Moving to Canada with a work visa is exciting, but understanding how medical insurance works can feel overwhelming. A common question is whether your medical insurance kicks in the moment you land in Canada.
- Public health insurance: a waiting game
Public Work Visa Medical Insurance in Canada is delivered by provincial and territorial governments. Most provinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia, however, have a waiting period before the coverage starts. The waiting period varies between 1 to 3 months, depending on your destination. At this time, you will not be covered by the public system for medical services.
- Private insurance: a temporary solution
You need to get private health insurance like Super Visa Insurance before arriving in Canada. There are various private insurance companies that have temporary plans that are exclusively designed for newcomers, such as work visa holders. These plans generally cover visits to doctors, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and even emergency services until public health coverage is available.
- Insurance through an employer: not necessarily
Some Canadian employers provide private health insurance from Danforth Insurance as part of their benefits package. If you are lucky enough to have this, it may cover you immediately or fill the gap until your public health insurance kicks in. Make sure to ask your employer about the details of their plan before you arrive.
What Insurance you need to have before landing?
Research the health insurance options well before coming and compare private insurance plans targeting newcomers to ensure your coverage starts on the day of landing.
For more information, you can visit our website https://danforthinsurance.com/ and call us at 647-350-0332