How to Get Free Healthcare in Canada as an Immigrant/Non-Citizen?

Are you looking forward to applying for health insurance in Canada? In Canada, obtaining health insurance is a necessary process to complete. But once you achieve it, there is no limit to availing of the inpatient and outpatient services here. 

Just like the education system, the health care system in Canada is also regarded as one of the greatest in the globe. You need health insurance coverage as soon as you reach here in Canada. Instead of paying out more than your pocket, this provincial health insurance coverage helps create financial ease. Private health coverage is also mandatory for some reasons.

All the provinces have different healthcare centers and provide varied eligibility criteria that you may know further in this guide. Get ready, and take all your belongings to settle here ASAP! 

But before doing so, have a look at this informative guide to making your journey of getting health insurance smooth.

Health Insurance In Canada For New Immigrants

Recently, it was reported that the federal government is considering offering new health insurance for immigrants, including updated policies. This is excellent news for people migrating from other countries in the world. 

This gives you access to good medical treatment and facilities within the community. As a result, you may be capable of better care for your family and yourself. Many issues related to this matter were considered by June 1, 2020. 

More than half of the population has access to all the provinces and territories. You can receive health coverage through employer-sponsored plans as well as self-funded plans. You can also have access to insurance as a student or if you are a temporary resident in Canada.

New immigrants indeed have many medical needs. Most immigrants need health services, especially during pregnancy or in case of illness like tuberculosis. You could receive medical aid in private hospitals and clinics to prevent this from happening.

With the cost-sharing and insurance policies, you can pay part of the premium for treatment at one hospital or another. You could even choose a location where a doctor is on staff to treat you.

You might require a fee of $5000 for non-urgent surgery so that you could use this opportunity for insurance in such cases. 

How Does Canadian Insurance For New Immigrants Work?

The Canadian healthcare system is not only for the citizens of Canada but also for people who have recently immigrated to the country.

The purpose of health insurance for newcomers in Canada is to protect against possible economic damages brought on by unforeseen illnesses and accidents that require immediate medical attention. 

Sometimes you are on a waiting list due to your inability to get medical insurance from the provinces wherever you reside. These provinces include Quebec City, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. In this case, you can access this health insurance.

You can also have private health insurance while immigrating to Canada. You can visit other nations under this health insurance except for your motherland and from where you come. This policy is valid until you reside here in Canada.

It takes about two to three months to obtain health insurance issued by the respective province. So we must advise you to apply for private medical coverage to avoid any financial burden during any medical emergency.

There are two types of health insurance in Canada: public and private. You can choose whichever one best suits your needs.

Public Health Insurance

The government provides this type of insurance, so it doesn’t cost anything unless you want to see a doctor, take medicine, or receive treatment. It covers most medical services, including dental care for children under 18 years old, but not prescription drugs or vision care.

Private Health Insurance

You can also choose private health insurance if you want better coverage for prescription drugs or vision care or if you don’t want to suffer a waiting period for an appointment with your doctor because he or she might be busy at the time. 

Private insurance can cost hundreds of dollars every year, depending on what kind of coverage you buy, so you should consider it before deciding whether or not it’s worth the money spent on it each month.

Healthcare System In Canada

Canada’s healthcare system means that the taxpayers contribute a portion of the expense of medical bills. Due to Canada’s single-payer system, you don’t need to spend money on the majority of the medical bills, or you just have to pay less.

Single-payer system in Canada deals with the payment of medical bills of residents of Canada by the government. This system is mainly termed ‘Medicare’ for all and is accessible to patients who are disabled or older than 65.

You can apply for health insurance via the province where you intend to live. The insurance may cover the following:

• Prescriptions and medications.
• Dental and vision treatments.
• Physiotherapy.
• Psychiatrist therapy.

You can also avail of this insurance offer if you are a worker or employer. Several companies will allow you to have this form of coverage. You could only be eligible if you have completed the trial period of your employment.

In Canada, healthcare is managed by the provincial state, and every province shows its unique system. Thirteen different territorial medical insurance schemes are available. 

Canadian Healthcare Outside Of Your Province

Suppose you may receive essential health benefits in any of the provinces of Canada. For instance, if you are a resident of Ontario province and have insurance coverage in this province. 

But for some reason, you are currently present in any other province like Manitoba, and suddenly you need a medical emergency. Then you can use this insurance coverage while still being in Manitoba.

You should be aware that there are certain limitations, and if you obtain specific treatments beyond your province of residency, then you may have to pay for such therapies like:

• Emergency dentistry services.
• Service of the ambulance.
• Getting a prescription medication.

