As a new immigrant to Canada, do I need health insurance?
Health insurance for your first months in Canada: We often are asked this question. The mistake is sometimes caused by the fact that Canada is well-known across the globe for having a strong publicly-supported healthcare system that allows citizens to obtain certain medical treatments for “free” (you will see the cost in your paycheque since healthcare is financed by taxes).
However, how can one get entry to this medical system? What happens if you are unable to access it?
That’s what we’re here to address, however. To put it simply, two factors determine your eligibility for Canada’s publicly financed healthcare system:
Your residence province and immigration status.
Depending on their visa status, newcomers to Canada have varying access to healthcare. For instance, guests are urged to purchase private health insurance since they have no access to the publicly financed healthcare system.
When looking for health insurance, we suggest starting with these two companies:
- For immigrants seeking for foreign health insurance, Cigna offers free quotations. Click here to get a free quotation.
- BestQuote provides a free comparison of travel and health insurance plans from various providers. Get free quotes comparisons here.
- Permanent residents, such as those entered under the Express Entry system, have the same access to healthcare as citizens of Canada, with one minor exception:
New immigrants may sometimes have to wait many weeks or months following their arrival in Canada before they are able to utilize the publicly financed healthcare system, even though they should theoretically have access to it. The province that the immigrant chooses to live in will determine how long this delay lasts or whether there is one at all.
For instance, in Nova Scotia, newcomers with permanent resident status are granted access to the publicly financed system on their first day of residency, whereas in Ontario, they must wait three months to do so.
Perhaps you’re wondering what your particular scenario is. We will go over what to anticipate for healthcare during your first few months in Canada in the next sections of this post. We will first go through what to anticipate for various immigration status kinds. We’ll go through what to anticipate in each province second.
When looking for health insurance, we suggest starting with these two companies:
For immigrants seeking for foreign health insurance, Cigna offers free quotations. Click here to get a free quotation.
- BestQuote provides a free comparison of travel and health insurance plans from various providers. Get free quotes comparisons here.
- Immigration status: What you need to know about health insurance during your first months in Canada
- If you haven’t been to Canada yet but want to go there soon, use this list of typical immigration statuses to determine what health insurance you’ll need during your first few months there.
International Experience Canada (IEC) – including the Working Holiday program
Your insurance obligations are rather simple if you want to enter Canada with an IEC work visa. Private insurance must be obtained for the whole term of your IEC work permit.
When you arrive in Canada, you must have a 12-month insurance coverage if you are qualified for a 12-month work visa. The same applies to those of you who qualify for a 24-month work visa; you must get a coverage that lasts for 24 months. Your work visa will only be approved for a six-month term if you arrive with a six-month policy; there is no way to extend it thereafter. You will be denied entry into Canada if you arrive without insurance.
Fill up this short form to compare your IEC health insurance choices provided by BestQuote, a reputable insurance company.
Permanent residents (Express Entry, Family Class, PNPs, and more!)
Have you been granted status as a permanent resident? Well done! We are aware that those applications are difficult, so congratulations for making it thus far.
“You get full access to the publicly-funded Canadian healthcare system as a permanent resident,” as you have undoubtedly heard a thousand times previously. However, use caution during the first few months since your medical coverage may not be as extensive as you believe.
Yes, you have access to Canada’s healthcare system as you are a permanent resident. To utilize the system, however, you must register with your own province or territory. Healthcare registration is a time-consuming process in several provinces and regions. Buying private insurance coverage at this period might be a smart move to make sure you’re protected in case you require medical attention.
Go to our province-by-provincial lists for health insurance requirements below to learn the procedure for your province or territory.
Extreme Visas
You must get private insurance coverage as a holder of a super visa for a minimum of one year from the date of entrance into Canada. No matter where you want to live in Canada, you must have insurance in order to enter the nation, so be sure to have it!
Fill out this short form to compare your alternatives for super visa insurance provided by BestQuote, a reputable insurance company.
Temporary employees (IEC excluded)
You may be able to get private insurance if you’re entering Canada as a temporary worker (apart from IEC) or you could be eligible for provincial or territory health insurance. On the other hand, some employer-based work permits demand that your company ensures you have access to insurance, either via a private policy or the public system.
Therefore, one approach to begin looking into your alternatives is to inquire about health insurance through your job. To find out whether you’ll be able to use the publicly supported system, you may also go through the list of provinces below.
students from abroad
Are you coming to Canada to study? With some excellent institutions and even greater student life, you’re in for an exciting adventure.
