Health Insurance in Canada for Foreigners (2024)

Foreigners are drawn to Canada for numerous reasons: the country offers attractive cities with vibrant food scenes, beautiful natural settings, and many respected universities. Canada also has a comprehensive public healthcare system that covers citizens, permanent residents, and refugees. However, most expats and foreigners living in Canada aren’t eligible to join Canada’s health insurance system. Plus, the Canadian public system isn’t perfect: patients often have to wait for treatments such as diagnostic imaging or hip replacements. People with private insurance in Canada often find their waiting periods for care are shorter, especially for non-life-threatening illnesses or procedures.

Fortunately, there are other options for health insurance in Canada, including private international insurance plans that provide access to a broad range of hospitals and doctors. Get to know more about medical insurance in Canada, the difference between the country’s public and private healthcare providers, the recommended hospitals that accept immigrants and expatriates, and the best types of insurance services for travelers, foreigners, and students.

Canadian Health Insurance

Canada is well known for its high-quality national health insurance program. The federal government sets the guidelines and standards for the health insurance system in Canada. However, the actual administration of the national insurance program is the responsibility of each province and territory.

Canada is a massive country, and when it comes to providing quality Canadian healthcare, geography can be challenging! The concerns and priorities for one area might be vastly different from another. Rural versus urban demographics, linguistic traditions, the size of the Indigenous population, proximity of major hospitals, and cultural priorities all influence healthcare spending decisions.

For instance, the needs of the elderly Francophone population in northern Quebec can be very different from those of urban, east coast Halifax residents, with their large contingent of temporary students.

See Also: Health Plans for Canadians Living Abroad

The Best Health Insurance for Expats in Canada

Expatriates and international citizens in Canada should sign up for an international health insurance plan. These plans permit you to receive care in a wide range of private and public hospitals in Canada, with shorter waiting times. You can also choose a plan that covers dental care, prescription medications, and ambulance services, which public healthcare in Canada usually does not provide. Global medical plans also allow you to be treated outside Canada, which expands the number of specialists you’ll have access to.

Health Insurance Options for Expats in Canada

Canada has a single-payer universal healthcare system called Medicare. Enrollment in Medicare is limited to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, refugees, and some international students and workers. Immigrants and foreigners in Canada cannot enroll in Medicare unless they qualify by falling into one of the above categories. Foreigners will receive emergency care, but non-urgent medical treatment won’t be covered.

To make sure you won’t have to pay for all of your medical expenses, you should sign up for an international health insurance plan. With this coverage, you’ll be treated at Canadian hospitals and clinics without facing exorbitant costs. Another benefit of these insurance plans is the ability to access quality healthcare providers if you travel outside Canada.

The Cost of Health Insurance in Canada for Foreigners

The costs of private insurance for foreigners in Canada will vary. Important factors include your age, the benefits included in your plan, and the chosen deductible (the amount you have to pay on your own for medical expenses before your insurance plan’s coverage begins).

Our team is here to help if you’d like to discuss how to get health insurance in Canada. We’d be happy to walk you through the pros and cons of different insurance plans to ensure you’re selecting the right one for your needs and your wallet.

Here are examples of the average costs of healthcare in Canada for non-residents coming from some of the more popular countries of citizenship.

Can an American Get Health Insurance in Canada?

Though Americans and Canadians are neighbors, Americans don’t have any special access to Canada’s health insurance system. Your U.S. insurance will almost certainly not cover you during your stay in Canada, however long that might be! Unless you’re also a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or studying at a Canadian university in a province or territory that extends health coverage to students, you’ll need to sign up for an international plan that offers insurance for expats in Canada.

The Best Health Insurance in Canada for Non-Residents

The GeoBlue Xplorer plan offers comprehensive worldwide medical insurance for U.S. citizens in Canada. It also provides access to the Blue Cross / Blue Shield network of doctors and hospitals in the United States. With GeoBlue Xplorer Premier, U.S. citizens have nine months of benefits in the United States. Xplorer plans provide coverage for the life of the policy in countries outside of the United States.

Cigna Global Medical offers private health insurance plans in Canada for non-residents, immigrants, and foreign citizens currently living in the country. The plan has comprehensive coverage, excellent benefits, and quality service.

