International health insurance in Canada

 International health insurance in Canada
Area
9,984,670 km²
Currency
Canadian dollar
POPULATION
38.0 million (2020)
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
English French

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Health system
Find out how the Canadian healthcare system works
Canada's national health system is made up of thirteen provincial and territorial health plans. These plans are funded by both the federal government and the provinces and territories (with the exception of British Columbia and Ontario, whose funding works a little differently) and provide all citizens with free access to health benefits. so-called "primary" health care (consultations with general practitioners, emergency care and routine hospital care). Dental and optical care is only covered if it is received in a hospital. Each province has its own system, which is why eligibility requirements and prices may vary. If you move to another province, you must join their health system: this process can take up to 3 months.

Quebec's local health system
Quebec's public health plan is funded by income tax and managed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services. It provides all citizens with free access to basic medical and hospital care through a health insurance card called the "sun card". This card is issued by the Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec (RAMQ) within three months of the application for membership. During this period, care is not covered. However, agreements have been signed with Denmark, Finland, France, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal and Sweden for the reimbursement of medical acts received during this waiting period. All you need to do is present the RAMQ with proof of your affiliation with the health system of one of these countries.

Some procedures, including dental and orthopedic care, are not covered by the health system, which is why we recommend that you also take out private international health insurance.
See a doctor in Canada
General practitioners
Canadian general practitioners, also called family physicians, provide routine and primary care (colds, flu, etc.) Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings.
They speak English and, in Quebec, New Brunswick and northern Ontario, also French.
Fees vary from province to province and depend on the care received. Consulting fees are on average between CAD 50 and CAD 85. If you don't have health insurance, you must pay before the consultation.

There are not enough doctors and it can sometimes be difficult to get an appointment. If no general practitioner can see you, you can go to a walk-in clinic.

Medical specialists
If you need specific care, your general practitioner will refer you to a specialist.
As there are few specialists, the waiting times for an appointment are long. It therefore happens that certain procedures (gynecological examinations for example) are carried out by your general practitioner.
To consult certain specialists, especially ophthalmologists, it is not necessary to go through a general practitioner.

General practitioners in Quebec
There are several categories of physicians in Quebec:

    GPs who accept the health insurance card: you have no upfront costs and the doctor will be paid directly by the RAMQ.
    so-called “disengaged” doctors: you advance the costs of the consultation and send the invoice to the RAMQ for reimbursement.
    non-participating physicians who do not accept the health insurance card: you pay all the consultation fees, these are not reimbursed by the RAMQ.


Always check your doctor's status before making an appointment.

Quebec physicians receive their patients from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings. They speak French and often English.

There are not enough doctors in Quebec and the delays to get an appointment can be very long, as in other provinces of Canada.

Quebec's medical specialists
If you need specific care, your general practitioner will refer you to a specialist. Here too, there are few specialists and the waiting times can be long. Only ask for an appointment if your problem is serious. For an ophthalmologic examination and glasses,