Understanding the Healthcare System in Canada

Surya Rathee
[Published 25 Jun, 2024 | 04:20 PM]
About Author - 7 min read
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Healthcare in Canada is publicly funded, meaning the medical expenses and other costs related to health are shared by taxpayers. Those eligible for healthcare in Canada typically do not have to pay for most healthcare and hospital services in Canada.

Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents (PRs), as well as some Work Permit and Study Visa holders, may apply for this publicly funded health insurance from their province or territory. In some provinces, new candidates who apply for Canada PR have access to provincial health insurance coverage as soon as they arrive in the country. While in others, there’s a waiting period of up to three months.

Since healthcare in Canada is managed at the provincial level, each province operates a different healthcare system. For instance, apart from the waiting period difference, the costs involved and the documents required may also vary depending on the province or territory.

Healthcare in Canada by Province/Territory

Alberta

• Insurance Name: Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP).
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes medically required physician services, psychiatrist visits, medically required diagnostic services, and certain dental surgeries. Partial coverage for podiatry and optometry services.

British Columbia

• Insurance Name: Medical Services Plan (MSP).
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: Wait up to three months.
• Coverage: Includes services provided by physicians and midwives in BC, dental and oral surgery performed in a hospital, eye exams, x-rays, and some orthodontic services. 

Manitoba

• Insurance Name: Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes physicians’ services, surgeries, and x-ray and laboratory services when ordered by a physician.

New Brunswick

• Insurance Name: New Brunswick Medicare.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes physician’s services, certain specified surgical dental procedures, and most hospital services.

Newfoundland & Labrador

• Insurance Name: Medical Care Plan (MCP).
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes physician’s services, hospital visits, surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, pre-and post-operative care, complete maternity care, radiology interpretive services, and certain surgical-dental procedures.

Northwest Territories

• Insurance Name: NWT Health Care Plan.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: Wait up to three months.
• Coverage: Includes basic hospital and medical treatment.

Nova Scotia

• Insurance Name: Medical Services Insurance (MSI) Program.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes physician’s services, hospital services, medical, dental, prostheses, and some optometry services.

Nunavut

• Insurance Name: Nunavut Health Care Plan.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes the cost of physician and hospital services.

Ontario

• Insurance Name: Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: Wait up to three months.
• Coverage: Doctor visits, hospital visits and stays, medical or surgical abortions, eligible dental surgery and optometry, podiatry, ambulance services, and travel for health services if you live in northern Ontario.

Prince Edward Island

• Insurance Name: PEI Health Card.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: On arrival.
• Coverage: Includes childhood immunizations, primary care such as diagnosis, treatment, education, disease prevention, and screening, and in-patient or out-patient hospital services.

Quebec

• Insurance Name: Québec Health Insurance Plan.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: Wait up to three months.
• Coverage: Includes medical procedures, anaesthetics, medical examinations, eye drops, diagnostic mammograms, urine and glycaemia tests, and vasectomy.

Saskatchewan

• Insurance Name: Saskatchewan Health Cards.
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: Wait up to three months.
• Coverage: Includes all medically necessary services provided by physicians (inpatient and outpatient services), physiotherapy or occupational therapy, screening mammography, immunization services, sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment, HIV testing, services for treating alcohol and drug abuse problems, mental health services, problem gambling services, and some supplementary health services.

Yukon

• Insurance Name: Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan (YHCIP).
• Eligibility for Permanent Residents: Wait up to three months.
• Coverage: Includes hospital and medical services, and certain dental-surgical procedures.

How to apply for healthcare in Canada?

To access medical services in Canada, you need a health insurance card. Each province and territory issues these cards to its residents. As a newcomer who went through the Canada Immigration process, you have to apply to the provincial/territorial government to get the card.

This depends on the province or territory you are living in. For example, if you reside in Ontario, you must visit Service Ontario to apply for a health insurance card. On the other hand, if you’re living in Alberta, you should visit Service Alberta.

Your province’s or territory’s website will have addresses to the physical locations and the documents required for your application. If eligible, you can simply walk into the location closest to you and apply for your health card. All applications must be submitted in person. The documents you need as part of your application may vary - but mainly include proof of residency, government-issued IDs, and other immigration-related documents.

Navigating the complexities of healthcare in Canada can sometimes be a daunting task - especially for first-time immigrants. In case you’re having trouble, most provinces/territories also have a telephone health information service available 24X7. Alternatively, if you’re just starting your process to apply for Canada PR, you can reach out to Canada Immigration Consultants at Nationwide Visas.

Good Luck!

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