Canada Health Act - Myth busters

Myth: All health care in Canada must be publicly delivered.

Fact: The Canada Health Act doesn't forbid the provision of health services by private companies, as long as residents are not charged for insured health services. In fact, many aspects of health care in Canada are delivered privately. Family physicians mostly bill the provincial or territorial health care insurance plan as private contractors. Hospitals are often incorporated private foundations, and many aspects of hospital care (e.g., lab services, housekeeping, and linens) are carried out privately. Lastly, in many provinces and territories, private facilities are contracted to provide services under the health care insurance plan.

Myth: Health care in Canada is free.

Fact: While you may not have to pay upfront when you receive medically necessary services, health care in Canada is not free. Health care in Canada is funded through tax revenues at the provincial, territorial, and federal levels. By spreading the cost of health care across the entire population, everyone is assured of the care they need, without the great financial burden that medical expenses could pose to a family or individual.

If you believe you have been subject to inappropriate patient charges for insured health services, please contact your respective province or territory using the information contained in the Contact Information section of the current Canada Health Act Annual Report, or by contacting the Canada Health Act Division.

Myth: I can use my health insurance card to find a shorter waitlist in another province or territory.

Fact: Your health insurance card does not entitle you to seek out shorter waitlists in other provinces or territories. Although you are covered for insured health services during temporary absences from your home province or territory, prior approval may be required before coverage can be used for non-emergency services in another province or territory.

Myth: I'm a Canadian so I am automatically entitled to health care coverage.

Fact: Having Canadian citizenship does not entitle you to health care coverage; rather, you must be an eligible resident within a province or territory. Canadians have their part to play in establishing and maintaining their health care coverage. In all provinces and territories, you are required to register for coverage, and then maintain your eligibility by renewing your coverage, and remaining in your home province or territory for a prescribed number of days each year. Although allowance is often made if you leave your home province or territory for school, work, or other reasons, it is important to inform your provincial or territorial health care insurance plan when you will be away for extended periods, and to understand what your responsibilities are in maintaining your coverage.

Myth: My specific medical condition is covered under the Canada Health Act.

Fact: The Canada Health Act is quite a short piece of legislation and lays out standards at a very high level. Specific medical conditions are not named under the Act; rather, it requires provincial and territorial health care insurance plans to cover medically necessary hospital and physician services. Given their role in health care delivery, the decision over which services to cover is made by the province or territory, in consultation with the medical profession.

Myth: I don't need travel insurance within Canada because I'm covered under Medicare.

Fact: This is a very common misconception, and one that could be quite costly under certain circumstances. Medicare ensures that if you leave your province or territory for a few hours, days or weeks, you will still have coverage for emergency medical services. The same is true during moves to other provinces or territories. However, the hospital and physician services covered under the Canada Health Act are not the only services you might need while outside your usual province or territory. Some services that are not covered by the Act (e.g., prescription drug coverage or ambulance services) are highly subsidized for residents, but not for visitors, which is why you should ensure you have adequate coverage whenever you travel or move within the country.