Medical Care

When traveling to or staying temporarily in a country, healthcare coverage may not seem necessary since your stay may be short. However, health emergencies are always a possibility and being without insurance is far more costly than paying for temporary coverage. More importantly, in Canada, it is a requirement for international students to have health coverage.

It is also important to note that while there is a national healthcare system, much of Canada’s healthcare is determined by individual provinces. Therefore, as an international student, the type of coverage you are eligible for will be dependent on where you will be studying.

Here we will look at what coverage is available to international students in Canada and how you can protect yourself while studying in another country.

Overview of Canadian Health Insurance for International Students

If you are new to Canada, it is likely that you have heard that healthcare is free. While Canada does have a tax funded national medicare system that covers basic health services and emergency care, individual provinces have their own coverage for permanent residents.

For example, Ontario residents are covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).  As a non-permanent resident you would not be covered under OHIP but you would have access to the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).

Moreover, it is important to note that some services are not covered for students or residents such as most dental care. For services like this, private insurance is required for everyone.

Differences in Coverage Between Provinces

One of the most important things to understand as an international student in Canada is that some provinces will provide health coverage while others will expressly require you to purchase private health insurance.

Provinces and Territories that DO Provide Health Insurance Coverage to International Students

Alberta: Alberta provides health insurance for students who have a student permit for at least 12 months. Those with shorter permits may be eligible if they can prove that they plan to stay in the province for at least a year, regardless of if they will be enrolled in classes during that time.  If you will not be in Alberta  for this long, you will likely need private insurance.

British Columbia: In B.C., you are eligible for coverage if you have at least a 6 month student permit. However, coverage does not start until the first day of the third month of your stay. Due to this, you may still need to consider private insurance for the first few months.

New Brunswick: Like Alberta, New Brunswick requires you to be a student for 12 months. You will also need to show proof of full-time enrollment in a university.

Manitoba: Students who have at least a 6 month study permit will be eligible for coverage under the province’s healthcare system.

Newfoundland and Labrador: Students are eligible with a 12 month study permit.

Northwest Territories: Students are eligible with a 12 month study permit.

Nova Scotia: Nova Scotia does have student insurance but only if you will be a student for 12 months and staying longer than a year. You cannot apply until after you have already been a student for a year so private insurance options will likely still be needed. For example, if you begin study in Nova Scotia in August, you will not be able to apply for insurance until the following September.

Saskatchewan: Yes as long as you are enrolled full time.

Provinces and Territories that DO NOT Provide Health Insurance Coverage to International Students

Ontario: Ontario does not cover students under OHIP but most universities do participate in the University Health Insurance Plan which offers similar coverage.

Prince Edward Island: PEI requires private insurance though some universities do offer their own program.

Quebec: Depending on your home country, you may be eligible for insurance in Quebec. Student scholarships may also include coverage here.

Yukon: While the Yukon territory is large, it is not densely populated and only has one university. Due to this, insurance resources for international students are not available.

Note: As you can see from the list, while most provinces do offer health insurance, there are several requirements and/or wait periods. In each of these cases you may still need private insurance as you wait for provincial insurance.

More importantly, these rules can change or vary depending on the school you attend, your major, citizenship status, etc. Therefore it is important to check the individual requirements of the province you plan to study in before making plans for travel.

What is Not Covered Under Canadian Health Insurance?

Contrary to popular belief, not all medical services are free in Canada though most basic healthcare and emergency services are free or offered at a reduced cost.  However, since the real cost of these is paid largely through taxes, coverage is limited to permanent residents who will also have some out of pocket costs.

For both residents and international students there are several services that are typically not covered or only covered under certain circumstances, including:

• Dental: major dental surgery is covered while routine cleanings are not.
• Vision: eye exams are covered but eyewear is not.
• Cosmetic Surgery: surgery for aesthetic reasons is not covered though you may be able to appeal for certain procedures to be covered if you are in pain or having difficulties beyond cosmetic concerns.
• Chiropractic and Physical Therapy: Both of these services are unlikely to be covered but supplemental insurance may help. There are exceptions for children and senior citizens.
• Mental Health: Mental health care is only covered when provided by a medical professional such as a psychiatrist. Alternative therapies are not eligible.
• Prescriptions: Prescriptions that are not administered as part of a hospital stay are not covered. However, there are supplemental insurance options and Canada works to keep the cost of prescriptions as low as possible.

Medical Help in Canada Without Insurance

If you find yourself in need of medical help while not covered, one of your best options is to seek care at a walk-in clinic for any non-emergency issues. Bay College Medical and Lockwood Diagnostic walk-in clinic in Toronto offers a range of affordable and convenient medical services including physical therapy, dental, and vision. To learn more about what BCML can do for your healthcare, contact us at 416-929-1900.

When you’re in pain or injured, you want quality care as quickly as possible. While the hospital may seem like an obvious choice, many times a walk-in clinic can provide the same care but much faster.

