Health insurance in Canada for expats

Canada has a two-tier health system, with both public and private care facilities, and there’s a clear difference between which types of care are covered by the public system and which are catered for privately.

Public healthcare in Canada is funded by the Canadian government under the Medicare system. It covers the core elements of healthcare across all of Canada’s 13 provinces, such as general practitioner (GP) appointments, accident and emergency care, stays in hospital, and some non-emergency procedures. These are free at the point of use, although there are some extra costs, including for prescriptions.

Any care and services that are not covered by the public system are picked up by private care facilities instead, including visits to private specialists, alternative medicine, dental care, mental health service and physiotherapy. Private facilities will also offer many of the core services that are available publicly, with the advantage of better care and faster access in exchange for a higher cost.

The quality of the public healthcare system in Canada is generally very good, but there’s a long-standing problem with meeting public demand for hospital and emergency care. Since 1976, the number of hospital beds per head of population in Canada has dropped by 63%³, which has caused serious cases of overcrowding at a number of hospitals across the country. There have also been similar reports of a lack of resources to meet demand in Canada’s ambulance services.⁴

Indeed, the waiting times for public healthcare services in Canada have reached such lengths that in 2023, the average emergency room waiting time in Ontario was 22 hours - almost treble the target of eight hours. Many of these citizens are turning to private healthcare so that their needs are met, and nearly three-quarters of Canadian citizens now have at least some sort of supplementary health insurance cover in place.⁶

For people registered with Medicare, public healthcare services are free, as funding is covered by general taxation. Some temporary residents, like foreign workers and students that are in the country for at least six months, may be able to secure the same care by applying for local health insurance coverage.

Other non-citizens, such as visitors and tourists, on the other hand, will need to have private health insurance in place.

As for private healthcare specifically, many Canadians receive private healthcare from their employer as a benefit, which can mean significant savings. Of course, the costs of different policies will vary substantially, depending on your age and medical conditions, the level of cover you require, and the insurer’s pricing.

If you’re intending to live in Canada in the long-term, then you’ll need to gain permanent residency status, or be in the process of applying for citizenship, in order to qualify for Medicare. Even in this case, you’ll normally only be eligible once you’ve been in Canada for three months.

If this doesn’t apply to you (e.g. you’re a digital nomad on a visitor visa), then you’ll have to pay for any public healthcare services you use, which can end up getting very expensive. A good-quality healthcare insurance policy should be able to help you here, but taking out comprehensive international health insurance will cover you for most eventualities and allow you to access private healthcare facilities, too.

What kind of documentation do I need to access healthcare in Canada?

To access the healthcare system in Canada, you’ll need essential documents to hand such as your proof of residency, visa/immigration status, and identity documents like your passport. With these, you can apply to the health authorities in whichever province you’re living in and once you’ve been approved, you’ll receive a provincial health card which is essential for accessing public healthcare services.

It’s important to note that you won’t be covered by the public system until you receive your card, which means it’s a good idea to take out private health insurance in the interim.

The public healthcare system doesn’t cover absolutely everything that you might need treatment or care for, which means there’s always a chance you’ll need at least some private cover. If you don’t qualify for Medicare, then having comprehensive international health insurance is a must.

But even if you intend to stay in Canada long-term and apply for residency and/or citizenship, and therefore qualify for Medicare, you still face the risk of long waiting times for appointments and treatments in Canada’s public healthcare facilities. Instead, private medical insurance gives you the peace of mind of fast, easy access to quality care, as and when you need it.

What are the benefits of private health insurance in Canada?

By taking out private medical insurance in Canada, you’re not just safeguarding your physical wellbeing – you’re making a worthwhile investment in your mental and financial health, too:

• Comprehensive care provision: taking out private cover can help with things that aren’t covered publicly, such as dentistry, optical care, specialist visits and more.
• Quality care: private hospitals give you access to a wider range of specialists who can devote more time and attention to your needs and treatment plans.
• Faster access: going private can cut the amount of time you have to wait to be seen and start treatment.
• Coverage from day one: even if you’re eligible for Medicare, you won’t be immediately covered by it when you arrive in Canada. Having private healthcare cover in place means you’re not left without medical protection and security.
• Prescriptions: prescriptions can be expensive in Canada, but some international health insurance plans will cover them. So, if you’re likely to need regular or repeat prescriptions, you could see big savings. 

Would I need dental insurance in Canada?

Canada has recently introduced the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), which is where all Canadian citizens other than high earners are eligible for a certain level of publicly-funded dental care.⁷ This includes services such as diagnostic examinations, restorative treatments, preventive care and other facilities. Residents will have all or some of the costs covered by the state, depending on their income.

If you’re in Canada without citizenship, then you won’t be eligible for this scheme, which means you’ll need to cover your dental care privately. This can get very expensive very quickly, so including dental cover in your international health insurance is recommended if you plan on living and/or working in Canada for any length of time.

Canada has 911 as its main emergency number, which covers all of the key emergency services. However, there is also a special number for mental health emergencies, which is 211.