Healthcare in Canada for Permanent Residence Holders

Canada’s universal healthcare system is not just limited to its citizens but it also extends to Canadian permanent residence holders. If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent residence holder of Canada, you may apply for the public healthcare insurance. Using the public health insurance will let you avail most of the health services without paying for it.

The Canadian health insurance is funded through taxes. While using this service, you are required to show your medical card while availing the service. Each province and territory has their own health insurance plan. You need to understand the plans your province or territory covers.

The Waiting Period to Get Public Health Insurance

While availing the public health insurance, you may have to wait up to 3 months or more. If you are curious, you can contact the ministry in your territory or province to know how long you will have to wait before getting the health insurance benefits. It is advised that you have a private health insurance to get you covered while you are waiting for the public health insurance.

Getting Your Health Insurance Card

Once you get your public health insurance card from a province or territory, you will need to show this card each time you avail a medical service.

Extra Health Insurance

There are certain services that public health insurance does not cover fully. In that case, you will need an extra private health insurance that will fulfill this gap. Some of the most common types of plans that public health insurance does not fully cover are:

• Prescription Medications
• Dental Care
• Physiotherapy
• Ambulance services
• Prescription Eyeglasses

If you are a working individual, you may avail further benefits from your employer.

Health Insurance for Refugees

The Canadian government also provides special temporary health care benefits to insured persons and refugees. The temporary health service is available only until the refugee or the refugee claimant is eligible for the public health insurance.

Interim Federal Health Program

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides limited and temporary health care benefits to people who are not eligible for public health insurance.However, these people need to be protected person, refugees or refugee claimant.

What does IFHP do?

IFHP provides basic health care services to refugees similar to the public health insurance to refugees. These services include:

• In and out-patient hospital services
• Medical doctors and nurses licensed in Canada attend the patients
• Allied-healthcare practitioners including clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, counseling therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, physiotherapists provide services through IFHP
• Medical assistance devices are readily available including:1.Orthopedic and Prosthetic equipment

  2.Mobility Aids

  3.Hearing aids

  4.Diabetic supplies

  5.Incontinence supplies

  6.Oxygen equipment

Prescription Drug Coverage

Prescribed medicines listed in provincial and territorial public drug plan formularies are also covered by IFHP.

Canada being the immigrating capital of the world also knows how to keep its immigrants safe and secure.