Health Insurance for Returning Canadians

East or west, home is best! We offer a great selection of individual medical emergency insurance plans for citizens and permanent residents returning to Canada from abroad or a different province or territory in Canada.

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Insurance for Returning Canadians:

Coming back home from an adventure is always wonderful as you feel completely refreshed and ready to get back to your usual routine.

However, don’t let this feeling of excitement allow you to forget about your personal safety as your Provincial Health Insurance may have been put on hold while you were away. It is especially the case with residents returning to SK, YT, NU, QC or BC, where a 2-3 months waiting period may apply before your government health coverage is reactivated.

Hence, getting a suitable insurance plan for citizens and residents returning to Canada will take care of any emergency medical treatment before your provincial coverage is reactivated.

How does Insurance for Returning Canadians work?

If you are a Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Canada and your provincial medical care plan has been deactivated due to your absence, you can protect yourself from the costs of any urgent health care needs with a medical emergency insurance plan for Returning Canadians.

If you are returning to live in BC, YT, NU, QC or SK your provincial health insurance plan may take about 2-3 months to begin once you arrive and re-establish your residence.

Such coverage is active while you are in Canada or taking a short side-trip to other countries across the world (excluding the country of your previous residence) as long stay within Canada is longer than the duration of a side-trip.

Who needs Returning Canadians Insurance?

In case you reside in Saskatchewan, Yukon, Quebec, Nunavut or British Columbia and your government health insurance plan is on hold due to a long term stay abroad, you may be a subject to a waiting period of approximately up to 90 days before your government health care plan kicks in.

For all other provinces and territories across Canada, the above condition does not apply.

By purchasing private health insurance for Canadians returning to Canada you can secure your finances and avoid paying unnecessary medical expenses in case of an emergency, while your provincial health insurance is being re-activated.

How to Calculate Returning Canadians Insurance
Cost and Apply?

Planning to return to Canada? Don’t forget to purchase an insurance policy before you travel! Just follow the steps below to see the list of available insurance options from the top Canadian insurance companies we work with!

Click to Learn How Returning Canadians Insurance Rates are Calculated

Get a Quote

Calculate a personal quote for Returning Canadians Insurance using our free online tool above. From the options provided, you will see a list of private Canadian health insurance plans with different deductible amounts.

Deductible amount is what you will have to pay yourself, before the insurance company takes care of the rest if there happens to be a claim.

Select a Plan

Select a quote and proceed with clicking on “Plan Details” button for any particular insurance plan on the right-hand side.

You will be re-directed to a web-page, where you will see your initial quote, plan description as well as other important information regarding the particular insurance policy suitable for Returning Canadians.

Review Your Coverage

Please take a look at the Summary of Benefits as well as other policy highlights on that page. Keep in mind that in order to see the official plan description you will need to review the Policy Wording that is available for download on the same page.

Once you have decided that the chosen Returning Canadian insurance plan suits your needs, you may proceed by clicking “Buy Insurance” or “Buy Online” button.

Application/Purchase

The last step is to complete an online application form as well as pay using your credit card. It will only take a few minutes and requires basic personal and contact information about the applicant. Once you finish typing in the needed information, take a moment to review your application before you enter your credit card details.

Once your payment is processed, you will receive your health emergency Returning Canadians insurance plan by email in a couple of minutes!

What does Returning Canadians Insurance cover?

Each emergency health insurance offers their owns features that may not be included in another policy, and therefore, it is important for you to examine your options carefully and read plan description documents.

Insurance for Returning Canadians will ONLY cover medical emergency treatment of sudden sicknesses and accidental injuries excluding routine medical care.

Summary of Foreign Workers Insurance Benefits:

– Emergency Health Care
– Hospital Accommodation & Services
– Ambulance Services
– Emergency Dental Repair
– Dental Pain Relief
– Prescription Drugs
– Laboratory Diagnostics/ X-ray
– Services of a Medical Specialist
– Follow up Visits to a Specialist
– Services of a Registered Nurse
– Rental or Purchase of Medical Appliances

For a detailed coverage description please read the Policy Wording of the insurance plan you select.

