Canada restores equal basic, supplemental and prescription coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program

Policy effect

On April 1, 2016, Canada restored pre-2012 Interim Federal Health Program coverage for all eligible beneficiaries, replacing the six coverage types in place since November 2014 with basic physician and hospital services, supplemental services including limited vision and urgent dental care, and prescription drugs. Eligible groups included resettled refugees, other protected persons, asylum and rejected claimants, immigration detainees, trafficking victims and other ministerially identified groups. Existing coverage was updated automatically; the change was not retroactive, and previously delivered services remained subject to the earlier coverage level. Coverage remained temporary: most recipients ceased to qualify when covered provincially or territorially or when leaving Canada; resettled refugees retained supplemental and prescription coverage during government or private support, usually one year. Those whose coverage had expired before April 1 still needed renewal if otherwise eligible. This record covers the April 1 restoration; separate April 10 certificate/expiry changes and April 2017 pre-departure expansion are not included.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: On April 1, 2016, Canada restored pre-2012 Interim Federal Health Program coverage for all eligible beneficiaries, replacing the six coverage types in place since November 2014 with basic physician and hospital services, supplemental services including limited vision and urgent dental care, and prescription drugs.; Eligible groups included resettled refugees, other protected persons, asylum and rejected claimants, immigration detainees, trafficking victims and other ministerially identified groups.; the change was not retroactive, and previously delivered services remained subject to the earlier coverage level.; Those whose coverage had expired before April 1 still needed renewal if otherwise eligible.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Notice – Changes to the Interim Federal Health Program - Canada.ca Skip to main content Skip to "About government" Language selection Français fr / Gouvernement du Canada Search Search IRCC Search Menu Main Menu Jobs and the workplace Immigration and citizenship Travel and tourism Business and industry Benefits Health Taxes Environment and natural resources National security and defence Culture, history and sport Policing, justice and emergencies Transport and infrastructure Canada and the world Money and finances Science and innovation Manage life events You are here: Canada.ca Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Newsroom Notices Notice – Changes to the Interim Federal Health Program Important Information for Eligible Beneficiaries Ottawa, April 11, 2016— On April 1, the Interim Federal Health Program was restored to pre-2012 levels of coverage for all beneficiaries. Here is some important information about this change and what it means for you. Health-Care Coverage Changed Automatically As of April 1, 2016, all individuals eligible for coverage under the IFHP will now receive full health-care coverage, which includes: basic health-care services (i.e. standard physician and hospital care), supplemental services, including limited vision and urgent dental care, and prescription drug coverage. The change in coverage is not retroactive. Services or products provided to you by health-care providers prior to April 1 will be paid based on the level of coverage you had at the time. If you had coverage on April 1, your coverage has been updated automatically in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Medavie Blue Cross systems. Health-care providers have been advised of the change in coverage and will be able to provide services to you. You do not need to apply for a new certificate. You will still be able to present your current IFHP eligibility document to health-care providers when you are seeking their services. Starting April 10, when new IFHP certificates are issued, they will not have a coverage type listed on them. If you are a resettled refugee, you will continue to receive coverage for supplemental services and prescription drug coverage for the time you are receiving government assistance or private support. In most cases, this assistance ends one year after arrival. There is no change to your basic coverage under the IFHP. It ends as soon as you are covered under the health plan of your province or territory where you live. Expiration Dates Eliminated for Refugee Claimants As of April 10, 2016, the 12-month expiry date on coverage for refugee claimants will be eliminated. This means that if you have been found eligible to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) as a refugee claimant and or if your claim has been found ineligible to be referred to the IRB but you are eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment, you will no longer need to apply to extend your coverage every 12 months. If … IFHP coverage on April 1, it will be extended automatically in the IRCC and Medavie Blue Cross systems. You do not need to apply for a new certificate – You will still be able to present your IFHP eligibility document to health-care professionals when you are seeking services, even after the expiry date shown on the document has passed. IFHP coverage for refugee claimants will continue until you become eligible for provincial/territorial health insurance or you leave Canada. Your coverage will also be cancelled immediately: if you withdraw your refugee claim, or if the IRB has determined that you have abandoned your refugee claim, or your refugee claim has been re-determined as ineligible to be referred to the IRB and you are not eligible to apply for a PRRA. Registered IFHP providers have been advised to use the information box at the bottom of your eligibility document when they validate your eligibility with Medavie Blue Cross. If your coverage expired before April 1 but you are still eligible for coverage, you must submit a renewal application to your local IRCC office and a new IFHP certificate will be sent to you. Starting April 10, when new IFHP certificates are issued, they will not have an expiration date listed on them. Please visit Health care – Refugees for more information on the program. Page details 2017-10-16 About this site Immigration and citizenship Help Centre Contact us Check your application status Government of Canada All contacts Departments and agencies About government Themes and topics Jobs Immigration and citizenship Travel and tourism Business Benefits Health Taxes Environment and natural resources National security and defence Culture, history and sport Policing, justice and emergencies Transport and infrastructure Canada and the world Money and finances Science and innovation Indigenous Peoples Veterans and military Youth Manage life events Government of Canada Corporate Social media Mobile applications About Canada.ca Terms and conditions Privacy Restoring Fairness to the Interim Federal Health Program - Canada.ca Skip to main content Skip to "About government" Language selection Français fr / Gouvernement du Canada Search Search IRCC Search Menu Main Menu Jobs and the workplace Immigration and citizenship Travel and tourism Business and industry Benefits Health Taxes Environment and natural resources National security and defence Culture, history and sport Policing, justice and emergencies Transport and infrastructure Canada and the world Money and finances Science and innovation Manage life events You are here: Canada.ca Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Newsroom Restoring Fairness to the Interim Federal Health Program News Release February 18, 2016—Ottawa, ON – All refugees and asylum claimants will soon benefit from full health-care coverage through a restored Interim Federal Health Program, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, John McCallum, announced today. Starting April 1, 2 …

Review method

Source-based draft with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other Canada changes operative in 2016

• 2016-02-27Parents and grandparents sponsorship cap doubled for the 2016 intake year
• 2016-03-11Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2016-37)
• 2016-03-11Revised passenger reservation information privacy regime
• 2016-03-15Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
• 2016-05-07Employer-sanction grounds for work permit revocation updated
• 2016-11-19Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System, 2016-1
• 2016-11-19Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Skilled Worker) (SOR/2016-298)
• 2016-12-01Temporary Resident Visa Exemption for Citizens of Mexico (SOR/2016-293)
• 2016-12-15Ministerial Instructions on Spousal and Dependent Child Sponsorship Application Intake Simplification
• 2016-12-16Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2016-316)