How does healthcare work in Canada?

Canada has free public healthcare at the point of use, a bit like the NHS, but it is run by each province, not nationally. Your cover depends on where you live and your permit, and some provinces make newcomers wait.

How the system works

Canada’s public system is often called medicare. The federal government sets national principles and pays part of the cost, but each province and territory runs its own plan and issues its own health card. Doctor visits and hospital care that are medically necessary are free at the point of use. Unlike the NHS, there is no single national service: if you move province, you re-register, and coverage rules differ.

Who can join, and when

Permanent residents and citizens who live in a province can join its plan. Many work permit holders can too, but rules differ. Most provinces want you to hold a work permit for at least 6 months, and some want 12 months or a full-time job with a local employer. Your family may be covered with you. Check your province before you go. Check your province’s rules for your permit type

Register as soon as you have an address. Bring your passport, your permit or PR papers and proof of address. In Quebec, forms and services are in French first.

Cover for the gap

If your province has a waiting period, or you aren’t eligible, you pay in full for treatment. A hospital stay can cost thousands of dollars a day. Buy private health insurance for newcomers or visitors to cover the gap. Many policies must be bought before you arrive or soon after, and exclude conditions you already have, so read the small print. IEC Working Holiday participants must have insurance for their whole stay anyway. UK travel insurance usually stops covering you once you have moved.

What the public plan doesn’t cover

• Prescriptions for most adults. Unlike in England, there is no flat prescription charge. Most working adults rely on a workplace plan or pay in full. Some provinces help older people, children and people on low incomes, and Quebec requires everyone to have drug insurance, public or private
• Dental care. Mostly private. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan helps some uninsured residents with lower family incomes, but you usually need to have filed Canadian tax returns first
• Eye tests, glasses, physiotherapy and ambulances. Often partly or not covered for adults, depending on the province

This is why “extended health and dental” benefits matter in a job offer. See Is my Canadian job offer a good one? and Insurance at renewal.

Finding a family doctor

A family doctor is the Canadian GP. Millions of Canadians don’t have one, so start looking early. Most provinces run a waiting list:

Ask colleagues and neighbours too: practices that take new patients often fill within days. Until you have a doctor, you can use walk-in clinics, virtual care services and, in many provinces, pharmacists, who can treat minor ailments and renew some prescriptions.

Urgent care and 811

• Call 911 in an emergency. Ambulance trips usually carry a charge, which differs by province
• Call 811 for free nurse advice in most provinces, including Ontario, BC, Alberta and Quebec
• Hospital emergency departments are free with a health card but waits can be long. Urgent care centres may be quicker for non-life-threatening problems

No reciprocal deal with the UK

The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with some countries, but not Canada. Your GHIC or EHIC won’t work there, and the NHS stops being free for you once you live abroad. You need provincial cover or private insurance from the day you land. See Can I bring my medicines?