If you notice these, it is easy to comprehend Canadian healthcare.

Steps To Follow As A New Immigrant

As it is costly to pay for medical treatments for an immigrant. So you must have health insurance to be financially stable in Canada. Following is a summary of the crucial healthcare concrete goals that you must get familiar with:

Create a Provincial Health Insurance Card Application

It is essential to have a health insurance card to obtain healthcare services in Canada. Every province issues these cards. Once you get into Canada, before wasting time, apply for a healthcare card from the province administration, as it requires a few months to be approved.

Commonly, you will approach Ontario’s administrator if you are Ontario’s resident and will go for Alberta’s administrator if you are its resident. These portals will provide you with exact locations and all the paperwork needed for your application.

You can choose a location which is quite close to your residence. You can submit your application on your own only. Provinces may have different requirements for your application. These documents may include the following:

• Demand confirmation of domicile.
• An identity card issued by the Canadian government.
• Paperwork verifying immigrant status.

After verifying your submitted application, you can receive your health card at your address. You must present this card every time you visit a clinic or hospital.

Important To Note

• The plus point of getting an insurance card is that your qualification period begins from the day you arrive in the province rather than the day you apply for the card.
• For example, owning a card takes about 2-3 months. If you land here in Alberta on April 1 and apply for an insurance card on June 20, you will get it only within 5 days.

Evaluate The Health Insurance That Is Offered

Are you thinking about what to do until you don’t have an insurance card? Do not worry about it, as the Canadian government will facilitate your emergency medical care. It depends on your migration status.

The insurance that a province provides compensates for minimally invasive procedures. In case you do not have your private health insurance, you will be out of budget while paying a lot for treatment bills like:

• Prescription drugs.
• Dental surgery.
• Ambulance expenses.
• Optical checkup.
• Physiotherapy.

If you do not avail of any health service under local coverage, then the employers can provide you with supplementary health insurance. Therefore, before accepting the proposal letter, it’s an excellent idea to ask your company about these advantages.

Get A Family Physician

You can choose your family doctor as your first port of call for any medical assistance or guidance. This family doctor gives you routine medical care and can recommend you to a consultant regarding an ailment if necessary.

Finding A Family Doctor 

You can find your family doctor by:

• Calling a group that helps immigrants.
• Contacting a friend, colleague, family member, or neighbor.
• Searching on provincial websites.
• Getting in touch with local community health care.

Once you verify your locality and the region where you’d want to locate a doctor, your name will be added to a reserve. You have to wait until a doctor is free to see new patients.

The waiting time may be many months in some circumstances. If you need medical attention during this period, you can visit the clinic after booking an appointment.

Cost-Free Medical Offers

• You may have access to free advice regarding health via a phone call or by going to the clinic. Each province provides free health telephone counseling. The nursing staff monitors these phone lines around the clock for a week.
• You may choose to call 811 to consult your healthcare provider.
• There are several websites assigned to specific provinces.
• These helplines assist you in determining if you can manage an issue on your own or if you want medical guidance.
• These helplines do not diagnose ailments or dispense medicines.
• You can go to Community Health Centres (CHS), renowned around the nation if you need any type of treatment. Although most CHSs take local coverage, people who require it while awaiting insurance from the province can still use them.
• If you need any immediate medical assistance, call 911.
• This helpline is for patients with diabetes, high BP, or allergies. 
• If you are a severe patient, we must advise you to always keep crucial medical information or drugs with you.

Learn More On Healthcare In Canada By Province

Some facts are spitted out below:

• British Columbia has one of the highest mortality rates in Canada and the world. It has an experience of about 83 years of providing healthcare to citizens. It is good in eradicating cancer, premature deaths, nervous breakdowns, and respiratory and heart problems.
• Ontario is also providing excellent services. Moreover, it has the lowest suicide rates. It gives healthcare regarding health diseases, respiratory problems, and many more.
• Quebec is good at providing mental health services, and hence it ranks second among all the territories of Canada.
• Alberta and many other provinces are also good at providing the best health care to immigrants and residents.

New Immigrants: Why Do You Need A Private Insurance?

Suppose you are on the waiting list after applying for medical insurance, and it will be active after approximately three months. What to do if any expensive medical treatment comes your way? Your wallet will empty even if you haven’t started your work in Canada.

Or what will happen if you are a student here and naturally face an emergency? As you all know, medical treatment is quite expensive in Canada, and without insurance, you can’t afford it. 

So basically, private insurance offers you the crucial financial support you might need. It is helpful if:

• You are self-employed and do not have any employer’s plan chart.
• You have lost your job and cannot feed your family and fulfill their medical crises.

