There are a lot of things to consider when you are moving to Canada, including finding a job, your first home and school for your children. You also need to know how the Canadian health care system works . The Canadian healthcare system, is financed with taxpayer dollars. Health care is funded and administered primarily by the country’s 13 provinces and territories. Each has its own insurance plan, and each receives cash assistance from the federal government on a per-capita basis. All citizens and permanent residents, receive medically necessary hospital and physician services on a pre-paid basis, without direct charges at the point of service. Medically necessary services are not defined in the Canada Health Act so it is up to the provincial and territorial health insurance plans to determine which services are medically necessary for health insurance purposes.
How Health Care Services Are Delivered
1. Primary Health Care Services
The primary health care services are the first point of contact with the health care system. The services may include prevention and treatment of common diseases and injuries; basic emergency services; referrals to and coordination with other levels of care, such as hospital and specialist care; primary mental health care; palliative and end-of-life care; health promotion; healthy child development; primary maternity care; and rehabilitation services.
When necessary, patients who require further diagnosis or treatment are referred to other health care services, such as diagnostic testing, and health care professionals, such as physician specialists, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals (health care professionals other than physicians and nurses).
2. Secondary Services
A patient may be referred for specialized care at a hospital, at a long-term care facility or in the community. Secondary health care services may also be provided in the home or community and in institutions (mostly long-term and chronic care). Referrals to home, community, or institutional care can be made by doctors, hospitals, community agencies, families and patients themselves. Patient needs are assessed by medical professionals, and services are coordinated to provide continuity of care. Care is provided by a range of formal, informal (often family) and volunteer caregivers.
For the most part, home and continuing care services are not covered by the Canada Health Act; however, all the provinces and territories provide and pay for certain home and continuing care services. Regulation of these programs varies, as does the range of services.
In general, health care services provided in long-term care facilities are paid for by the provincial and territorial governments, while room and board costs are paid for by the individual. In some cases, payments for room and board are subsidized by the provincial and territorial governments.
3. Additional Supplementary Services
The provinces and territories provide coverage to certain people (e.g., seniors, children and low-income residents) for health services that are not generally covered under the publicly funded health care system. These supplementary health benefits often include prescription drugs outside hospitals, dental care, vision care, medical equipment and appliances (prostheses, wheelchairs, etc.), and the services of other health professionals such as physiotherapists. The level of coverage varies across the country.
As noted earlier, those who do not qualify for supplementary benefits under government plans pay for these services through out-of-pocket payments or through private health insurance plans. Many Canadians, either through their employers or on their own, are covered by private health insurance and the level of coverage provided varies according to the plan purchased.
How to Access and Receive Healthcare in Canada
The first step to access Canadian healthcare is to determine if you can sign up for Medicare. If you are eligible, you just need to submit an application to your provincial or territorial government. Any Canadian citizen or permanent resident is able to apply. Not all medical services are covered by this public program. To make sure you have dental care, vision care, and prescription drug coverage, you may need to sign up for private insurance, either on your own or through your employer.
How long does it take to get healthcare coverage in Canada?
Each province and territory decides its own minimum waiting period. Waiting period is the amount of time you have to wait before healthcare coverage is available to you.
In general, foreigners and expats will not immediately receive coverage under the Canada’s public healthcare system. In some provinces, you can get coverage as soon as you arrive in Canada and in others, you may have to wait up to 3 months. To be on the safe side, the Government of Canada recommends buying private health insurance so you are properly covered during any waiting period.
| Province/ Territory | Waiting period for coverage | How to apply for health card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Date residency is established | Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) | |
| British Columbia (BC) | Up to three months | BC Services Card | |
| Manitoba | Up to three months | Manitoba Health Card | |
| New Brunswick | Once eligibility is established, a letter indicating the start date of coverage is issued | New Brunswick Health | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Date of arrival | Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Care Plan (MCP) | |
| Northwest Territories (NWT) | Up to three months | NWT Health Care Plan | |
| Nova Scotia | Normally received on date of arrival | Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI) | |
| Nunavut | Up to three months | Health Care Card | |
| Ontario | Up to three months | Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) | |
| Prince Edward Island (PEI) | May be eligible for first-day coverage | PEI Health Card | |
| Quebec | Up to three months | Quebec Health Insurance | |
| Saskatchewan | Applications usually processed within 6 to 8 weeks after receiving application | Saskatchewan Health Cards | |
| Yukon | After three months of residency | Yukon Health Care Card |
Fortunately, we offer permanent, term and universal life insurance services tailored to your needs. Just call (778) 231-0410 or email us at info@fusionimmigration.com to further discuss and provide you with free pricing information.