Permanent Resident

Opeyemi Alakija

Health Card

In Canada, the provincial or territorial government provides insured health care services using money collected from taxes. Therefore, you do not pay for most services when you go see a doctor or visit a clinic or hospital.

Application forms for provincial or territorial health cards are usually available at a doctor’s office, a hospital, a pharmacy, or an immigrant-serving organization. You can also get the forms online from the government ministry responsible for health in your province or territory.

To apply for a health insurance card, you will be asked to provide identification such as your birth certificate, passport, permanent resident card, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292).

In most provinces and territories, each family member receives his/her own card with a personal health identification number. You must carry the card with you and present it at a hospital or clinic when you or someone in your family needs health services.

We recommend that you purchase private health insurance to pay for your healthcare needs until the date you receive government health insurance. Residents in some provinces, such as British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, must wait a certain period (up to three months) before becoming eligible for government health insurance. If you live in one of these provinces, we recommend getting a private insurance for this waiting period. Please look for the private insurance in Yellow Pages:  http://www.yellowpages.com