What about insurance, though?
Insurance is a must for international students for the whole term of their study permits. Although certain provinces allow foreign students to choose to enroll in the publicly financed system, the majority of international students are required to acquire private health insurance coverage.
Numerous educational institutions in Canada provide insurance packages to overseas students, which are arranged by the school. This saves the headache of having to search for a reputable supplier, but it does not provide the greatest value or the lowest price.
You should first confirm with your school if you want to study in Canada. They ought to be able to provide you with comprehensive insurance details and suggestions for overseas students in your particular situation!
Both tourists and visitors
Make sure you have insurance as a visitor or tourist visiting Canada in case anything goes wrong during your vacation. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to unexpected medical treatments, which may cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. You could be tempted to forego it and take a chance, as with almost all insurance we purchase in our lifetimes, but you’ll be glad you have the assurance that you’re insured in case anything goes wrong.
When looking for health insurance, we suggest starting with these two companies:
- For immigrants seeking for foreign health insurance, Cigna offers free quotations. Click here to get a free quotation.
- BestQuote provides a free comparison of travel and health insurance plans from various providers. Get free quotes comparisons here.
Province of residence: What you need to know about health insurance during your first months in Canada
Should you want to relocate to Canada, you could qualify for medical coverage under the publicly-funded healthcare system. But eligibility standards differ from province to province, and this coverage is managed at the provincial level. Check this list to see what the criteria are for the province you want to live in.
Alberta: New immigrants’ health insurance needs
Our suggestion is: It will take some time to process your application and determine if you qualify for Alberta’s provincial coverage. For the first few months of your stay, get private health insurance if you are unsure of your eligibility.
As long as you can prove via your immigration paperwork that you plan to remain in Alberta for at least a year, you should be able to apply for provincial health care coverage if you are relocating to the province from another nation. Yet! It is necessary for you to apply for coverage, and the processing of this application may take some time. For this reason, you may choose to get private insurance in the meantime if you are not sure whether Alberta will accept your application.
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is a program that new immigrants to Canada may apply for to get health coverage in Alberta. If you do not apply within three months of your arrival in Alberta, your coverage will not begin on the day of your landing. Use this link to apply.
Residents for life: Qualifiable for AHCIP.
Temporary employees: Those with a six-month work visa or longer with plans to stay in Alberta for at least a year are eligible for the AHCIP.
International students: A 12-month study permit (or a three-month+ study permit and a letter confirming intent to dwell), together with the goal to live in Alberta for a minimum of 12 months, is required to be eligible for the Alberta Health Care Program.
British Columbia: New immigrants’ health insurance needs
As no new residents are eligible for provincial coverage until they finish a three-month waiting period, our suggestion is that you acquire private health insurance for the first three months that you live in British Columbia. Check out our comprehensive guide on British Columbian healthcare for visitors.
Only after a wait time of around three months—two months on top of the month the resident arrives in British Columbia—is the government of British Columbia allowed to provide provincial health care to new residents. If you fulfill the residence criteria, you may apply for health insurance via the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (BC MSP) when this waiting time is over.
Permanent residents: BC MSP is available to them.
Temporary employees: Those with a valid work visa that lasts six months or more are eligible for BC MSP. Participants in Working Holidays who put in at least eighteen hours a week of work in British Columbia may also be eligible, although this does not remove the need to provide evidence of insurance before entering the country.
International students: If their study visa is valid for at least six months, they are eligible for the BC MSP.
Manitoba: Requirements for new immigrants’ health insurance
Our advice: As there is a three-month waiting period before new residents are eligible for government coverage, you should get private health insurance during your first three months in Manitoba.
In Manitoba, new residents are only eligible for government health care until they have completed a three-month wait period, which consists of two extra months on top of the month they arrive in Manitoba. You may apply for health insurance via Manitoba Health, Seniors, and Active Living coverage once this waiting time is finished, but only if you match the residence criteria.
Permanent residents: MHSAL coverage is available to them.
Temporary employees: Those having a work permit located in Manitoba that is valid for at least a year are eligible for MHSAL coverage.
Students from other countries are not eligible for MHSAL.
New Brunswick: Requirements for new immigrants’ health insurance
It is our suggestion that you get health insurance during your first three months in New Brunswick, as new residents are required to wait three months before applying for public health coverage.
