If you need to contact the emergency services in Canada the number is the same as for the same services in the US – 911. This can connect you to ambulance, police and fire services.

Canada has a good standard of general healthcare with a wide range of facilities. It is a system that has been in place for many years and is one that is publicly funded. The standards for healthcare are established by the national government, but it is overseen by each provincial government in the form of the Medicare system. In order to access the free Medicare system operated by the government you must be in possession of a healthcare card, which is issued by the health department in your province. The Medicare system is not completely free, though, and it should be noted that some treatments and medications will incur costs.

You need to make your application for the healthcare card as soon as you arrive in Canada, as it can take a few weeks to arrive. You should apply for a card for each member of the family. In order to do this you will need to get an application form from the doctor’s surgery or the local hospital. Some pharmacies may also carry the forms. You need to complete a form for each member of the family and send with it the birth certificate of the applicant, written confirmation of their status as a permanent resident or citizen of Canada and their passport. When the card is issued you will find that you are unable to use it in other provinces but there are some agreements between different areas which allow you to obtain emergency healthcare while you are there which can then be charged directly to your province or paid for by you and claimed back later. If you should move from one province to another you will need to apply for a new healthcare card.

If you do not have the permanent residency status then you will need to obtain private healthcare insurance while you are in the country. There are many companies which provide this type of insurance at a reasonable price. Some operate on a nationwide basis and others solely in one or two provinces. It is possible with some companies to arrange healthcare insurance before you arrive in the country. In some provinces, private healthcare is essential for at least the first three months as they do not allow new arrivals to claim on Medicare for that time.

Contributions to the system will vary depending upon which province you are living in. Some provinces will fund healthcare through taxation but others charge a monthly fee. If you are on a low income then you may not have to pay this fee. All residents with a healthcare card are entitled to the same treatments and the system provides for all essential medical costs.

While hospitals provide a very comprehensive level of care there are some aspects of healthcare which are not covered by Medicare. These include dental treatments and optical treatments. You can obtain separate insurance for these or choose to pay for them as and when you need them.

Healthcare for foreign visitors is provided regardless of status and there is a special scheme known as the Interim Federal Health Programme which is designed for those who have come to the country as refugees or with another special status. It will give temporary cover until residency status can be established.

In recent years both federal and provincial governments have taken steps to tackle smoking and the health issues that it raises. Smoking is banned in many public places and it is becoming increasingly unacceptable to smoke in the presence of a non-smoker.

Obesity is not generally a problem within Canada although there are specific programmes which are designed to raise awareness of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

Counselling services are sometimes available through the Medicare system although this depends upon the province that you are in. In addition to this there are large numbers of organisations that offer counselling for specific problems such as alcoholism or bereavement and many of these work on a charitable basis, so treatment is free. You can also choose to see a private therapist and lists of registered therapists are available from the health department of your local provincial government.

Useful Resources

Health Canada
Address Locator 0900C2
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9 Email: info@hc-sc.gc.ca
Tel: 613-957-2991
Toll free: 1-866-225-0709
Fax: 613-941-5366
Teletypewriter: 1-800-267-1245 (Health Canada)
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php