Coming from England we often take advantage of our excellent health care services. The NHS provides free health services for most treatments. Medicare is Canada’s public health care system, which uses funds from the government. When you have it, you do not pay for most health-care services as health care is paid for through taxes and all Canadian citizens and permanent residents may apply for public health insurance. Unfortunately, expats moving to Canada with temporary residency in are not eligible for the same benefits.
Although you may be covered by Medicare, keep in mind it only covers essential medical services. If you don’t have health insurance or benefits through an employer, it’s highly recommended to get private health insurance to cover your healthcare needs. Check out these companies and what can they offer:
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The leading provider Cigna Global has a wide network of providers in over 200 countries, and they offer a variety of plans to fit your individual needs. They are known for their flexible policies and excellent customer service, committed to providing you with the peace of mind that you need, wherever you are in the world.
With more than 150 years of history, this well-reputed company offers, among others insurance solutions. They provide Personal Health Insurance with different plans depending on your budget to cover those expenses the provincial or territorial healthcare won’t.
Their services are designed to provide insurance to those who aren’t covered by Medicare (such as immigrants, temporary residents and visitors) and cover medical emergencies expenses and other needs.
Now Health International provides medical and health plans for people emigrating all over the globe. With more affordable prices than other insurance companies, they still provide comprehensive coverage.
If you’re still hesitant, request free quotes from our partner International Citizens Insurance and compare companies to find what works best for you 👇.
It is not essential to own health insurance in Canada; however, is advised. You could end up paying for an arm and a leg for a trip to the hospital. Although many are covered with insurance through work, for those who aren’t there are three main options:
Medicare is Canada’s equivalent to the NHS. It allows individuals to get treatment at both private and public healthcare facilities; however, the majority of hospitals, clinics and practices in Canada are, in fact, private.
Each province in Canada defines what is and what is not covered by its particular health insurance plan. For the most part, the only things not covered are optometry, ambulance services, dentistry and outpatient prescription drugs.
While the healthcare system in Canada covers basic services, including primary care physicians and hospitals, there are many services that are not included in this. Such as dental services, optometrists, and prescription medications. The pros to having private healthcare is mainly that waiting time reduces significantly. Private healthcare however can cost around $600 a month, which can be a large proportion of your income.
If you are not a Canadian citizen or if you don’t have a permanent visa a doctor visit without health insurance can be very pricey. A simple sore throat can overall cost around $90. This is including antibiotics and the doctors visit. For those who have covered by Medicare, payments are not required to be paid after appointments. You simply need to show your insurance card for proof. In most cases the prescriptions are not free so this is something that will need to be paid for.
Doctor practices are more common near cities, but it is more difficult for those who live in rural areas. Patients in Canada wait longer for free primary care appointments than those in many other developed countries, a large proportion of emergency visits in Canada have a limited availability of primary care.
Do you need more information to plan your move to Canada? If so, we recommend that you take a look at the links below -they will be of great help to you! 🙂
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