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 you must ensure that you are covered for 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

Depending on your IEC category and situation, you can fulfill this requirement in different ways. We explore them below.

Which IEC permit do you have?

1. Working Holiday

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

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

If you hold either the YP permit or Co-op permit (which are closed work permits), you can meet IRCC’s requirements via one of the following options:

Working holiday insurance (we recommend Globe WHV) OR
Provincial health insurance* + your employer’s insurance + repatriation insurance.

Learn more.
*Read the section below on eligibility by province to determine whether you qualify.

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 of at least 6 months.
Waiting period: 3 months. However, if you are from one of the countries that has a social security agreement with Quebec, you may be able to skip the waiting period as long as you submit the proper paperwork in advance. If you are French or Belgian, read this article (in French) to learn more.
Learn more.

Even if you can be covered upon arrival thanks to a bilateral social security agreement between Quebec and your home country, you still need to purchase repatriation insurance separately because that is not covered by RAMQ.

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.