2. Secondly, the government insurance plan only covers a few medical payments. The other portion will be paid from your pocket. So private health insurance will be vital in this case and can cover the treatments like:

• Dental
• Optical
• Physiotherapy
• Chronic disease treatments

Steps On Applying For And Calculating The Cost Of New Immigrant Insurance In Canada

The big problem in Canadian insurance policies is how much it would cost to obtain health coverage and maintain the costs for doctors. Following are the steps that you may need to follow:

Request A Quote

• By clicking an online calculator, you can get quotes or rates from the companies that provide insurance to new immigrants. 
• After providing all the necessary details and selecting ‘request a quote, a list of estimates and rates will appear.
• A deductible is the sum of payment you must pay from your pocket before your insurance provider pays the remaining balance of your request.

Choose A Plan

• Choose the quotation or rates from the offered list that you are fine with.
• Then hit the ‘plan details’ link on the right after calculating the quote.
• You will be sent to the website that contains the policy features, premium overviews, and policy language for the insurance plan of your choice.

Look Through Your Coverage

• Now study the information about your insurance for a minute. 
• To ascertain your qualification and connect with other crucial details for the coverage you will acquire.
• See the official policy keywords for the insurance plan for new immigrants.
• Press the ‘buy online or ‘buy insurance’ link to continue when it has been cleared. 

Applying And Purchasing

• You are nearly done with your steps. It requires about five to ten minutes to complete a purchase, and you have to put in further primary data that includes:
  • Name.
  • Birthdate.
  • Duration dates of insurance.
  • Contact details.
• Look over the application carefully before entering your payment information to complete it. 
• You will get an email notification for your insurance coverage as soon as your payment has been completed.

What Is Covered By The New Immigrants Insurance?

You may have access to the advantages of insurance given by the government in the province wherever you live. It enables you to access healthcare treatments at clinics without spending money on bill payments for treatments.

Following are the provinces that take time of two to three months to process medical coverage:

• Yukon.
• British Columbia.
• Quebec.
• Saskatchewan.

To safeguard your family from unneeded medical expenses brought on by health emergencies, you might choose to buy medical coverage at that moment.

Processing Time For Provincial Insurance Coverage

The processing time for regional insurance coverage often begins when you establish a residency in selected provinces. You can note down the processing time in these provinces as follows:

• Yukon and Quebec: If you choose these provinces as your new home, you have to officially wait for at least three months to have your insurance coverage at the provincial level.
• Saskatchewan and British Columbia: These two provinces propose a bit distinct formula for estimating their processing time. 
  • An appropriate processing time lasts for two months, with the remaining month after the day your citizenship in British Columbia is confirmed.
  • In Saskatchewan, right after you reach Canada, you will achieve your insurance coverage on the 1st day of the third month.

During the processing time, it’s essential to be here in the provinces mentioned above so that you may not lose your eligibility for this coverage.

Public Healthcare Systems In Canada Provinces

You can avail of health insurance according to your eligibility. These eligibility criteria differ from province to province, and the regions manage this coverage. 

Alberta

Alberta offers the health insurance plan through AHCIP, which means Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Firstly, you need to overview the eligibility criteria for owning insurance coverage in Alberta:

• If you are bound to reside here in Alberta for a minimum of one year, you are eligible to own the coverage. Give proof of this residing duration via your transition paperwork.
• The most important thing is that you have to submit your claim as soon as possible so that there is no more delay in addition to its processing time.
• But we must recommend having private insurance coverage because it is not confirmed when you will obtain your local coverage. 
• Permanent residents are capable of having coverage.
• Temporary employees can own the coverage if they have a work permit of more than six months or are bound to live here for one year.
• Overseas students are also eligible if they are bound to live for one year or have a study permit for three to twelve months.

After fulfilling the eligibility criteria, you must take the second step of applying for insurance coverage. You must register or login yourself by:

• Applying for AHCIP paperwork together with the evidence of your Alberta domicile. 
• The Canadian government gives identification.
• The constitutional right to be in Canada.
• Household bills.
• PR certificate.
• A passport.
• Transition paperwork to Canada.

AHCIP holds the following treatments under insurance coverage:

• Dental procedures.
• Medical tests.
• Psychiatric treatments.
• Physiotherapies.

If you are under 18 or an aged person above 65, you can avail of special services.

British Columbia

British Columbia offers medical services via British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP). have a look at the eligibility criteria for provincial health insurance:

• A PR holder is eligible to have coverage.
• Temporary employees are eligible if there is a working duration of six or more six months. If you are a holiday worker, your 18 hours of working duration must achieve this coverage.
• Immigrant students must have a study permit for six or more six months.

