territory makes its own rules. The length of time you have to wait to get covered by Medicare depends on what province or territory you decide to move to.
Wait times to receive residency and therefore Medicare are as follows:
Nova Scotia: No waiting period
Nunavut: 3 months
Ontario: 3 months
Prince Edward Island: No waiting period
Quebec: 3 months
Saskatchewan: 3 months
Yukon: 3 months
Alberta: No waiting period
BC: 3 months
Manitoba: 3 months
Newfoundland and Labrador: No waiting period
Refugees may be eligible for temporary coverage at no cost through the Interim Federal Health Program.
There is nothing more stressful than arriving in a new country and having a health emergency. It’s strongly encouraged to apply for temporary private health insurance within the first five days of arriving in Canada.
There are different health insurance plans for different needs. The three main types of plans for comprehensive health care coverage include:
Temporary plans provide health care coverage for newcomers who are waiting for provincial coverage, and temporary workers in Canada. The cost of these plans varies and is based on factors such as age, health status, coverage level, and which insurer you choose.
On average, a plan can range from CA$50 to CA$200 per month.
Public health insurance plans give you access to the same basic medical services covered by Medicare. Private health insurance can cover extras such as:
Prescription medications
Dental care
Physiotherapy
Ambulance services
Prescription eyeglasses
Sometimes it's worth it to cover all the bases, even if you have Medicare on your side. Comprehensive long-term plans can be for those who have obtained residency and are covered for free under Medicare’s basic insurance. These plans cover extras such as dental, vision, prescriptions, etc.
On average, yearly premiums for comprehensive health insurance plans in Canada range from CA$600 to CA$900.
Nothing ruins a holiday or family visit more than having to pay up to hundreds of thousands of dollars for unexpected medical expenses abroad. Travel insurance is highly recommended for Canadians planning international travel, and for newcomers who are transitioning to permanent residency, who may have to travel back and forth from their country of origin.
These plans cover medical treatment for emergencies that may happen while outside of Canada.
The cost varies depending on health status, destination country, and length of travel.
It's good to take a close look at the insurance companies that provide health coverage before you hand over large sums of money to protect yourself and your family.
Major providers in Canada include:
Sun Life
Manulife
Blue Cross
CAA
These companies provide coverage for anyone in Canada, regardless of location.
Coverage includes prescription medication, extras such as dental, vision, and physiotherapy, and emergency care.
In addition to the coverage listed above, ManuLife also covers travel-related medical emergencies, Blue Cross includes coverage for pre-existing medical conditions with options to add on travel medical coverage and accidental death insurance, and CAA offers coverage for diagnostic tests and lab work, dental accidents, and travel medical coverage.
Several smaller province-wide companies provide excellent health insurance plans at affordable prices. It’s helpful to spend some time researching different plans so that you can find the right one for your individual needs and budget.
Before purchasing a plan, consider all of the details of your individual needs.
Carefully assess your needs and budget.
Research and compare plans from major providers as well as smaller provincial providers.
Gather all required documents for the application. The requirements vary by province/territory and by which type of insurance you are purchasing. Your provider will specify which documents are needed. Documents may include:
Proof of Residency
Immigration status document
Government-issued photo I.D. such as a driver’s license
Apply online, or in person through an insurance broker.
Avoid application denial by being honest and accurate about your current health status.
Review your application before submitting it.
If you need support, don’t hesitate to contact local immigrant-serving organizations or community health centers for assistance.
Stay informed. Coverage plans are constantly updated, so stay current by keeping up with your individual coverage, rights, and available services. You can do this by opting to receive emails from your provider and asking your agent to inform you if details regarding coverage happen to change.
Even with the benefits of Medicare, comprehensive health care remains inaccessible to many. Aimed to support underserved demographics such as including low-income families, newcomers, and Indigenous communities, CHCs are teams of professionals who provide affordable primary care, promote health equity, and address social factors such as housing and education.
Medication is big business, and not necessarily affordable. Some demographics struggle to access the meds that they need. Pharmacy discount programs help shoulder some of the costs of medication, and some programs also offer discounts on over-the-counter products and basic health services.
Government workers such as those working in health care often have benefits that include family health coverage plans. This means that many dental procedures and optometry needs are covered for spouses and children (up to a certain age–for example, in BC, coverage lasts until the dependent is 26 years old).
Some educational institutions provide coverage plans for students to give them access to services like dental and optometry for free. Many plans also include physiotherapy and travel insurance.
Newcomers can find ease in the transition to Canadian residency by taking advantage of the many resources that the country has to offer in the areas of health care, immigration, and social support.
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