Medicare and Universal Coverage
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Canadian federal statutes and official sources.
What is this right?
The federal Canada Health Act (CHA) sets five principles that every province and territory must follow to receive federal health funding: public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility. The provinces and territories actually deliver healthcare services.
The CHA covers medically necessary hospital and physician services at no cost to patients. About 70% of total health spending in Canada is public.
However, several things are not covered under the CHA, including:
- Prescription drugs dispensed outside a hospital
- Dental care
- Vision care
- Cosmetic procedures
- Ambulance services (coverage varies by province)
If you move to a new province, your old province covers you for up to 3 months while you wait for your new coverage to start.
When does it apply?
- All residents of a province or territory who are lawfully in Canada.
- Coverage begins after a waiting period of up to 3 months (varies by province).
- Your health card confirms your enrollment in your province's plan.
What should you do?
- Register for provincial health insurance as soon as you become a resident. Don't wait.
- Carry your health card whenever you visit a doctor, hospital, or clinic.
- When moving provinces, register immediately in your new province and consider buying gap insurance for the waiting period.
- Bring your health card when travelling within Canada — you're covered for emergency care in other provinces.
- Contact your provincial health ministry if you are charged for an insured service. You should not have to pay out of pocket for medically necessary care.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't let your health card expire — renew it before the expiry date to avoid gaps in coverage.
- Don't assume everything is covered — dental, vision, and prescription drugs outside hospital are generally not included.
- Don't skip gap insurance when moving provinces — you could be uninsured for up to 3 months.
- Don't assume you have adequate out-of-country coverage — provincial plans pay very little for care abroad. Buy travel insurance before leaving Canada.
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