Provincial Insurance Coverage: Waiting Period

Government health insurance eligibility varies across Canada. In certain provinces, returning Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be able to use their provincial health care coverage only 2-3 months after re-establishing your residence.

In case you are returning to Saskatchewan, Quebec, Yukon or British Columbia, your medical plan will only begin 2 to 3 months following your arrival due to a waiting period.

Yet, while your provincial coverage is reactivated, it is highly recommended to apply for a private insurance in order to secure your financial well-being against the costs of emergency medical treatment you may require.

BC, SK, YT, QC Waiting Period:

The waiting period applies to Returning Canadians coming to QC, SK, BC or Yukon.

In Quebec and Yukon you should be eligible for provincial insurance (3) three months after you have arrived and re-registered for the health care plan in one of these provinces.

In comparison, British Columbia calculates the duration of the waiting period in a slightly different way. Your waiting period will be based on the remainder of the month when you arrive and establish your residence in BC plus 2 additional months. It is highly recommended to notify BC MSP office of your arrival in order to commence insurance activation process.

Similarly, in Saskatchewan your provincial insurance coverage will begin on the first day of the third month after your arrival there.

Provincial Insurance: Eligibility Requirements

The Ministry of Health affairs in your province of residence will determine the date your residency is established through a number of factors.

In addition to providing necessary documents (if required), you must also physically reside in a province that grants you government health care benefits for a certain number of days within a calendar year in order to remain eligible for such insurance.

Learn More About Provincial Insurance coverage across Canada by using the links below:

Visit the officialHealth Care System website for more information on medical insurance coverage in each province and territory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a specific question about Returning Canadians insurance? Here is a list of what people usually look for. Just click on the appropriate question box to see the answer.

Q: Who needs medical insurance for Returning Canadians?

A: If you are returning to live in British Columbia, Quebec, Nunavut, Yukon or Quebec, the government of Canada official strongly recommend that you purchase a private insurance policy. There is one exception – Saskatchewan. If you return to live in Saskatchewan within the first 2 months following your arrival in Canada, then the waiting period will no longer apply.

When you have a private insurance you can use it to cover possible medical emergency expenses while your provincial insurance is not active for the first 2-3 months of arrival.

Q: Do I have to buy medical insurance for Returning Canadians?

A: While it is not necessary to purchase private insurance when you are returning to Canada, it is highly recommended to do so in order to cover possible medical emergency expenses in case of an unforeseen sickness or an accidental injury while your provincial insurance is reactivated.

More specifically, it is recommended to get a private insurance if you are a returning resident to NU, BC, YT and QC as it will take from 2 to 3 months before your can use government insurance plan. Conditionally, you can avoid the waiting period in SK if you arrive prior to the 1st day of the 3rd month following your return to Canada.

Q: Should I buy Returning Canadians insurance before arriving in Canada?

A: Ideally, you should purchase your insurance policy before you leave the country of your current residence.

It is strongly recommended to allow a few business days before you travel to buy your insurance in order to avoid the waiting period, during which you will not be able to use your insurance policy.

The waiting period ranges from 2 to 15 days depending on the insurance policy you select, if you purchase it after you arrive in Canada.

Q: Does Returning Canadians insurance cover routine health care?

A: While private insurance for Visitors and Citizens of Canada will not cover routine healthcare such as check ups, such treatment is still covered if you find yourself in a medical emergency situation.

In case you suddenly fall ill or get injured, your insurance policy will take care of the costs for clinic visits, physician’s services, hospitalization, emergency dental care, prescription drugs, laboratory tests and much more!

Q: Can I cancel my policy if I receive provincial insurance before the expiry date?