You can apply for health insurance just like the procedure required for Alberta within three months of settling here in BC. This province offers:

• Treatments rendered by doctors and nurses.
• Hospital-based dentistry and surgeries.
• Essential optical examinations.
• X-rays.
• Orthodontist procedures.

Moving to Canada this year or the following means you don’t have to pay for a monthly subscription to MSP. While it used to happen before.

Manitoba

Manitoba offers healthcare services via Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL). The following are the eligibility criteria for its health coverage:

• PR holders are eligible for MHSAL.
• Temporary employees must have a work permit in Manitoba for one year.
• Immigrant students are eligible to own this in Manitoba.

You have to register yourself step by step for the MHSAL qualification. It provides treatments like:

• Operations.
• X-rays.
• Prescription issued by the doctor.
• Lab tests.

New Brunswick

The city offers medical services via New Brunswick Medicare Coverage  (NB Medicare). You are eligible only if you have met the period of processing of health card like:

• PR holders are eligible for this NB Medicare.
• If the work permit of temporary employees is of NB and is active for 12 months, then medicare is available.
• Overseas students should possess a current study permit and documentation that they have been enrolled as full-time students or any evidence of post-secondary education. All these proofs should be of a minimum of one year to get NB Medicare coverage.

You can contact NB Medicare immediately with any requests for coverage. You can get an Application Form and fill it out for medication and treatment. You can submit this application by attaching the following:

• Immigration document copies.
• A passport entrance stamp.

After your eligibility check, you will obtain NM Medicare soon.

Newfoundland And Labrador

You can avail of healthcare in Newfoundland via Newfoundland Medical Care Plan (MCP). Check out the eligibility criteria to achieve this:

• Permanent residents can get this MCP coverage.
• Temporary employees are eligible to have a work permit of one or half years; it may depend on the work type.
• Overseas students are eligible under the same category as New Brunswick, full-time work permit and post-secondary education with proofs via documentation.

You can apply if you are a permanent resident by attaching your permanent resident card or certificate.  

Northwest Territories

You can submit your application through Northwest Territories Health Care Plan (NWT HCP). Following is the list of eligible people:

• PR holders are eligible to have NWT HCP.
• Temporary employees may or may not be eligible to obtain NWT HCP. You can consult territorial health authorities before applying for an application.
• International students can also confirm whether they are eligible or not for territorial health insurance plans from authorities. 

You can submit your application either online or by sending mail.

Nova Scotia

The province provides medical services via Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance (NS MSI). The following are your eligibility criteria:

• PR holders can apply for NS MSI from the first day in Nova Scotia.
• Temporary employees should have a one-year work permit to avail of this service. You must submit a commitment stating that you will not leave Nova Scotia for any reason other than job-related travel for more than a month.
• If you stay here in Nova Scotia for a year, you are eligible as a student.

Make a phone call to clear your eligibility issues and submit your application via MSI Registration and Enquiry Department.

Nunavut

Nunavut Health Care Plan (NHCP) provides your medical care in Nunavut. Check out the following eligibility criteria:

• PR holders can avail of NHCP.
• Temporary employees can get this care plan by having a work permit of about one year in the Nunavut location.
• You are eligible for this health care if you have a year’s study permit.

Ontario

Ontario is a big province and offers standardized services to its citizens. Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) provides many medical services to the citizens of this province. The following are the eligibility criteria to achieve the OHIP:

• PR holders are eligible for OHIP.
• If you have been working for 6 months in Ontario, it is easy to have OHIC. The good thing about this province is that you can avail of the OHIC even without the experience of half a year-work if you work via a caregiver insurance stream.
• You can not avail of OHIC if you are a student; you should go for your insurance coverage.

After your application for coverage has been granted, it may take several (~3 months) before OHIP begins to pay for your medical expenses. The services provided by OHIP are:

• Doctor visits.
• Miscarriages.
• Ambulance crews.
• Qualified oral surgery.
• Physiotherapy. 

The travel expenses will be covered under OHIP if you reside in Northern Ontario. You can submit your application at any office in Ontario. You must attach the following:

• Registration form with factual data.
• Three identification forms.
• Evidence of citizenship of Canada.
• Your eligibility for OHIP.
• Status of your transit, like the birth certificate of Canada and PR certificate.
• Your Ontario residence proof.
• Your ID card or passport of your motherland.

Prince Edward Island

You are eligible for PEI Health Care if you have a PEI card. Three months after establishing residency on Prince Edward Island, PR holders are entitled to health cards. You can apply online for a health card with the following:

• Paperwork of your PR.
• Photocopy from both sides of the PR card.

