Health Card Eligibility in Canada: Top 3 Provinces

Sanjay Yadav
[Published 10 Sep, 2024 | 11:57 AM]
About Author - 5 min read
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If you are seeking to apply for Canada PR Visa from India, you must be familiar with the Healthcare facilities for overseas nationals in Canada. Even if you wish to arrive as a TR – Temporary Resident, it is crucial to get coverage of public healthcare in your chosen destination in Canada.

If you do not register for Healthcare, you may end up paying thousands of dollars for the required healthcare in Canada.

To avail of public healthcare facilities in your chosen Province, you will require a Health card. Here are the policies of the top 3 Provinces in Canada regarding the eligibility requirements for the Health Card:

Ontario

To qualify for a Health card in the Province of Ontario, overseas citizens have to fulfil a minimum of one of the extra criteria specified by the Ontario Provincial Government. It has to be noted that the province does not mandate new immigrants to wait to qualify for coverage under provincial healthcare.

The applicants have to particularly be a resident of Ontario and must also be:

• Permanent Resident, Indigenous person or citizen of Canada
• Filing application for Canadian Permanent Residence
• Have a lawful Work Permit, working for an employer in Ontario for a minimum of 6 months
• A protected person or a convention refugee according to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
• Having a Temporary Resident / TR Permit, exceptions applicable
• A member of the clergy who can remain in Canada lawfully and will be ministering in Ontario full-time for a minimum of six months

British Columbia

To qualify for coverage under public medical care under the MSP - Medical Services Plan inclusive of a health card, immigrants have to be established as resident in British Columbia.

The British Columbia Provincial Government defines a ‘Resident’ as one who fulfils the below three conditions:

• A Canadian Citizens or admitted lawfully to Canada for Permanent Residence
• Make a home in BC for themselves
• Have a physical residence in BC for a minimum of 6 months in one calendar year

Eligibility in BC for Health card as a Temporary Resident

The criteria specified above are applicable to Permanent Residents in BC. However, the Government of British Columbia also observes that a few immigrants may also be considered as residents when it comes to MSP. It includes Work and/or Study Permits holders inclusive of those on Working and Holiday Programs offered Work Permits as per the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and having a validity of 6 or more months.

Conditional eligibility is also applicable to those who are TRs having maintained status.

Note that the British Columbia Provincial Government mandates new immigrants to wait ‘ the balance of the month in which they establish the residence plus 2 months’ before obtaining eligibility for coverage of public healthcare in the province.

Alberta

To qualify for a Health card and consequential coverage of healthcare in Alberta, the PR Visa holders have to fulfil the below criteria:

• Have lawful entitlement and stay in Canada and make your permanent home in Alberta
• Have a commitment to physically reside in Alberta for a minimum of 183 days in any period of 12 months
• Not claim residency or get perks through a residency claim in another territory, province, or nation
• Become eligible as any other individual considered a resident as per the regulations

Apart from the above, TRs in Alberta also qualify for coverage under public healthcare. Nevertheless, this eligibility differs based on the individual’s purpose of staying in Alberta. This is inclusive of overseas students and provisional workers.

Note: Alberta mandates that new immigrants wait for 90 days before becoming qualified for coverage under public healthcare.

Further, if you want to know about Healthcare Jobs in Canada and details of the AHCIP - Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan and application process for Health Card, you can obtain help from Immigration Experts.

If you wish to apply for a Canada PR Visa through any of the Provincial Nominee Programs or Express Entry, contact the Best Immigration Consultants in India - Nationwide Visas.

Read More:- How to Navigate the Canadian Healthcare System as an Immigrant?