Healthcare

Canadian healthcare is publicly funded but provincially administered, which means it works differently in every province you might land in. Ontario’s OHIP, BC’s MSP, Quebec’s RAMQ, and the maritime provincial systems all have their own enrolment processes, waiting periods, and coverage rules — and most newcomers face a 1-3 month gap before provincial coverage kicks in. During that gap you need private travel insurance, or you risk being on the hook for major medical costs out of pocket.

This section covers how to get covered in each province as a newcomer: applying for OHIP for the first time, getting an MSP card in BC, navigating Quebec’s RAMQ, the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick health systems, and the Manitoba and PEI processes. We also cover prescription drug coverage (which most provincial plans don’t include for working-age adults) and the patchwork of public-private supplemental insurance options.