Landed Immigrants Insurance
In Canada, newly arrived immigrants may experience a waiting period before becoming eligible for provincial healthcare insurance. This waiting period, which varies by province or territory, can last around three months. During this time, immigrants are not covered by provincial medical insurance and must pay for their medical expenses themselves.
To address this gap, immigrants can consider purchasing Visitors to Canada insurance, providing temporary coverage for medical services like doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and medication during the waiting period.
Once the waiting period is over, immigrants gain access to the same healthcare benefits as Canadian citizens, including a broad range of essential services like emergency care, specialist consultations, and prescription medications.
Provinces and territories may have different waiting periods, with some providing immediate coverage upon arrival (e.g., British Columbia). Immigrants should check with local healthcare authorities for specific eligibility criteria and waiting period details.
Provincial Waiting Periods
1. Quebec: Three months waiting period
2. British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador: Three months waiting period
3. Manitoba, Saskatchewan: Three months waiting period, but healthcare coverage is provided during emergencies.
4. Alberta, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island: Three months waiting period, but emergency and essential healthcare services are covered.
5. Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon: No waiting period, immediate coverage.
The eligibility criteria for the IFHP program:
1. Individuals must be a protected person or a refugee claimant who falls within one of the specified eligibility categories.
2. Protected persons eligible for the program include individuals with:
– Convention refugee status,
– Persons in need of protection status,
– Resettled refugees,
– Members of a humanitarian-protected persons abroad class, or
– Certain other specific immigration statuses.
3. Refugee claimants eligible for the program include individuals who have made a claim for refugee protection in Canada and are awaiting a decision.
4. The program also covers certain groups who are not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance plans, such as failed refugee claimants with an enforceable removal order, certain victims of human trafficking, or individuals with a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment application in process.
It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for the IFHP may change over time due to policy updates and amendments.