Certain newly arrived citizens of the province of New Brunswick are eligible to apply for health care coverage if they have fulfilled a three-month required waiting period. You may apply for coverage via New Brunswick Medicare coverage when this waiting time is ended.
Permanent residents: NB Medicare is available to them.
Temporary employees: Those with a work visa good for at least a year are eligible for New Brunswick Medicare.
International students: If they can provide documentation of enrollment in full-time post-secondary education for at least one academic year and a valid study permit, they are eligible for NB Medicare.
Requirements for new immigrants to get health insurance in Newfoundland and Labrador
Our suggestion is: As soon as you get to Newfoundland, apply for government healthcare coverage. Get private insurance to protect you while your application is being handled.
Many newcomers to Newfoundland and Labrador are able to apply for healthcare coverage without having to wait a certain amount of time. Make sure you fulfill the residence criteria and use the Newfoundland Medical Care Plan (MCP) to apply for provincial coverage as soon as feasible.
Permanent residents: The Newfoundland Medical Care Plan (MCP) is available to them.
Temporary employees: Depending on the kind of work permit, workers with a 12- or 6-month work permit are eligible for the Newfoundland MCP.
Students from abroad: eligible for Newfoundland MCP if they have a study visa that is valid for at least a year and documentation proving they are enrolled full-time in a program lasting at least a year at a post-secondary school in Newfoundland. Under vc_menu_accordion[vc_menu_accordion accordion_title=”Health insurance requirements for new immigrants in the Northwest Territories”]It is advised that you get private insurance for the first few months that you are in Canada, pending the approval of your application for territorial coverage.
One of Canada’s northernmost and least populated areas is the Northwest Territories. Since there is no set waiting time for new residents from outside Canada in the territory, you may apply as soon as you arrive and have the necessary paperwork to support your application. The Northwest Territories Health Care Plan (NWT HCP) is the channel by which applications for territory health coverage are received.
Permanent residents: NWT HCP is available to them.
Temporary employees: NWT HCP may be available to them. Before applying, holders of work permits should check their eligibility by contacting the territory health authorities.
Foreign students: NWT HCP may be available to them. Before applying, holders of study permits should check their eligibility by contacting the territory health authorities.
Nova Scotia: New immigrants’ health insurance needs
Our suggestion is: As soon as you arrive in the province, apply for provincial coverage if you are a temporary worker or a permanent resident with an appropriate immigration status. The day you arrive in Nova Scotia should see you covered retroactively, but until you get confirmation that your provincial coverage has been granted, you may wish to get private insurance.
Certain newly arrived immigrants are granted first-day coverage by Nova Scotia (permanent residents and temporary employees). As soon as you get to the province, you should apply if you qualify. Applications for Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance (NS MSI) are accepted.
Citizens of Canada: Qualified for NS MSI from the moment of arrival in Nova Scotia.
Temporary employees: A valid work permit good for a minimum of 12 months is required. Eligible for NS MSI as of the work permit’s issuance date or the first day of residency in Nova Scotia, whichever comes first. Employees are required to sign a statement and are only permitted to leave Nova Scotia for work-related travel no longer than 31 days per year.
International students: You may only apply for NS MSI after being a resident of Nova Scotia for a full year.
Nunavut: New immigrants’ health insurance needs
Our suggestion is: Before visiting Canada, get in touch with the Nunavut Department of Health to find out whether you qualify and if you require private health insurance.
The most northernly isolated region of Canada is Nunavut, which has a very small population and little infrastructure. Although the territory declares that immigrants with a certain status are eligible for the Nunavut Health Care Plan, specifics about eligibility and the application procedure are not entirely specified. It is advisable to get in touch with Nunavut’s health department ahead of time if you want to immigrate there.
Permanent residents: The Nunavut Health Care Plan is available to them.
Temporary employees: Those having a work visa that is good for at least a year and a Nunavut address are eligible for the Nunavut Health Care Plan.
International students: Possessing a study permit that is good for at least a year and a Nunavut address entitles them to the Nunavut Health Care Plan.
Ontario: New immigrants’ health insurance needs
Our suggestion is: In Ontario, get private health insurance for the first three months at minimum. After you are accepted, it takes around three months for your provincial coverage to start. Check out our comprehensive guide to Ontario’s healthcare system for visitors.
