Canada’s 2023 Healthcare Budget: How it Affects Immigrants

The Canadian government has announced an extra $200 billion in healthcare spending over the next decade. Here’s what this means for permanent and temporary residents in Canada:

Healthcare for Permanent Residents

• All permanent residents in Canada are eligible for free healthcare in their province of residence, covering most day-to-day medical expenses as well as emergency medicine.
• Provincial health care systems usually do not pay for eye care or glasses, dental care, prescription medicines, or ambulance services.
• However, there may be a wait of up to three months after getting permanent residency to become eligible for a provincial health card, which is issued by the province once a Canadian or permanent resident lives there long enough to be considered a resident.

Healthcare for Temporary Residents

• Healthcare regulations vary by province, so eligibility criteria for temporary residents also varies.
• It is recommended that temporary residents in Canada have a form of private health insurance.
• Temporary residents who are eligible for provincial healthcare coverage usually have to wait a few months after arrival before becoming eligible.

Dental Care for Canadians and Newcomers

• Budget 2023 proposes a new national dental plan for uninsured Canadians, including newcomers.
• The plan would provide dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with an annual family income under $90,000, with no co-pays for those with family incomes under $70,000.
• The plan will begin to roll out in 2023, but details regarding eligibility for permanent and temporary residents have not yet been announced, nor has a start date.
• Children of uninsured parents have already been benefitting from the Canada Dental Benefit, which gives eligible parents or guardians direct, up-front, tax-free payments to cover the cost of dental care for their children under 12.

Other Healthcare Spending

• $158.4 million will be allocated over three years to support the implementation and operation of 988, a hotline for suicide prevention and support during a mental health crisis. This would begin as of November 30, 2023.
• The Budget proposed $36 million over three years to renew the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund, which supports community-based organizations that help make access to abortion, as well as other sexual and reproductive health care information and services, more accessible for vulnerable populations, including newcomers.
• The Budget contains a proposal for $10 million over two years towards ParticipACTION’s Let’s Get Moving Initiative, to support national programming that aims to increase daily physical activity.