Are IEC permit holders eligible for provincial health care in Canada?

One question often asked by IEC permit holders when moving to Canada is: will I be covered by the local health insurance system? The answer depends on your exact status and on the province you live in.

Common to all IEC categories

Regardless of which IEC category you’re on (WH, YP, Co-op), IRCC states that it is mandatory to have insurance covering the following for the entire duration of your stay:

Medical care
Hospitalisation
Repatriation. This includes the cost of getting you to a medical facility, returning you to your home country, or returning your remains to your home country.

Source

Which IEC permit do you have?

1. Working Holiday

As a Working Holiday permit holder, you must be covered at all times by a working holiday insurance (we recommend Globe WHV), regardless of whether or not you are eligible for provincial health insurance.

Globe WHV Insurance

Recommended by pvtistes.net since 2005.

Learn more

It is important to note that the length of your work permit corresponds to the length of your Working Holiday insurance policy. That means if you want to be granted a two-year permit, you must take out two years of insurance upfront. If you take out only one year of insurance, you will receive only a one-year work permit and it cannot be renewed.

2. Young Professionals or International Co-op

For holders of the International Co-op (Internship) permit, you must have a working holiday insurance.

For holders of the Young Professionals permit, you must either be covered

By a working holiday insurance (we recommend Globe WHV) OR
By a provincial health insurance + your employer’s insurance + repatriation insurance.

Learn more.

Special case: working in Quebec on a YP or International Co-op permit
If you hold a Young Professionals or International Co-op permit and your job is located in Quebec, you may be eligible for Quebec’s public health insurance.

However, this insurance does not cover repatriation, so you must take out additional repatriation insurance.

In all cases, as an intern, whether or not you are eligible for public health insurance, you must be covered at all times by a working holiday insurance (such as Globe WHV).

Healthcare eligibility by province

Quebec: Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ)

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: No
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit.
Waiting period: If you are a worker from France, you can provide form SE 401-Q-XXX or certificate SE 401-Q-201 by contacting your health insurance fund in France in order to avoid the three-month waiting period upon arrival.
Learn more.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit and a full-time job contract of at least six months in Ontario. If you are arriving from another province, you must wait 153 days before applying for the card.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit and a full-time job contract of at least six months in Ontario. If you are arriving from another province, you must wait 153 days before applying for the card.
Waiting period: If you are eligible, you will be covered immediately upon arrival.
Learn more.

Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP)

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least six months and the intention to live in the province for at least 12 months.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least six months and the intention to live in the province for at least 12 months.
Waiting period: If eligible, coverage begins upon arrival. You must apply within three months of settling in the province. Source.
Learn more.

British Columbia: Medical Services Plan (MSP)

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least six months and a work contract of at least six months (minimum 18 hours per week).
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least six months and a work contract of at least six months (minimum 18 hours per week).
Waiting period: Coverage may begin three months after arrival. Source.
Learn more.

Manitoba Health

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months and residence in Manitoba for at least six months of the calendar year.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months and residence in Manitoba for at least six months of the calendar year.
Waiting period: If eligible, coverage begins immediately. Source.

New Brunswick Medicare

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months.
Waiting period: Applications may take four to six weeks to process. Once approved, you will receive a letter indicating the official start date of your coverage.
Learn more.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Medical Care Plan

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: No.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months and full-time employment with an employer designated by the province.
Waiting period: There does not appear to be a waiting period, but processing may take several weeks.
Learn more.

Northwest Territories: NWT Health Care Plan

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: No.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months and full-time employment with an employer designated by the territory.
Waiting period: There does not appear to be a waiting period, but processing may take several weeks.
Learn more.

Nova Scotia MSI

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit or work contract of at least 12 months.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months.
Waiting period: If eligible, you will be covered from the date of arrival.
Learn more.

Nunavut Health Care Plan

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months. You must also live in the territory for the entire duration of your visa.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit of at least 12 months. You must also live in the territory for the entire duration of your visa.
Waiting period: Coverage begins on the first day of the third month following your arrival in Nunavut.
Additional information: students are not eligible for health insurance, unless you are attached to the holder of a work permit.
Learn more.

Prince Edward Island: Health PEI

Eligibility for Working Holiday participants: Yes, with a valid work permit and physical presence in the province for at least six months plus one day each year.
Eligibility for Young Professionals/International Co-op permits: Yes, with a valid work permit and presence for at least six months plus one day each year. Interns may also qualify if their stay in the province exceeds six months.
Waiting period: Applications may take up to five weeks to process.
Learn more.