A: Yes, you can. If your provincial insurance plan starts before the expiry date of your private insurance policy, you will be eligible for a pro-rated refund, provided you did not have any claims.

Your refund will be calculated based on the number of days left unused following the date your provincial insurance plan begins less the cancellation fee of $25-$50

Q: Will my insurance only be valid in a province of residence?

A: No, your Returning Canadians policy will cover you across Canada and even on short-side trips across the border (excluding the country of your previous residence), provided that you spend the majority of your coverage period in Canada.

If you couldn’t find what you were looking for, please take a look at our General FAQ for more information, or talk to our advisors and we will be happy to assist you!

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Testimonials

Arbetov Insurance & Wealth Management Inc

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Based on 78 reviews

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Zainab Shafique

00:39 21 Jan 26

Lea provided excellent assistance with my mother’s health insurance inquiry. Her guidance was clear, efficient, and much appreciated 🙂

Olga Butenko

02:20 12 Dec 25

I had a fantastic experience with Arbetov Insurance. Their team was very professional and responsive, making the process of purchasing travel health insurance simple and stress-free. Lea took the time to explain all the coverage options clearly and helped me choose the plan that best fit my needs and budget. I felt confident knowing I had reliable support during my trip. Highly recommend them for anyone looking for trustworthy travel insurance.

Paul & Inna Uchitel

06:41 26 Nov 25

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23:28 17 Nov 25

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03:52 20 Sep 25

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16:03 27 May 25

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00:18 27 May 25

Every time I visit Canada, I always purchase my medical insurance through Arbetov Insurance. In the past, I received excellent help from their staff — Anna and Nick were especially supportive and knowledgeable. Now, I simply use their online calculator to buy my policy quickly and easily. It's very convenient and user-friendly. I feel confident knowing that if I ever have any issues, Arbetov's team will be there to assist me. Highly recommended!

Dave B

18:42 30 Apr 25

My wife and I were in the process of moving from the United States to Canada. My wife's health insurance coverage from work (in Washington State) expired at the end of the month in which she retired. Health insurance in Canada was not obtainable through the province of Alberta until after 3 months of residency. We needed 1 month of US coverage and 3 months of Canadian coverage. Lea was incredibly helpful in finding effective coverage for us at a very reasonable cost. She was quick to provide guidance and a variety of potential solutions. You'd be hard pressed to find a more service oriented and customer focused employee than Lea. She is awesome!

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17:37 30 Apr 25

I’ve been getting insurance with Lea for many years and she's always been amazing. Super helpful, easy to work with, and always find me great coverage. They really go the extra mile every time. Highly recommend!

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22:41 22 Apr 25

Have purchased several travel insurance with Lea and we cant thank her enough for her help! She is always so kind, patient, and she explained all the necessary details of the policy. Thank you, Lea! We will always use you for our insurance needs.

Tatyana

21:04 21 Apr 25

I had a fantastic experience with Arbetov Insurance! They helped me find the perfect travel insurance plan that fit both my needs and my budget. The prices were very competitive compared to others I looked at, and I felt like I was getting great value for my money. On top of that, the customer service was top-notch — friendly, responsive, and genuinely helpful throughout the whole process. Highly recommend it!

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11:10 21 Dec 24

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I can’t recommend Arbetov enough - Even using on-line messaging over different time zones, my customer service experience was excellent.
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18:21 26 Nov 24

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22:05 04 Nov 24

Leah a representative for Arbetov Insurance & Wealth Management Inc is an exceptional person. We Thank you very much for your time and effort. I’ll be honest. You were the only person out of all the insurance agents/brokers that I dealt with, that did all that leg work for my wife, her mother(insured) and her family. You take pride and integrity into your work and it shows. We can’t thank you enough. My family has peace of mind going forward. Now our Mother/Sister/Grandmother now has her Visitors to Canada insurance with her Super Visa. We forward in working with you again in the future, now her visit with will be great! We thank you again!

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