As a general rule, many non life threatening injuries can be treated more quickly at a walk-in clinic or an urgent care versus a hospital. Here we will look more closely at when to go to the hospital versus when to go to a walk-in clinic. Need medical help now? Contact the BCML Toronto walk-in clinic at 416-929-1900.

Is Walk-In Care Different from Urgent Care?

To understand why one option might be better than another, it is good to start by knowing the difference between walk-in care, urgent care, emergency room care, and visiting your primary care physician.

First, aside from a primary care physician, all of these offer medical attention without appointment. However, an urgent care or walk-in facility may require an appointment for certain items such as vaccination shots or because of current covid precautions.  Additionally, there are three types of walk-in clinic options to be aware of.

Retail Clinic Vs. Full Service Walk-In Clinic

The term “walk-in clinic” can be confusing as it can sometimes refer to an urgent care facility but it can also be used for a retail clinic or a full service clinic. Here are some important differences to be aware of.

Retail Clinic: A retail clinic is one that is typically located inside of a pharmacy drug store. Here, you can get vaccinations, flu shots, diagnosis of common viruses/infections like strep throat, preventative testing for high blood pressure, and treatment for minor injuries like small rashes or burns.

Full Service Walk-In Clinic: A walk-in clinic that is not located in a pharmacy offers a more robust range of services including blood testing, more extensive diagnostic testing, and treatment for more severe but not life-threatening injuries. At BCML walk-in clinic, we offer primary care doctor visits, optometry services, dental care and much more.

Community Center Walk-In Care: Depending on where you live, you may also have a community health center nearby. Services offered at these facilities can vary but they often provide similar services to a retail walk-in clinic along with STD testing, pregnancy tests, and sometimes prescription birth control.

Urgent Care: Urgent care facilities will typically have at least one doctor on staff at a time along with nurses and physician’s assistants.

What Urgent Care Can Treat: An urgent care can treat and diagnose a wide range of injuries and illnesses including sprains, common colds, minor burns, lesions, rashes, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, etc.

What Urgent Care Cannot Treat: While urgent care has many capabilities, it cannot treat emergency situations. This includes chest pain, major bone breaks, major burns, hemorrhaging, and anything that is immediately life threatening. An urgent care is not guaranteed to have the necessary equipment to treat these emergency situations so it is not the best choice when you are experiencing these situations.

Hospital Emergency Room: An emergency room will have doctors, nurses, surgeons and often some specialists on staff along with the most comprehensive diagnostic equipment.

What an Emergency Room Can Treat: There is very little that an emergency room cannot treat, but that does not mean it is the best option every time.

What an Emergency Room Cannot Treat: While an emergency room can treat nearly any injury, it is likely to be a very slow option unless you have an obviously life-threatening issue. If your injuries are significant enough, you will be prioritized in an ER, however; keep in mind there are likely to be many people waiting. An ER is also not the place to seek help with chronic illnesses you would normally see your primary care physician for.

Should I Wait to Get Medical Care?

Depending on when you require medical attention, a hospital may be your only option. This is because walk-in clinics and urgent care facilities do keep business hours while an emergency room is open 24/7.

However, since the majority of what a walk-in clinic and urgent care treats will be non-emergency situations, this should not be an issue. Generally, if you have injuries or an illness that could be treated at a walk-in clinic or urgent care, it is likely ok to wait until a clinic opens.

For example, a sprained wrist or ankle can be soothed at home with ice packs, over the counter pain relievers and rest. If the pain persists for several days or you cannot put weight on the injury without severe pain, it may need further medical evaluation by your primary care physician or at an urgent care.

When Should You Go to the Hospital?

While there are many reasons an emergency room visit may not be necessary, it is still better to be cautious. Generally, if you feel that you are in need of emergency care, you should go to the ER or call 911.

Some situations when an ER visit is definitely needed include: when you have been in a serious car accident or fall, if you have severe chest pain, have broken a bone, have a head injury, are vomiting blood, drug overdose, seizures, and major burns. A fever is typically not a reason for an ER visit, however; if the fever is above 39.4C and includes a severe headache and/or rash, you will need to go to the hospital.

When Should You Go to a Walk-In Clinic: Along with services like blood and urine testing, a walk-in clinic is a better option when you have symptoms such as a sore throat, minor cuts or sprains. At a full-service walk-in clinic like BCML, you can also get help with managing chronic conditions, dental care, and regular check-ups.

Conclusion

If you have a sudden injury, illness, or pain it can be frightening. Fortunately, there are several options for you to seek care. While an emergency room can provide help, your wait times are likely to be significant. Instead, opt for a walk-in clinic any time you have non life threatening concerns.

Not sure where to get help? BCML is here to assist in managing your total health including eye exams, blood testing, treatment for common colds and infections, minor sprains and burns, physiotherapy, and dental care. To book an appointment or talk to a member of our healthcare team, call us at 416-929-1900.