Canada has universal health insurance, but "universal" doesn't mean "available the moment you land."
New residents in BC have to wait roughly 3 months before they can access MSP; even though Ontario's OHIP has no waiting period, you still have to apply for it yourself — health coverage won't automatically appear in your account.
This article explains how to apply for health coverage in each province, how to bridge the waiting period, which costs aren’t covered, and how to choose supplemental insurance.
各省健保比較與 BC 省 MSP 申請攻略
| Province | Health plan name | Waiting period | How to Apply | cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC | MSP | About 3 months | Online or by mail | free |
| Ontario | OHIP | None (since 2020) | Apply in person at ServiceOntario | free |
| Alberta | AHCIP | None (effective from day one) | AHS website | free |
| Quebec | RAMQ | About 3 months | RAMQ website | free |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Health | 無 | Health Registration | free |
What is MSP?
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) is BC's provincial health insurance. It covers:
- Family doctor (GP) consultation fee
- Emergency Room
- Most specialist clinics
- Hospitalization costs
- Surgery costs
Not covered:Dental, optical (for adults), medications, ambulance fees (partially covered), and chiropractic.
MSP Application Process
- Go to Health Insurance BC website
- Fill out HIBC Form MSP 102 (Enrolment Form)
- You'll need: passport, PR Card/Work Permit, and a BC residential address
- Waiting period:Counted as 3 months starting from the month after you apply(For example: apply in June → takes effect September 1)
? Money-saving tip:The sooner you apply, the better! The waiting period is calculated from the month you submit your application, not from the day you land. Applying the day you arrive minimizes your wait time.
Bridging Insurance for the MSP Waiting Period
Any medical costs incurred during the waiting period must be paid out of pocket. A minor cold seen at the emergency room could run CAD $200–500, and one night in the hospital could be several thousand dollars.We strongly recommend buying short-term immigrant bridging insurance.
Common choices:
- Guard.me New Immigrant Health Plan:About CAD $80–$120 per month, with Chinese-language customer service
- Manulife CoverMe Travel Insurance:Monthly premium about $100–$150 CAD
- Blue Cross Travel Insurance:Monthly fee of about $90–$130 CAD
⚠️ Pitfall warning:This kind of bridging insurance usuallyDoes not cover pre-existing conditions. If you have a chronic condition, read the policy terms especially carefully, or choose a plan that covers pre-existing conditions (which costs more).
BC Services Card
Once MSP is approved, you will receive a BC Services Card. This card serves as both:
- Provincial health card (present it when seeking care)
- Provincial identification card
- Can be used to access the provincial government's online services
安省 OHIP 與亞伯達省 AHCIP 申請攻略
OHIP has no waiting period (since 2020)
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) eliminated the 3-month waiting period as of 2020. New immigrants holding a valid Work Permit, Study Permit, or PR Card,Usable the same day you apply or the next business day.
The OHIP Application Process
- Head to any ServiceOntario Apply in person at an office (online application not available)
- Documents to bring (two of the three):
- Passport (along with your entry stamp or immigration documents)
- PR Card
- Work/Study Permit
- Ontario proof of address (bank letter, lease, or utility bill)
- You receive a temporary OHIP health number on the spot; the official card is mailed 4–6 weeks later
What OHIP Covers
- Family doctor, emergency care, specialist clinics, hospitalization, surgery
- Not covered:Dental, optometry (adults), prescriptions, ambulance ($45 CAD/trip)
Alberta's AHCIP
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan is one of the most convenient provincial plans in all of Canada,Takes effect the day you enter the province, with no waiting period.
Apply online:Alberta.ca, requiring an AB province address plus immigration documents.
補充保險與看病流程——新移民需要知道
Supplemental Health insurance
For items not covered by provincial health insurance, you can buy private supplemental insurance. It mainly covers:
- Dental (regular cleanings, fillings, extractions)
- Vision care (glasses, contact lenses, eye exams)
- Prescription drugs
- Ambulance
- Massage therapy, physiotherapy
Common options:
- Sun Life:Around $80–$200 CAD/month per person, depending on the plan
- Blue Cross:Around $100–$180 CAD per month for a single person
- Manulife Flexcare:Customizable coverage
? Money-saving tip:If you have a job, many employers offer Group Benefits that include supplementary insurance—much cheaper than buying it yourself. Check whether your Offer Letter includes benefits before deciding whether to buy your own.
