Canada has made it easier for people with medical conditions to immigrate
More people will be able to get permanent residency in the country.
In 2022, more people with special health conditions will be able to immigrate to Canada as the government has raised the cap on health care costs for such residents.
In Canada, medical care is free for residents. However, serious illnesses may require treatment for which the health and welfare system would cost too much. For this reason, Canada denies immigration to those whose treatment or social support might cost too much.
The Canadian government explains this policy by saying that the health and social services system should not be overburdened because it would have a negative impact on the quality of life of Canadians.
In 2022, the government raised the bar on allowable expenses to $120,285 CAD over 5 years, which is $24,057 CAD annually. This means that more people with the disease have a chance to be approved for an immigrant visa. In 2021, the threshold was $21,798 CAD per year. By comparison, the cost for the average Canadian (without a serious illness) is $8,019 CAD per year.
Expenses that are considered in the assessment include:
- home care for the patient;
- social assistance to improve the quality of life of the patient;
- Psychological counseling;
- medical devices, equipment, prosthetics;
- long-term care in a hospital;
- the services of doctors and nurses;
- laboratory diagnostic services;
- drugs and pharmaceutical services;
- chemotherapy and radiation therapy;
- dialysis and so on.
