Canada ensures primary medical care for all legal residents (work permit holders, study permit holders, permanent residents, and Canadian citizens) through their publicly funded healthcare system. Each province and territory has its own general health insurance plan and regulations. You must register in the province where you reside.
Additional treatments, such as dental care, prescription medication, and optician check-ups, must be paid for by each individual. However, some Canadian employers offer their employees additional healthcare coverage for these types of treatments.
Expats with valid work permits are included in the public healthcare system. It’s recommended that expats apply for a health insurance card from their provincial or territorial government as soon as possible after entry into Canada, as well as begin their search for a family doctor or general practitioner.
During the wait time, which is generally three months, you may want to apply for temporary private health insurance coverage.