Find a Family Doctor (GP)
Canada's healthcare system uses the family doctor as its entry point.Without a family doctor, you can hardly see a specialist.
The bad news, though, is that family doctors are in severe shortage in many parts of Canada, and waiting to be accepted as a new patient by a GP can take months or even years.
You can find a GP in the following ways:
- BC:Health Link BC Doctor Lookup
- Ontario:Health Care Connect
- Nationwide:Primary Care Network
What if you can't find a GP?
- Walk-in Clinic:No appointment needed; wait 1–4 hours; handles non-urgent symptoms
- Urgent Care Centre:For symptoms more serious than a walk-in clinic can handle but quicker than the ER
- Telehealth:Apps like Maple and Dialogue let you consult a doctor online for $50–$80 CAD per visit (some supplemental insurance covers this)
- 811 (BC HealthLink):Free nurse phone consultation, 24 hours a day, with service available in Chinese
Emergency room costs
If you already have valid provincial health coverage, the emergency roomCompletely free. But if you don't have bridging insurance during the waiting period, a single self-paid emergency room visit could run $300–$1,000+ CAD, and hospitalization is thousands of dollars per day.
Working Holiday (WHV) / International Students — A Detailed Look at Provincial Health Insurance Eligibility
Many working-holiday makers and international students assume "I'm not a PR, so I can't apply for provincial health insurance," but in factNot entirely correct. Most provinces allow people holding a valid work or study permit to apply for provincial health coverage, but the conditions vary:
| Province | WHV (Working Holiday Visa) | International Students (Study Permit) | Waiting period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC | ✅ Open Work Permit valid for 6 months or more Can apply for MSP |
⚠️ Reviewed case by case, partially approved | About 3 months | Those with less than 6 months of validity need to buy bridging insurance |
| Ontario | ✅ A valid Work Permit makes you eligible to apply for OHIP | ✅ You can apply if you hold a valid Study Permit | No waiting period (since 2020) | It takes effect the day you apply, making it the most working-holiday-friendly province |
| Alberta | ✅ A valid Work Permit makes you eligible to apply for AHCIP | ✅ You can apply if you hold a valid Study Permit | 3 months | Takes effect 3 months after the first day you apply |
| Quebec | ⚠️ Complicated, depending on your WHV category | ⚠️ In some cases you can apply for RAMQ | About 3 months | Quebec’s RAMQ places more restrictions on temporary residents, so we strongly recommend buying bridging insurance |
| Manitoba | ✅ You can apply if you hold a valid Work Permit | ✅ You can apply if you hold a valid Study Permit | 無 | Manitoba is relatively open to health coverage for temporary residents |
Recommendations for common WHV scenarios
Recommended WHV Bridging Insurance
During the provincial health insurance waiting period (usually 3 months), or in situations where provincial health insurance doesn't cover you, here are a few common options:
- Manulife CoverMe:Monthly premium about $60–$100, covering emergency care, hospitalization, and emergency surgery
- Sun Life Temporary: Short-term medical insurance, suitable for the WHV
- Travel Insurance:⚠️ Not suitable for new immigrants — it usually has a "voided after residing more than X days" clause, so confirm whether the terms cover "the period of residence in Canada"
- GUARD.me:Designed specifically for international students, billed monthly, covering most of the coverage your school requires
? More details:Please refer to our A Complete Guide to Health Insurance Bridging for Working Holidaymakers / International Students.
FAQ
Q: Is travel insurance the same as immigration bridging insurance?
It's different. Travel insurance usually includes a clause that voids coverage once you've lived in Canada beyond a certain number of days, so it's not suitable for new immigrants. Be sure to buySpecifically for new immigrantsbridging insurance (New Immigrant Health Plan).
Q: Can I use Taiwan's National Health Insurance in Canada?
No. Taiwan's National Health Insurance does not work outside Taiwan. Before you leave, remember to either suspend it or keep up the minimum payments so you can resume using it when you return to Taiwan.
Q: What should I do if I lose my health card?
BC MSP: call 1-800-663-7100 or visit an HIBC office to reapply.
Ontario OHIP: Reapply in person at a ServiceOntario office, free of charge.
Q: Do you need to reapply for health insurance when you change provinces?
Yes. You’ll need to apply for health coverage in your new province and wait for it to take effect. Usually your old province’s coverage will continue until your newly applied-for provincial coverage begins (the arrangements vary by province).
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