Canada Health Insurance

Boasting unspoiled national parks, mammoth mountains, hulking glaciers and the longest coastline on the planet, Canada is high on tourist destination itineraries. Canada offers a unique peek into a vast wilderness and diverse and multicultural society. Bordered by oceans, the Atlantic to the east, the Pacific in the west and the Arctic to its north, the climate varies somewhat, from temperate in the south to subarctic and arctic in northern Canada. The capital, Ottawa, is the country’s fourth largest city, and ranked among the most desirable cities in the world in which to live. Canada is a highly developed country with a vibrant economy and stable democracy. English and French are the official and predominant languages; however a host of others including Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are also spoken. The total population of Canada is estimated to be 34 million.

The country offers visitors the chance to visit heritage sites, view stunning architecture and scenic natural wonders. The ecological marvel, Niagara Falls is one of Canada’s most well known tourist destinations. With the exception of the north and dense wilderness, tourism facilities are well established and widely available throughout the country. There is a need however for visitors to take out expat medical insurance, as costs for medical attention in the country is high and public healthcare is not available to non-residents.

Canada Health Care and Insurance

The Canadian Government is responsible for setting national standards for the healthcare system as well as providing financial support to the ten provincial and three territorial governments, which are responsible for the management and delivery of health and other social services within their jurisdictions. Financed primarily through taxes at federal, provincial and territorial levels, public sources make up the bulk of health funding, with the remainder divided between private health insurance payments, out-of-pocket payments and social insurance funds. In 2010, total healthcare spending was estimated at 11.7 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Known in Canada as ‘Medicare’, the country’s healthcare system provides universal coverage for its legal residents and ensures free access to medically-necessary physician, hospital and diagnostic services. Primary care is predominantly available through family physicians and general practitioners, who typically operate in small-group medical practices. Canada’s hospitals are managed by community boards-of-trustees, nonprofit institutions, voluntary organizations or municipalities. They are relatively autonomous in their control of resources and spending; however are they are subject to annual operating budgets determined by their provincial and territorial governments. While access to a wide range of services is available under the scheme, wait times for specialist services have reportedly become a systemic problem due to shortages of medical personnel. Specialist appointments are only by referral, and can take several months to obtain.

In addition to public providers, private clinics are also available. While it is illegal under federal law for private clinics to provide primary healthcare services already covered by the public system, many do still offer these in addition to specialized services. Private clinics generally have reduced wait times in comparison to the public healthcare system, however costs can be considerable. According to government statistics, approximately 65 per cent of Canadians obtain - predominantly through their employers - supplementary coverage from private medical insurance plans in order to offset medical expenses not otherwise paid for by the public system. Unless private Canada health insurance is purchased, supplementary services such as dental care, home care services, prescription medications and corrective lenses are largely be financed privately.

New residents will typically experience prolonged waiting periods before healthcare coverage is granted under the Medicare scheme, which necessitates expatriate health insurance being arranged to ensure medical costs are covered while non-nationals await confirmation of Canadian coverage. Visitors to the country who may require medical attention should be prepared to pay expenses in full at the time of receiving the service. It is important therefore that insurance cover be arranged, even for brief visits. Canadian dual-nationals may also experience problems accessing healthcare services, as reciprocal agreements for healthcare are not in place with other developed nations, resulting in some individuals being ineligible to receive free medical care. Regardless of the fact that many doctors refuse to take on new patients, and the wait times in emergency rooms can be lengthy, Canada boasts one of the highest life expectancies in the developed world, being 78 years for males and 84 years for females. The country also has one of the lowest infant mortality rates at 4 deaths for every 1,000 live births, which many people attribute to Canada’s well funded and well organized health care system. It is important to keep in mind that while the standard of Canada’s facilities are extremely high, medical care can be difficult to access for temporary visitors who do not have cover under the government healthcare plan. Expatriate health insurance is recommended.

Canada Travel Insurance Concerns

While the risk for most visitors to Canada is considered low, rabies and Hepatitis A & B are known to occur in the country and therefore feature on the recommended inoculations list of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Likewise, tetanus vaccinations are recommended for travelers, therefore consulting a physician experienced in travel medicine prior to departing one’s home country is important to ensure routine inoculations are up-to-date, and for administering any additional vaccinations required.

Natural hazards such as tornadoes, earthquakes and winter avalanches can occur in some areas. British Columbia is an active earthquake region and is also subject to avalanches in mountainous areas, therefore using snow mobiles, snowboarding or skiing on closed trails should be avoided. Mountainous areas of Alberta also pose a risk of avalanche and the same advice applies. Due to the risk of forest fires, checking local media reports prior to visiting forested areas is advised, and advisories also warn visitors to be aware of wildlife and obtain local advice prior to setting out on hiking trips. Only reputable guides and tour operators are recommended for use, and wildlife laws and park regulations should be respected. Due to the difficulty for temporary visitors to access public medical care, international health insurance should be purchased to ensure the costs associated with healthcare through private facilities do not become a financial burden. Emergency services, ambulance, police or fire can be reached by dialing 911.

Petty crime such as street theft and pick-pocketing can occur on public transport, particularly around tourist areas and hotels. Opportunistic thefts are common, especially from unattended vehicles which are regularly targeted. Vehicle theft, including of recreational vehicles and motor-homes can occur even in apparently secure parking areas and patrolled lots. Montreal and Vancouver are particularly known for these incidents.

Safety of road users is commonly at risk due to running of red lights, hurried lane-changes without signaling and tailgating by locals. Emergency vehicles also frequently travel in oncoming lanes to avoid congestion. One of the busiest highways within North America, from Detroit to Montreal, has seen numerous fatal accidents due to severe weather changes, vehicles travelling at high speeds and dangerous maneuvers by heavy trucks. Winter snowfalls and icy conditions can make driving particularly difficult and hazardous and some roads and bridges are periodically closed. Travel advisories note that visitors to Canada should take ample precautions with regard to personal safety, in whatever activities they engage in, especially those with higher risks associated to them.

Canada Expat Health Insurance

Medical care in Canada is of a high standard; however access to the provincial healthcare systems by temporary visitors is difficult. Many doctors will not take on new patients, and non-citizens and dual-nationals seeking medical attention need to be prepared to pay the cost of any treatment in full, and at the time the care is provided. Comprehensive medical insurance is highly recommended to avoid delays in receiving quality medical care, even for short visits to the country. An insurance policy can be arranged through Expat Medical Insurance, which can provide globally transferable policies covering you wherever and whenever you may travel, be it with family or on an individual basis. A worldwide medical insurance policy covers a range of medical needs, including emergency evacuation, maternity services, doctors’ fees, specialist consultations and medications. To guarantee access to healthcare wherever you are in the world, make contact with one of Expat Medical Insurance’s consultants to discuss a range of medical insurance plans specific to your needs.