Also Read: Our guide to comparing expat insurance plans

Plans for Students at Canadian Colleges and Universities

International students enrolled in colleges and universities in Canada may be able to join Canada’s public health plan, though eligibility varies in each province and territory. Even if you’re in a location that permits students to sign up for Canada’s health insurance system, there will likely be a waiting period prior to enrollment.

Whether you’re waiting to enroll in public insurance in Canada or you need a private plan to cover you during your stay, consider signing up for an international medical plan for students. These student-focused plans are affordable and comprehensive and should meet your school’s insurance requirements.

Travel Insurance for Short-Term Visitors to Canada

The country’s national health plan doesn’t cover most visitors to Canada, so you need to consider how to get health insurance in Canada before your departure. If you’re an expat planning for a longer stay, international health insurance will help you avoid steep medical bills in the event you are ill or injured. If you’ll be visiting Canada for a shorter time, meaning your visit will last for less than a year, you have the choice of signing up for travel medical insurance.

In addition, think about what type of activities you’ll be engaging in on your trip so you can select the right travel health plan. For example, if you enjoy hitting the slopes, you might need a plan that covers adventure sports. That way, if you fracture your wrist while snowboarding at Whistler, your medical care will still be covered.

Are you also looking for protection that will cover you if your trip is canceled for reasons outside of your control, such as an emergency illness or accident? Consider a trip cancellation plan.

Also Read: Travel Insurance for Visitors to Canada

Group Medical Insurance in Canada for International Employees

International employers know that a quality benefits package, including health insurance, is vital to employees’ peace of mind and well-being. Employees who are citizens or permanent residents in Canada should be eligible to enroll in Medicare in their home province or territory, but because Canada’s system usually does not cover dental care, prescription medications, and ambulance services, you could offer these employees additional private insurance with this coverage.

For your international employees in Canada, a comprehensive international group health insurance plan will provide worldwide coverage, including in their country of citizenship. A group international health plan is a great option if you have two or more international employees living in Canada.

Our team of licensed agents is available to help you determine the coverage and benefits required to protect your employees while they are outside their home country. You’ll be able to design a plan to meet their needs and your budget.

Global Medical Care in Canada

Canada’s federal government sets the guidelines and standards for Medicare. The program aims to ensure an equal level of accessibility across the country for all enrollees. Yet the availability of medical care varies by location. Fewer doctors practice in rural areas, so rural residents may have to travel to regional hospitals for treatment. Seeing a specialist may require an even longer trip.

Provinces and territories are responsible for administering Canada’s national insurance program, and each one has different enrollment and coverage practices. However, people enrolled in Medicare in their home province or territory will have insurance when visiting other parts of Canada. Foreigners in Canada will need international health insurance to cover hospital stays and other medical care.

Also Read: Canada’s Healthcare System

How to Find a Family Physician or GP in Canada

The process for finding a family physician in Canada changes depending on where you live. In Ontario, for example, the Health Care Connect program helps match you with a primary care provider.

If you don’t have a family physician or GP, you can visit a walk-in clinic or community health center for non-urgent matters. The online tool Medimap allows users to search for nearby medical providers. Expats who have international insurance can also turn to their insurance provider for help locating physicians in their area.

How to Get Hospital Care in Canada

Canada is home to some of the world’s best hospitals. These hospitals are almost always nonprofits, but this does not mean they provide their services for free! Expats who do not have international insurance will have to pay for hospital care themselves.

There are private for-profit facilities in Canada. These include diagnostic labs, physical therapy clinics, and cosmetic surgery centers. Private international insurance plans can be tailored to cover services at these facilities. Expats with the option to visit private healthcare settings will experience shorter wait times for medical care.

Related:

• Hospitals in Canada for Expatriates
• Canadian Healthcare System
• Travel Insurance and Safety for Visitors to Canada

Author: Joe Cronin, Founder and President of International Citizens Insurance. Mr. Cronin, a former expat, is an authority in the areas of international travel, and global health, life, and travel insurance, with expertise in advising individuals and groups on benefits for today's global workforce. Follow him on LinkedIn or Twitter.