Moving to Canada as a new permanent resident comes with plenty of arrangements, and healthcare should be one of them.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can apply for public health insurance, but coverage is administered separately by each province and territory. Depending on where you settle, your public health plan may not become effective immediately.
IRCC advises newcomers that in some provinces there can be a waiting period of up to three months and recommends having private health insurance during that time.
Temporary New Immigrants insurance can help cover eligible emergency medical expenses until your provincial or territorial plan takes effect.
- Permanent residents can apply for public healthcare, but coverage may not begin immediately.
- Provincial and territorial eligibility rules differ across Canada.
- Private emergency medical insurance can provide temporary protection before public coverage starts.
- Arranging insurance before arriving can help avoid waiting periods or other limitations that may apply to policies purchased later.
- Coverage should be reviewed for every accompanying family member, not just the principal applicant.
Does Permanent Residence Automatically Include Health Insurance?
No. Permanent resident status makes you eligible to apply for public healthcare, but it does not itself activate a provincial health plan.
After arriving, you generally need to apply for a health card in the province or territory where you establish residence. Each jurisdiction has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
For this reason, it is worth checking the current rules for your destination province before travelling to Canada.
What Is New Immigrants Insurance?
New Immigrants insurance is temporary private emergency medical coverage intended for people who have moved to Canada but do not yet have active provincial or territorial health insurance.
Depending on the plan, coverage may include:
- emergency physician and hospital services;
- ambulance transportation;
- diagnostic tests and X-rays;
- prescription medications related to a covered emergency;
- emergency dental treatment; and
- other medically necessary emergency services.
Benefits, coverage limits, deductibles, exclusions, and eligibility rules vary by insurer and policy.
This type of insurance is not intended to replace Canada’s public healthcare system. Instead, it provides temporary protection while you are waiting for your provincial or territorial coverage to begin.
Should You Buy Insurance Before Arriving in Canada?
If you know that you will need temporary coverage, arranging it before your arrival is generally preferable.
Buying ahead gives you an opportunity to compare plans, understand the policy terms, and select an effective date that corresponds with your arrival.
Some policies may impose a waiting period or additional conditions when insurance is purchased only after you have already entered Canada. A medical problem or symptoms that begin before coverage becomes effective may also affect a future claim.
Planning ahead can therefore help avoid an unnecessary uninsured period during your first days or weeks in Canada.
Buying insurance before you need medical care matters. A policy purchased after an illness or symptoms have already developed generally cannot be used to cover that existing medical problem.
What About Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?
Having a pre-existing condition does not necessarily mean that private insurance is unavailable.
Some plans may provide coverage for eligible pre-existing medical conditions if they have remained stable for a required period before the policy begins.
What qualifies as “stable” varies by insurer and plan and may involve factors such as changes in medication, new symptoms, medical consultations, testing, or treatment.
If you have an existing condition or regularly take medication, review these provisions carefully before choosing coverage.
Do Your Spouse and Children Need Coverage Too?
Each accompanying family member should be considered separately.
Your spouse or children may have their own provincial healthcare eligibility dates, and being included in the same permanent residence application does not mean you should assume everyone already has active medical coverage.
If several family members need temporary insurance, they can often be insured under the same application, but each person’s age, medical history, and coverage needs should still be reviewed.
What Happens When Provincial Coverage Begins?
Once your provincial or territorial health insurance is confirmed as active, temporary New Immigrants insurance may no longer be necessary for the original purpose of covering the transition period.
However, do not cancel private insurance simply because you have submitted an application for a health card. Confirm the actual effective date of your government coverage first.
Depending on the insurer and policy, you may be able to cancel the unused portion of your private plan and receive a refund, subject to the applicable cancellation conditions.
It is also worth remembering that provincial plans do not cover every healthcare expense.
Private extended health insurance for prescriptions, dental care, physiotherapy, vision care, and other services is a different type of coverage from temporary emergency medical insurance.
Quick Answers About Insurance for New Immigrants
Do permanent residents get free healthcare as soon as they arrive?
Not always. You must apply through your province or territory, and the effective date depends on its eligibility rules.
Is there always a three-month waiting period?
No. Some provinces may have a waiting period while others provide coverage sooner to eligible residents.
Can I buy New Immigrants insurance after arriving?
Often, yes, but waiting periods or other restrictions may apply depending on the policy.
What does New Immigrants insurance cover?
Plans generally focus on eligible emergency medical expenses, including hospital and physician services, ambulance transportation, diagnostic testing, and other covered treatment.
Can pre-existing conditions be covered?
Some policies offer coverage when the condition satisfies the applicable stability requirements.
When can I cancel the policy?
Once you have confirmed that your provincial or territorial coverage is active, you can review the private policy’s cancellation and refund provisions.
Moving to Canada? We Can Help
If you are preparing to move to Canada and are unsure when your provincial health insurance will begin, it is worth reviewing your options before you travel.
At Arbetov Insurance, we offer emergency medical insurance for New Immigrants and can help you compare available plans, understand pre-existing condition provisions, and arrange temporary coverage for you and your family.
If you are unsure whether you need insurance or how long to purchase it for, contact our team and we will be happy to help you review the available options.
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