The importance of health insurance in Canada

Coming to Canada to visit or to live is super exciting, but you have to keep in mind that unexpected events can occur, such as getting sick, having an accident or requiring regular consultations. As newcomers, this leads us to make important decisions, and one of the first and most essential is to have good private health insurance. Why? Because Canada's public health care system is accessible and of high quality, but it takes time to get into it, and while doing so, it is best to be protected with insurance.

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Today's topic for the Immiland blog is focused on the importance of taking out health insurance when arriving in Canada. Here I will tell you what types of health insurance can work for you while settling in and how advantageous it is to arrive from day one without the worry of money to cover emergencies or illness, or the uncertainty of not knowing how the Canadian medical system works. Let's get started!

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Why is it important to have private health insurance in Canada?

As a newcomer to the country, you may not have immediate access to the Canadian public health care system. This vast territory has 10 provinces and three territories and each has its own waiting times for public health coverage. Therefore, if you happen to need medical care, then you will have to pay for everything from the consultation to the required procedure out of your own pocket, and here, in most cases, health care costs are high.

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In Canada, the public health system is recognized worldwide for having a good quality of care, but also access to it takes time, and while waiting for the necessary period to enter the system every newcomer should consider hiring a private health insurance to ensure their protection from the first day. Now, how to know which is the most suitable insurance as a newcomer to the country and avoid wasting time and money, read with me the options that exist in Canada.

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Options available for newcomers 

In Canada, there are different types of private health insurance that can provide adequate coverage while the immigrant waits to gain access to the public health care system, depending on the province or territory in which he or she is located. Here are the main options you can find:

• Temporary insurance: These insurances are specifically designed to cover you during the waiting period until you can access public health care. They include basic coverage services such as emergency care, doctor's visits, hospitalizations and medications - I recommend that you consider it only if you need protection for a few months!

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• Emergency insurance: This type of insurance only covers medical expenses related to serious emergencies or urgent situations, such as accidents or sudden illnesses. It is ideal if you are only looking for basic protection for unexpected events and do not need coverage for regular consultations or preventive treatments.

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• Comprehensive insurance: These plans are more comprehensive because they offer you more extensive coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers not only emergencies, but also regular visits, hospitalizations, preventive care (such as check-ups) and medications. Choose this option to be fully protected while waiting for access to the public health care system! 

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How to choose the right health plan?

Knowing how to choose the right medical plan is a matter of strategy. Of the above options, the most important thing in making a good choice is to adapt them to your own situation as a newcomer, as well as to your state of health, your age, the type of work you do, whether you practice sports, whether you travel from one place to another frequently, your financial availability, among other particularities, as well as the time you need the insurance until you can access public coverage.

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At Immiland's Settlement department, we place special importance on comparing plans and tailoring them to your personal profile to ensure that the policy covers the services you are most interested in based on your needs, such as emergency care, medications and specialized consultations. 

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On the other hand, we recommend always reviewing the exclusions of the health insurance plan you are going to select, that is, the services that are not covered, so you will avoid inconveniences in the future. Some plans may not include pre-existing conditions, so it is important to read the terms carefully before purchasing insurance.

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Remember that taking out private health insurance upon arrival is an essential measure to avoid unforeseen expenses and to ensure that, in the event of an emergency or medical attention, you are fully covered. The costs of emergencies or medical consultations in Canada can be very high without adequate insurance.

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Health Insurance Services with Settlement Immiland Canada

At Immiland, we are here to help you have a life in Canada without worrying about your health care. We understand that coordinating all these aspects in a complex and unfamiliar system can be overwhelming, that is why at Settlement we offer personalized assistance to guide the immigrant in quoting and selecting the best health insurance to fit their needs. 

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If you are interested in taking out insurance for tourists, students or student companions, we highly recommend the Traveler Asisstance Services-TAS option at this link: https://www.immilandcanada.com/establecimiento/seguro-de-viajes and quote your insurance at no cost. 

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Learn more about settlement services in Canada by clicking here. 

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I hope this topic will be useful for you and your loved ones. Thanks for reading, see you in an upcoming blog on how to achieve a safe and secure settlement in Canada!

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With love,

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Immiland

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