If you are an overseas student or a temporary employee, you are eligible to hold a health insurance card. 

Quebec

The Health Insurance Board of Quebec is responsible for administering the health insurance plan. You can apply for this plan if you are eligible to hold it. Before being eligible for health insurance in Quebec, newly arrived foreign residents must wait for 3 months after registration.

Apply right after you arrive in Quebec. To apply, you must fill out the registration form, which can be obtained by calling or going to the office in person. If you go to the office, fill out the form with the required documents. These documents may include the following:

• PR card.
• Quebec residency proof (CSQ) of certificate of selection in Quebec.
• Photocopy of home rent.
• An approval from the employer.
• Residential house paperwork.

The province can provide health insurance to temporary employees. If you give immigration paperwork with your employer’s name and a statement from your employer for approval of work for at least half a year, you can easily attain the health card.

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Health Authority offers health insurance in this province. You can avail of this coverage before three months or on the 1st day of the third month. You have to attach the following:

• Photocopies of documentation that attest to your identity.
• Saskatchewan residence.
• The constitutional right to be in Canada.

Online applications for health cards are accepted. This health card covers all the essential treatments like:

• Dental care.
• Prescription medications.

Yukon

Register yourself for health coverage by Yukon. Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan offers several medical services to the residents of this province.

Canadian Health Insurance For Refugees

Helping others should be a priority for everyone, so the pharmacist should show some leniency towards newcomers and immigrants regarding the healthcare system in Canada, including its functions and insurance policies. 

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) may offer insurance to refugees and those who have applied for refugee status. There are mainly two kinds of insurance for refugees: 

Resettled Refugees

Before reaching Canada, a resettled person’s status changes to a refugee after applying to enter the country from another country. Foreign refugees who are relocated to Canada are PR holders.

You can get PR based on personal sponsorship or Canadian government assistance. This PR status entitles all refugees relocated to a province for insurance coverage. You have to wait for several months to achieve it.

During the processing time of coverage, resettled refugees can avail of services from IFHP temporarily without any cost. IFHP can continuously offer additional advantages throughout your sponsorship period, even if you have received local coverage.

Refugee Claimants

If you abandon your native country and seek shelter here in Canada, you can claim refugee status. As long as your application is pending, you are considered a refugee. So you may either:

• Accepted claims of individuals can seek PR.
• If your claim gets denied, you can depart Canada.

Both accepted and denied refugees are entitled to insurance under the IFHP. The rejected ones can avail of coverage but have restrictions. You can not hold provincial healthcare insurance if you fall under this category.

You can access several services if you have refugee status, have insurance coverage or the coverage is under process.

Health Treatment For Children Without Insurance

According to a survey, about 200,000 unregistered or non-status people are thought to be residing in Canada. This is not official data but an estimate of teens or children having no insurance.

You are an unregistered individual if:

• You have entered Canada erratically.
• You continue residing in Canada even after your work, study, or tourist permit expires.
• You face an invalid tag of your claim.
• You have given up or withdrawn your application for a refugee.
• You have an uncertain status of refugee-like:
  • You are a temporary overseas employee.
  • After getting a refusal of the claim, you still are pursuing your case.

Providing emergency treatment is not a joke. Some serious ethics should be followed. Specific hospitals have standard procedures to decide if the treatments under non-urgency should be offered or not. Find out if there are any clinical rules in your region that outline what qualifies as emergency treatments and what doesn’t.   

Refugee health hospitals sometimes offer medical services to those without insurance. These hospitals frequently serve some specific regions and occasionally do not accept you or your patient if you are from an area not under the parts above.

Healthcare professionals should give information about the local services accessible to the patient population.

Medical Issues For Patients Without Insurance

Patients who lack or have inadequate insurance have a chance of getting the worst medical services. In this case, you might undergo depression or anxiety for your ailment being untreated. You can also suffer:

• Maternity and preventive care postpone.
• Discrimination when you need care.
• Through financial difficulty because you have to pay from your pocket.

Check Out The Health Services For New Immigrants In Canada In 2022:

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Health insurance helps to provide a sense of security by providing a safety net in cases where there is a medical emergency and no funds are available for treatment. 

Finding the best health insurance for new immigrants with pre-existing conditions or specific needs can be daunting, but it can also be well worth it. Whichever health plan is chosen, it should be one that ensures that all medical and hospital expenses are covered.

Hope that you have gained all the information regarding health insurance in Canada, but if you still have any queries, let us know. We will always be there to help you out!