Last updated on February 4th, 2020
If you are a new immigrant to the provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario or Quebec then you should be looking for private medical coverage for the first 3 months after your arrival. The rest of the provinces in Canada provide you with provincial health coverage from the moment you land.
It’s important to know that medical coverage amounts vary from $50,000 all the way up to $200,000 and the price of the insurance depends on that amount you decide to go with. Lowering the cost is possible by adding a deductible, which is the portion you agree to pay in case there is an emergency. The deductible usually applies to every claim.
When purchasing insurance for new immigrants in B.C and N.B you should be looking for coverage for 2 months plus the remainder of the month you are arriving on. For example, if you are coming to British Columbia in February, then your policy should be valid until the end of April, because starting May 1st, you would be covered by the provincial health plan. If you are immigrating to Quebec or Ontario, you need to purchase insurance for three full months.
Most insurance companies will cover you from the moment you arrive in Canada, if you purchase the coverage before your arrival. If you buy it after you land, you will have a waiting period anywhere from 48 hours to 8 days, depending on the company’s policy.
A few of the insurance companies offer family plans for parents and their children, as long as they are younger than 21 and are dependants. These plans usually cost a lot less than if you were to buy for each member of the family separately. Insurance plans vary not only in their policies but also in cost. In order to find the best coverage with the lowest cost, you can use the Insurance Calculator for new immigrants to Canada. Included in this calculator are prices from all the Canadian insurance companies and you can buy directly online, which will save you time and money.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or call 1-877-211-4301 and one of our qualified agents will assist you with your selection.
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