As soon as they get to Ontario, qualified new immigrants may apply for health insurance; but, it takes around three months for your coverage to begin, even if your application is accepted. It’s better to have private insurance in case you require medical attention during that time. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) is in charge of overseeing provincial health care in Ontario.
Residents for life: OHIP-eligible.
Temporary employees: Those with a work permit who have worked full-time for an Ontario employer for at least six months are eligible for OHIP. Workers who come via the Caregiver immigration stream may not need to complete the six months of work experience in order to be eligible for OHIP.
International students need to acquire private insurance since they are not eligible for OHIP.
Quebec: New immigrants must have health insurance
We advise you to get private health insurance for the first three months of your stay in Quebec.
In order for coverage to begin as soon as an immigrant moves to Quebec, they must wait three months for their application to be reviewed and approved before they can begin receiving treatment. Not when you go to the province, but only when you register for coverage does this waiting time begin. Because of this, you should make sure you have private health insurance coverage while the time your application is being processed and the wait period is in place, as well as apply to the Quebec Health Insurance Plan (RAMQ) as soon as you arrive.
Permanent residents: RAMQ is available to them.
Temporary employees: Those who can provide evidence of residency in Quebec and a valid work permit may be eligible for RAMQ. The Quebec Health Department allows work permit holders to apply, but does not specify any requirements for assessing if foreign employees are eligible.
Foreign students are not eligible for RAMQ, with the exception of a small number of students who are part of specific Quebec scholarship programs.
Prince Edward Island: New immigrants must have health insurance
Our suggestion is: As soon as you reach Prince Edward Island, apply for provincial coverage. It will take some time to complete the application, but if you match the standards, you should be entitled for retroactive coverage from the day you arrived in the province. While you wait for confirmation of your provincial coverage, you may want to think about getting private insurance.
The PEI Health Card is used by Prince Edward Island to manage health coverage. A large number of recently arrived immigrants are qualified to apply for coverage that covers any medical treatments you have obtained since moving to the province, retrospectively.
Permanent residents: With a PEI Health Card, you may get first-day coverage.
Temporary employees: Those with a work permit good for at least six months are eligible for first-day coverage.
Foreign students: If they have documentation of enrollment in a full-time post-secondary program in Prince Edward Island and a study permit, they are eligible for coverage.
Saskatchewan: Requirements for new immigrants’ health insurance
Our advice: Until your provincial coverage is verified, think about getting private insurance for your first months in Saskatchewan.
Students, employees, and new permanent residents in Saskatchewan are all eligible for government health care under Saskatchewan Health Coverage. However, there is often a three-month waiting time for new residents to become eligible. For new permanent residents, this waiting time may not apply. However, it’s essential to check with Saskatchewan’s health ministry to see whether you qualify for this exemption and if purchasing private insurance is required.
Permanent residents: Saskatchewan Health Coverage is available to them.
Temporary employees: Those who can provide evidence of residency in Saskatchewan and a valid work permit may be eligible for Saskatchewan Health Coverage. The Saskatchewan Health Department allows work permit holders to apply, but does not specify any requirements for assessing if foreign employees are eligible.
If an international student has a valid study permit and documentation proving they are enrolled full-time in classes in Saskatchewan, they may be eligible for Saskatchewan Health Coverage. The Saskatchewan Health Department allows holders of study permits to apply, but does not specify any requirements for assessing foreign students’ eligibility.
Yukon: New immigrants’ health insurance requirements
Our suggestion is: As soon as possible after arriving in the Yukon, apply for territory coverage. Until your territorial coverage is verified, think about getting private health insurance.
One of Canada’s northern territories is the Yukon. If you are a temporary worker or a permanent resident of the Yukon, you can be qualified for territory health care if you are moving there. The Yukon Health treatment Insurance Program (YHCIP) is in charge of managing this medical treatment. You may apply as soon as you arrive, but you might wish to get private coverage until you get confirmation that your territory coverage has been granted, according to the Yukon health department, which does not mention a waiting time for new residents.
Permanent residents: YHCIP is available to them.
Temporary employees: YHCIP is available to those who have a work visa that is good for at least a year.
When looking for health insurance, we suggest starting with these two companies:
- For immigrants seeking for foreign health insurance, Cigna offers free quotations. Click here to get a free quotation.
- BestQuote provides a free comparison of travel and health insurance plans from various providers. Get free quotes comparisons here.