Healthcare in Canada
Healthcare in Canada is free for citizens and residents.
This public system, known as medicare, is based on the Health Act of 1984 and guarantees comprehensiveness, universality, accessibility, and portability. Doctors who opt to work outside the system are barred from charging rates higher than those appointed by medicare.
This affords expats and locals alike a fair opportunity to receive treatment at a universally high standard.
Expats moving to Canada should make it a priority to apply for a state medical card upon arrival. Application forms are available online, or even at local pharmacies, doctor’s offices or hospitals. Identification in the form of a birth certificate, passport, confirmation of permanent residence or permanent resident card is required to complete the process.
Only once this documentation has been obtained can expats qualify to receive medicare treatment of any kind. In most Canadian territories and provinces each individual member of a family receives a unique personal identification number and accompanying card.
Insurance co-pays do vary across the provinces and territories in respect to each location’s political policies and distribution of wealth, but are incredibly cheap across the board if even existent at all. Do note that medical care offered in one province or territory may not be honoured in another, thus it is often recommended to purchase private health insurance if travelling often.
A further downfall of the system is the fact that waiting times can be long. Though emergency situations are addressed immediately, some individuals report waiting up to four weeks for a mere consultation and even up to six months for an important surgery.
There is also a lack of general practitioners and many won’t take new patients, not to mention waits are long for those who will. To make matters more frustrating, specialists demand a referral from a general practitioner.
For this reason expats should still consider private insurance in addition to the healthcare opportunities that the public system grants.
Private health insurance in Canada can also cover the few services not completely addressed by medicare. These may include prescription drugs, private hospital rooms, prescription glasses, ambulance services and even dental costs.
Public healthcare in Canada
This public system, known as medicare, is based on the Health Act of 1984 and guarantees comprehensiveness, universality, accessibility, and portability. Doctors who opt to work outside the system are barred from charging rates higher than those appointed by medicare.This affords expats and locals alike a fair opportunity to receive treatment at a universally high standard.
Expats moving to Canada should make it a priority to apply for a state medical card upon arrival. Application forms are available online, or even at local pharmacies, doctor’s offices or hospitals. Identification in the form of a birth certificate, passport, confirmation of permanent residence or permanent resident card is required to complete the process.
Only once this documentation has been obtained can expats qualify to receive medicare treatment of any kind. In most Canadian territories and provinces each individual member of a family receives a unique personal identification number and accompanying card.
Insurance co-pays do vary across the provinces and territories in respect to each location’s political policies and distribution of wealth, but are incredibly cheap across the board if even existent at all. Do note that medical care offered in one province or territory may not be honoured in another, thus it is often recommended to purchase private health insurance if travelling often.
A further downfall of the system is the fact that waiting times can be long. Though emergency situations are addressed immediately, some individuals report waiting up to four weeks for a mere consultation and even up to six months for an important surgery.
There is also a lack of general practitioners and many won’t take new patients, not to mention waits are long for those who will. To make matters more frustrating, specialists demand a referral from a general practitioner.
Private Insurance in Canada
For this reason expats should still consider private insurance in addition to the healthcare opportunities that the public system grants.
Private health insurance in Canada can also cover the few services not completely addressed by medicare. These may include prescription drugs, private hospital rooms, prescription glasses, ambulance services and even dental costs.
