Canada health insurance

Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by Umer Malik

Canada health insurance

If you’re a foreign visitor to Canada, you’re probably wondering if you have access to the country’s healthcare system. Canada is well-known for providing free universal healthcare to all citizens. It is one of the primary reasons the country has a good standard of living and health. Furthermore, in light of the recent global turmoil, Canada has been one of the leading countries in terms of a positive response to COVID-19.

To answer your query, the quick answer is that foreigners can receive Canada health insurance from the best medical insurance companies. However, it is very dependent on your immigration status, and it may take some time before you are covered.

What if I become sick or injured while visiting Canada ?

One of the reasons you should have Canada health insurance is that Canadian hospitals and medical services do not pay tourists. Having a worldwide health policy can provide you peace of mind when visiting the country. Although Canada has a reputation for providing affordable medical services, the costs of an accident or illness in Canada can be significant if you do not have health care coverage from the best medical insurance companies.

Most medical claims in Canada are not covered for free unless you are covered by the government, and maybe also by an extended health plan or a global health plan.

Who is covered under Canada’s Universal Health Care System?

  • Permanent resident
  • International students with valid study visas
  • Foreign workers having Work permits 
  • Foreign nationals seeking permanent residency in Canada
  • Refugees and those under the protection
  • Temporary resident in the special case

If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and want to be eligible for health insurance, you must study or work in Canada for at least 6 months. As a foreigner in Canada, you must show that you meet your province’s residency criteria.

To be considered a permanent resident, you must typically reside and physically remain in your home province for at least 183 days every year.

You have an additional 6 months (182 days) of unrestricted travel, but you must adhere to the deadlines or you risk losing your eligibility. Otherwise, you must have lived in your home province for three consecutive months and be able to prove it to be deemed a resident.

On the plus side, if you are eligible for free health care in Canada, your spouse and dependent children will also be eligible. 

If you are a visa holder or a new resident, however, there is a three-month waiting period before your health card is activated. In this instance, we strongly advise you to obtain Canada health insurance. Your best option would be to obtain complete international health insurance before landing in Canada.

How to Get Health Insurance in Canada?

It is strongly advised that foreigners purchase travel Canada health insurance or an annual international medical plan before coming to Canada until they qualify for the public health care system.

If a non-resident of Canada needs to be hospitalized, they might pay up to CAD 5,000 (3,761 USD) per day. For critical care, this figure might be doubled. Visitors should obtain some form of insurance in case of an emergency.

When a foreigner qualifies for the public health care system and wishes to enhance their coverage with supplemental private insurance, contacting the insurance provider of their choice is straightforward usually by phone or online. They will guide you through the process, explain the charges, and answer any questions or concerns you may have before signing up.

If you have Canada health insurance via your company, the Human Resources Department can help you with this and will usually manage the application procedure for you. They should also be able to assist you in answering any queries you may have about your particular health insurance perks and coverage.

CAPCO is the best medical insurance company that will assist you with finding medical care, consulting services, referring you to an interpreter, arranging transportation, contacting relatives, and much more. This means you can concentrate on remaining healthy while we manage your care while you are in a safe setting.

Apart from this if you are interested to know about Family Health Insurance then visit our Uncategorized category.