Canada's healthcare system explained for expats
Canada does not have a single national healthcare system — each province manages its own public plan. The good news: once you're enrolled, essential care is covered at no cost. The bad news: enrolment isn't immediate.
When you arrive in Canada, you must register with the provincial health plan in your province of residence. Only after the waiting period (typically 3 months) will your provincial health card be issued and activated.
Main provincial health plans
🏙️ Quebec
RAMQ
Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec. Covers doctors and hospitals. Medications via collective or private plan.
🏙️ Ontario
OHIP
Ontario Health Insurance Plan. 3-month waiting period. Dental and glasses not covered.
🏔️ British Columbia
MSP
Medical Services Plan. 3-month wait. Monthly premium abolished since 2020.
🌾 Alberta
AHCIP
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. 3-month wait. No public dental or vision coverage.
🌊 New Brunswick
Medicare NB
Waiting period varies by immigration status.
🍂 Other provinces
Local plans
Each province has its own plan with slightly different rules and waiting periods.
⏳ The 3-month gap: your biggest vulnerability
From day one until month three, you are entirely responsible for your medical costs. Here's how a typical installation unfolds:
Months 1–3
🔴 No public coverage
Private insurance essential
Month 3
📋 Register with provincial plan
Apply for health card
Month 4+
🟢 Health card active
Public care covered
💡 Even after 3 months, the public plan does not cover dental, vision, prescription drugs (outside Quebec), or paramedical care. Supplemental private coverage remains useful long-term.
Which profile are you? The right coverage for each situation
🎒
Working Holiday / IEC
Your IEC visa includes no health insurance. You need full coverage from day one, ideally cancellable easily if you return home early.
Day-1 cover + emergency priority
💼
Skilled worker / Expat employee
Your employer may offer group benefits after probation. During the 3-month gap and job search, you must cover yourself privately.
Bridge coverage recommended
👨👩👧
Family / Permanent resident
With children, the risk multiplies. Illness, school accidents, pediatrics — full family coverage with maternity is essential during and after the waiting period.
Maternity + pediatrics essential
💻
Freelance / Digital nomad
Working remotely from Canada without an employer. No group plan, potentially multiple provinces. Choose flexible, easily cancellable coverage.
Flexibility & easy cancellation
Medical costs in Canada without insurance
To understand what's at stake, here are real prices charged at Canadian private clinics and emergency rooms:
| Care / Situation | Estimated cost (CAD) | Equivalent (€) |
|---|
| GP visit (private clinic) | CAD 150–300 | €100–200 |
| Specialist consultation | CAD 250–500 | €170–340 |
| Emergency room (no admission) | CAD 800–2,500 | €550–1,700 |
| Hospitalization (per night) | CAD 3,000–8,000 | €2,000–5,500 |
| Ambulance | CAD 400–1,200 | €270–820 |
| X-ray / MRI / CT scan | CAD 300–800 | €200–550 |
| Childbirth (private, no coverage) | CAD 5,000–15,000 | €3,400–10,200 |
*Indicative costs for care at private clinics or Canadian ERs. Care through the public system (after the waiting period) is free for enrolled residents.
MSH International vs April International in Canada
Two insurers stand out for French-speaking expats in Canada. Here's a factual comparison:
| Criteria |
🔵 MSH International |
🟠 April International |
| Coverage during waiting period | ✓ From day 1 | ✓ From day 1 |
| Direct billing at Canadian hospitals | ✓ Extensive network | Partial |
| Flexible cancellation | 30-day notice | ✓ Anytime |
| Maternity coverage | ✓ Full | ✓ Available |
| Prescription drugs | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Dental / Vision | ✓ Optional add-on | ✓ Optional add-on |
| 24/7 support (French & English) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Best for | Families, employees, long-stay | Working Holiday, freelance, short-stay |
| Indicative price (adult, 30 yrs) | from €85/month | from €75/month |
Compare offers for Canada
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MSH International · April International · Free comparison
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need private health insurance when arriving in Canada?▼
Yes, absolutely. There is a 3-month waiting period before accessing any provincial public health plan. During this window, you have zero coverage. Private international health insurance is essential from the day you land.
Does the Working Holiday / IEC visa include health insurance?▼
No. The International Experience Canada (IEC) Working Holiday visa does not include health coverage. You must purchase private coverage before leaving. Employers may offer group benefits once you start a job, but you are unprotected during the job search.
Can I use my European health card (EHIC) in Canada?▼
No. The European Health Insurance Card only works within the EU/EEA. In Canada, you must have private international health insurance or enrol in the provincial plan (after the waiting period).
Does Canada's public health plan cover dental and vision?▼
No. Dental, vision, and paramedical care are generally not covered by provincial health plans. These important costs require private supplemental coverage — available as an option with both MSH and April International.
How much does a doctor visit cost in Canada without insurance?▼
A GP visit at a private clinic costs between CAD 150 and 300 (€100–200). An emergency room visit can reach CAD 2,500. A single hospital night easily exceeds CAD 5,000. Insurance is not optional.