A Guide to Canadian Public Health Insurance

If you are preparing to move to Canada there is a pretty good chance that you are interested in their public health system as Canada is known for its free health care for its citizens. You may also want to familiarize your self with the eligibility requirements to see if you can even gain access to the Canadian public health care system.

The Canadian health care system is a public health care system that is governed by the Canada Health Act. The Canadian federal government provides financial support to the system while provincial governments are responsible for delivering the health care services to its inhabitants.

As you may know, health care in Canada is free for permanent residents but only for things that are medically necessary. Most medications have to be paid for and are not free of charge. You are able to supplement with your own private health insurance or insurance from your job to cover the costs of medication or any procedure or treatment that is not deemed medically necessary.

You should be warned though that the free health care is not without its problems. There are many crowded hospitals and long waiting lines for treatments and services.

To be eligible for heath care services and treatment under the Canadian public health system you will need to have permanent resident status in the country. If you arrive in the country as a permanent resident then there is a three month waiting period before you are deemed eligible.

If you are eligible for health care services and treatment under the Canadian public health care system then you will need to get a Canadian health card. If you are a permanent resident, then you will need to have three of the following items in order to get your Canadian health card: your Canadian immigration identification card, your IMM 5292 form which is confirmation of permanent resident, your permanent resident card, your IMM 1000 form which is your record of landing form or other immigration forms. If you are a stateless person then you will need to have three of the following items in order to get your Canadian health card: your letter from the immigration and refugee board that confirms that you are of convention refugee or protected person status, your protected person status document, your temporary residence permit, your work permit, your passport and landed immigration papers, your permanent resident card or written confirmation from the citizenship and immigration department that you have applied for permanent residence in Canada and that you have already passed the immigration medical exam.

Some provinces have specific regulations as well. For information on that you should visit the Health Canada website.