Health Insurance in the canada: How It Works & Best Plans (2025)

Canada Health Insurance Guide: What’s Covered & What’s Not (2025)

Canada is famous for its universal healthcare system, often praised as one of the best in the world. But if you’re moving to Canada, studying there, or just curious about how it works, you’ll soon realize that “free healthcare” doesn’t mean everything is covered. Let’s break it down.

How Canada’s Healthcare System Works

Canada’s healthcare system is called Medicare (not the same as US Medicare).

• Funded by taxes.

• Managed at the provincial level (Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, etc.).

• Every province has its own rules, but most cover basic hospital and medical services.

What’s covered:

• Doctor visits (family physicians and specialists)

• Hospital stays and surgeries

• Diagnostic tests (like X-rays, MRIs, blood tests)

• Emergency care

What’s NOT Covered Under Public Health Insurance

This is where many newcomers get confused. Canada’s universal healthcare doesn’t cover everything. Some common out-of-pocket expenses include:

• Prescription medications (outside hospitals)

• Dental care

• Vision care (eye exams, glasses, contact lenses)

• Physiotherapy and chiropractic services

• Cosmetic or elective surgeries

💡 This is why most Canadians rely on private or employer-provided health insurance to fill the gaps.

Private Health Insurance in Canada

Since public Medicare has limits, private health insurance helps cover additional costs.

What private plans usually include:

• Prescription drugs (a big expense in Canada)

• Dental checkups and treatments

• Vision exams and glasses

• Mental health services

• Travel insurance for trips abroad

💰 Cost: Employer plans often cover part of the premium, but if you buy your own, it can range from $50–$200/month depending on coverage.

Health Insurance for Foreigners, Students & Expats

• International students usually need private health insurance unless their province provides student coverage.

• Work permit holders may qualify for public healthcare, but there can be a waiting period (up to 3 months in some provinces).

• Tourists/visitors are not covered by Medicare → they must buy travel health insurance.

Example: In Ontario, international students get UHIP (University Health Insurance Plan), while in British Columbia, students can apply for MSP (Medical Services Plan) after arrival

Pros & Cons of Canada’s Healthcare System

Pros (Public Medicare):
✅ Free hospital and doctor visits
✅ Universal coverage for all residents
✅ No financial disaster from emergency care

Cons:
❌ Long waiting times for specialists and elective procedures
❌ Limited coverage (drugs, dental, vision not included)
❌ Variations by province – not the same everywhere

Quick FAQs

Q1: Is healthcare in Canada free?
👉 Basic doctor and hospital services are free, but extras like dental and prescriptions are not.

Q2: Do foreigners get free healthcare in Canada?
👉 Only if they are residents or long-term workers/students with provincial coverage. Visitors must buy private insurance.

Q3: Why do Canadians buy private insurance if they already have public Medicare?
👉 To cover dental, vision, prescription drugs, and faster access to certain services.

Q4: What is the average waiting time in Canada?
👉 It depends, but for non-urgent cases, it can take weeks or months to see specialists