Is healthcare in Canada really free?

Are you planning to immigrate to Canada? Do you want to know what the pros and cons of the Canadian medical system are and how to get to a doctor? And why is Canada's Medicare healthcare system considered one of the best in the world?

Anna Prokofieva, who has been living in Canada since 2019 and has permanent resident status, discussed these and other aspects of life in Canada. The speaker shares her own experience of treatment in Canada.

Is medicine really free in Canada?

In Canada, almost all major medical expenses are covered by the state. There is a unified health insurance program that provides an opportunity to receive medical care under the Healthcare program for free or with minor additional costs, but this applies only to treatment in the territory of one’s own province. If the patient travels to another province, medical services are also provided, but for a fee. The reason is that each of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories has its own ministry of health and governing bodies, and health care programs may differ from region to region.

«Each province issues separate documents, and when you move to another province, you need to replace this card. This document is called a Health card»,– Hanna says.

A health card is a state health insurance policy, without which it is almost impossible to see any doctor. With the card, consultations with family doctors and other specialists, diagnostic procedures and emergency medical care, most surgeries, and some medications will be free of charge. Based on the data in the medical card, the doctor will issue an invoice to the state, which will cover all expenses.

«The insurance covers any surgeries, ambulances. If necessary, in the case of appendicitis, for example, you need to visit a general practitioner, and the general practitioner will refer you to a particular specialist»,– says Hanna.

How does the Canadian medical system work?

Canadian medicine is based on general practitioners. They are the link between the patient and the subsequent treatment strategy. In addition, having extensive experience in practice, they can quickly establish a diagnosis, prescribe a simple examination (most tests, X-rays, and ultrasound), or give a referral to a narrow specialist. However, there is a severe shortage of general practitioners, and in some provinces it can take years to find a doctor, says Hanna:

«Here, people may wait for a family doctor, for example, for 7 years».

This does not mean that a person without a family doctor will not receive medical care for years. For such cases, Canada has clinics where therapists see everyone who needs help. The biggest disadvantage is that there is no pre-appointment, like with a family doctor, when you can come at a certain time. There is only a live queue, where you can waste many hours of your time.

You’ll also have to wait for a visit to a specialized doctor, but in an electronic queue.

«To see a gynecologist or gastroenterologist, you can wait about six months, give or take a few months», – says Hanna.

How can Ukrainians get a medical card in Canada?

The Ukrainian diaspora in Canada is one of the largest, and Canada, in turn, rank third in the world in terms of the number of Ukrainians. Currently, Ukrainians in Canada are not granted refugee status due to their displacement by the war. However, since the announcement of the CUAET program, Canada has received more than 1.1 million applications from Ukrainian citizens, of which about 800,000 have been approved. This is reported on the website of the Canadian government.

Healthcare for Ukrainians in Canada is free of charge, just like for citizens of the country. Canadian health insurance is financed by local authorities and the state, mainly through taxes. At the border, immigrants from Ukraine are issued a Work Permit. And with the status of an employee, you can apply for state insurance.

Ukrainians can receive health insurance (medical card) on the second day after arrival in Canada. We remind you that each province of Canada has separate health care programs. Therefore, Ukrainian immigrants who have not yet decided exactly where they will live will have to purchase a private health insurance policy.

«A private insurance policy costs about 150 Canadian dollars per month. That is, you can take it out for a month and be sure that even if something happens, the insurance company will refund your money later. This is important because medicine in Canada is expensive. Even to see a therapist here, it costs about 100 CAD just to pay for the appointment. So it’s better to have this insurance», said a Ukrainian woman living in Canada.

Private insurance

Usually, health insurance provided by the provincial government covers only basic health services. However, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, dental care, physiotherapy, and even ambulances may not be covered, and, in this case, you will have to pay for these services yourself unless you have another private insurance plan. For this reason, many Canadians purchase additional private insurance policies. Often, employers provide this additional insurance to their employees.

«Insurance costs about $150-200 per month per family. But it’s more profitable to have an additional policy, because, for example, a dental filling costs at least 300 CAD. Even just coming to check your teeth costs about 150-200 CAD,» Anna Prokofieva said.

What about the availability of medicines?

You can hardly buy anything in Canadian pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription. Therefore, Ukrainians who are going to Canada for the first time should bring their own first aid kit.