Canada’s health insurance – tips for expats and migrants

When it comes to moving to Canada, health insurance is one attraction for many immigrants and expats.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for public healthcare insurance – or Medicare. It’s a universal health care system paid for by taxes, with slightly different plans for each of the 13 territories and provinces. It covers basic healthcare and, as long as you’ve paid your taxes, it’s free.

New arrivals in Canada, however, may not be eligible for this “universal” service. It all depends on your immigration status.

This popped into the news in August last year, when an influx of migrants bombarded the borders at Quebec – many of them entering “irregularly” (ie illegally). Most of these were asylum seekers, but the 6,800 people who arrived over July and August put a huge strain on the system and processing their status was delayed until at least January 2018.

In the meantime, while it was decided whether they’d be accepted as refugees or deported, they were able to receive healthcare services under the Interim Federal Health Programme. There was a lot of discussion about whether this meant there were benefits to migrating by irregular means rather than through the established legal processes.

An increase in immigrants – not just asylum seekers – also raises the question of whether Canada’s health system will be able to cope. Even for those not eligible for universal insurance, provinces and territories do provide emergency medical services.

One point made by CBC is that immigrants are screened for health issues. Some people are turned away at the border if they don’t come with a high enough bill of health. That means moving to Canada just for free medical care probably isn’t a solution.

If you’re moving to Canada, health insurance is something you’ll want to investigate before you leave.

Canadian health insurance tips

If you have a residency visa (or hold a Canadian passport) you’re likely to be eligible for Medicare. You’ll need to check what’s covered and how to apply in your province or territory – the Government of Canada’s website has links to this information, or you can get an overview at Moving 2 Canada.

• If you’re a temporary worker, talk to your employer. They’re likely to include health insurance as part of your employment package.
• Make sure you know what’s included and what isn’t, whether you’re eligible for public healthcare or not. Sometimes extras – dental care, for example – aren’t covered under standard plans.
• Research private health insurance options. You can compare plans using an online tool like Health Quotes but it’s worth getting advice from friends, family, and colleagues.
• If you’re moving over with a partner or with family, see if there are plans that can cover all of you. It can be a way to save money.
• Immigrate through regular channels and make sure you have the correct documents and visas. If something goes wrong you’re likely to be sent back to your home country – no matter where you arrived from – and this could make immigrating more complicated or even impossible.

Image source :Morguefile