Canada, with a population of 40 million, has 10 provinces and three territories. It is the world's second-largest country in total area.

It may surprise non-Canadians to learn that actor Kiefer Sutherland's grandfather, Tommy Douglas, is considered the "the father of Canadian medicare."

National, Government-Funded Health Insurance

Canada has a government-funded, national healthcare insurance, which provides Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents with prepaid medical care and hospital care. Most routine and all in-hospital healthcare services are covered. A variety of non-critical or cosmetic procedures, e.g., rhinoplasties, face lifts, etc., for vanity purposes are not covered. The insurance is funded through personal and corporate income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes.

Portability

Although each province is responsible for the administration of its own healthcare insurance, the health insurance is “portable,” meaning if you need medical/hospital care while temporarily visiting a province in which you are not permanently living, the home province will still pay for your care.

Does Canada have Private Healthcare?

Contrary to what many people think, the Canada Health Act doesn't outright ban private healthcare. Instead, it prohibits charging patients for services covered by the national health insurance.

As a result, to prevent creating a two-tier system that could undermine the public system, most provinces discourage the development of private healthcare facilities. But there are exceptions. For instance, Ontario banned private hospitals in the 1970s, allowing only a few pre-existing facilities to continue operating. One example of this is the Shouldice Clinic in Thornhill (north of Toronto), the internationally known referral centre for hernia repair. The Shouldice dates back to 1945!

Prescription Drug Benefits

All medications for in-hospital patients are funded by the provincial insurance plans.

But each province has its own policy for paying for prescriptions for non-hospitalized patients. For example, in Ontario, the government covers most (not all) prescription drugs for individuals over 65 and under 24.

In the province of Alberta, the government covers drugs for children to age 18 in low-income households (e.g., a household with one adult and one child earning less than C$26,023) and for all individuals aged 65+.

The Role of Pharmacies

During the COVID crisis, many Family Physicians reduced their availability, but pharmacies remained open, frequently 12 hours a day, so patients sought help from pharmacies. As a result, the role of retail pharmacists has officially expanded. The added services provided by retail pharmacists are billed to the provincial health plan. In all provinces, pharmacists can administer vaccines. In most provinces (i.e., it is still limited in Manitoba and British Columbia), pharmacists can prescribe medications for a range of minor conditions (e.g., pink eye, UTIs, dermatitis, etc.). And in Alberta and Quebec pharmacists can order lab tests.

Dental Care

The Canadian Dental Care Plan, a national plan, pays for dental care for adults 65+ and children under 18. To have full coverage, your income must be less than C$70,000. (Not all dentists accept payment under this plan.)

Eye Care

If an eye problem is treated by an MD (e.g., Family Physicians, Ophthalmologists, etc.), the care is paid by the provincial health insurance. But insurance coverage for routine care by Optometrists varies by province.

For example, health insurance in Ontario covers routine eye care for those under 20 and for those 65+. And Alberta covers routine eye care for those under 19 and for those 65+.