How to get health insurance in Canada

Health care in Canada is governed by both federal and provincial laws. For example, under the Canada Health Act, the administration and provision of health services is the direct responsibility of the provinces or territories. The following services are funded by the provinces through the federal government.

The list of medical services includes insured primary care (therapists and other health care providers) as well as hospital care, which accounts for most of the costs.

Provinces and territories are also authorized to provide certain groups with additional health benefits that are not mentioned in federal laws. In this case, benefits can be provided in the form of prescription drugs and so on.

The main feature is that health insurance in Canada is free. It covers most of the needs of citizens. But in order to take advantage of it, you need to get a special health insurance card (Health card), thus becoming a member of the Health Insurance Plan in a particular province. The idea is simple — a medical institution bills the state, not the patient, for services provided.

Note that each province has its own Health Insurance Plan, but its basic provisions remain the same. Here are the key features of getting a Health Card.

How to apply for a Health Insurance Plan

To apply for free health insurance, you must first fill out a form that can be found on every website of the provincial Ministry of Health.

Next, you will need to provide proof of identity, proof of residency and proof of residency in Canada (visa).

If you are already a resident of the province, you can use your ID card to verify your personal information. If you have just moved to the province, you have 90 days to change your insurance.

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In order to process documents for the first time, you will need to provide more information to the authorized bodies. For example, the operator will need to provide, in addition to the above information, your name, address, date of birth, photo and signature.

You can apply for a Health Card by mail or in person at your provincial Health Insurance Plan office. Photocopies can be mailed to your provincial office.

Who is eligible for health insurance

You, as a legal resident of the country, can get free health insurance if:

• You live in the province legally.

• Lived in the province for 12 months.

• Do not qualify for residency in another country or province, or for benefits with a requirement to live in another part of Canada or the country.

• If you are a temporary resident or any other person legally entitled to reside in the territory for a long time. Tourists are not covered by free health insurance.

Residents who are not eligible for insurance are the following:

• Members of the Canadian Armed Forces. This category of citizens receives insurance protection from the federal government.

• Federal prisoners.

• Refugees who have been denied the appropriate status.

• People with expired immigration documents.

• Note that children of failed refugees, despite the above paragraph, can receive provincial health insurance if they meet certain requirements.

Health insurance for family members is issued as follows:

• Spouses register for joint health insurance.

• A divorced married couple must take out separate insurance.

• In the event of divorce, the custodial parent registers the children in his or her name.

Medical insurance for temporary residents

There are a number of conditions for temporary residents of Canada that allow you to get health insurance. The major requirement is to stay at the territory of this or that province for at least 12 months, and to possess entry documents to the country. Such documents include: confirmation of at least 6 months of employment, permission to study or visit the province, and officially confirmed refugee status.

So, if you are moving, immigrating or returning to one of the Canadian provinces from abroad, you can get health insurance. Within three months of receiving your residency permit, you must apply for it and submit the necessary documents.

If you do not have time to apply within three months, the effective date of your insurance will be set directly when the application is processed.

Also, your eligibility for health insurance depends on factors such as:

• Kind of a document of entry into the country (visa).

• Restrictions specified in the relevant documents.

• The maximum permitted period of stay in the country.

• Time spent in the country (12 consecutive months).

• A tourist visa to Canada is not grounds for issuing insurance.

Health insurance for temporary workers

Foreigners who come to the country temporarily to work are entitled to receive health insurance. It is issued on the basis of a permit to work in a particular province.

But you have to stay in the province for 12 months. The minimum period of employment in the province to apply for health insurance is 6 months. The period of health insurance coverage begins on the date you enter Canada or on the date your work permit was obtained.

If your work permit has been renewed, a copy of the document will be the basis for renewing your insurance as well. Otherwise, your health insurance will be cancelled when the period specified in the previous work permit expires.

If your entry document (visa) to Canada has expired, your insurance will expire with it. The same will happen if your visa type is changed, for example, to a work or study visa. To avoid this, it is a good idea to apply for an extension of your visa in advance, even if you have applied for permanent residency.

Paying for medical services at the time of visa renewal or when you get your Health Card

At the time you have already applied for but have not received health insurance or an updated visa, you will have to pay for any medical services yourself. When your visa is renewed, however, the renewed insurance may cover the time until the old one expires.

Obtaining permanent resident status

While you are waiting for your permanent residency status to be confirmed, you can use the current visa you entered Canada on as your health insurance.