Duration of your IEC insurance = duration of your stay in Canada

One of the requirements of participating in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op) is to buy a health insurance plan covering medical care, hospitalisation, and repatriation. It must be valid for your entire stay in Canada.

When you arrive in Canada, the border services officer may ask to see proof of a valid health insurance policy good for the duration of your IEC permit (usually 12 or 24 months, depending on your citizenship and IEC work permit conditions).

Every year, we get feedback from disappointed IEC permit holders who were issued a work permit that expired at the same time as their insurance coverage. We’ve heard from members who bought a three-month health insurance policy and were issued a three-month Working Holiday permit. If that’s the case, you’re out of luck—the Government of Canada warns that “you will not be able to apply to change the conditions of your work permit at a later date”:

When you arrive at the port of entry, you must have health insurance valid for your entire stay in Canada. Having a valid provincial health card is not enough. Repatriation is not covered by provincial health insurance.

If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, you will be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance.

If this happens, you will not be able to apply to change the conditions of your work permit at a later date. – Official Source

Better safe than sorry: take health insurance seriously before going to Canada.

Feedback of a Working Holiday permit holder in Canada:

“I just wanted to share my experience… Like I said when I posted to this forum discussion, the only document I was asked to show upon landing in Canada was the proof of health insurance. So take note, border officers aren’t as flexible as they used to be.

I bought the Globe WHV insurance package, which is sold through ACS I think. Maybe it’s just bad luck, but I had to get an emergency appendectomy a week ago. No worries, I’m covered, ACS just asked me to send my medical bills and I didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket at Jean Talon Hospital. Don’t skimp on insurance. Paying €350 for a year of coverage (or double for the 24-month policy) can save you big financial headaches.”

If you don’t know yet whether you’ll stay in Canada for the entire duration of your IEC permit, note that a few insurance companies will refund the remaining months on your policy if you return back home earlier than planned. With Globe WHV travel insurance, you might even be eligible for a refund of the remaining months regardless of your claim history, which is a fairly unique perk.