Quick answer
The same everywhere: under the Canada Health Act, every provincial plan covers medically necessary doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, lab tests and imaging, with nothing to pay at the point of care.
Different in every province: the waiting period for newcomers (none in Ontario, up to three months in B.C. and Quebec), the ambulance fee ($45 in Ontario, $385 in Alberta), and public drug coverage for working-age adults without a workplace plan.
Not covered by any province for most adults: routine dental care, routine eye exams, glasses, and outpatient prescriptions without a deductible or premium. Most full-time employers cover these through extended health benefits.
Province-by-province comparison
| Province | Wait for newcomers from abroad | Ground ambulance (resident) | Drug coverage for adults without a work plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | None | $45 co-payment | OHIP+ is free for ages 24 and under with no private plan. Trillium Drug Program for everyone else: deductible of about 4% of after-tax household income. |
| Quebec | Up to 3 months (none for children under 18 and some other groups) | $125 plus $1.75 per km | Drug insurance is mandatory. Without a private plan you join RAMQ's public plan: premium $0–$789 a year by income, then 30% co-insurance up to $1,263 a year (July 2026–June 2027 rates). |
| British Columbia | Rest of arrival month plus 2 months | $80 | Fair PharmaCare: income-based deductible. Contraceptives and many diabetes drugs free since March 1, 2026 under national pharmacare. |
| Alberta | Usually none, from your residency date, if you apply within 3 months | $385 | Alberta Blue Cross Non-Group Coverage: $63.50 a month single, $118 family; lower rates for low incomes. |
| Saskatchewan | Up to the first day of the third month after arrival | $245–$325 plus $2.30 per km | Special Support Program: deductible based on family income. |
| Manitoba | None in the regulation for arrivals from abroad (12+ month work permit holders qualify on arrival) | Up to $250 | Manitoba Pharmacare: income-based deductible. Manitoba has also signed the federal pharmacare deal for contraceptives and diabetes drugs. |
| Nova Scotia | Usually none, from the date you become a resident | $146.55 | Family Pharmacare: income-based deductible. |
| New Brunswick | May start on your arrival date (assessed case by case) | $130.60 | New Brunswick Drug Plan: monthly premium by income (about $6 to $241 per adult; new rates November 1, 2026), plus 30% co-pay up to $36 per prescription. |
| Prince Edward Island | Must live on PEI 6 months and 1 day a year; ask Health PEI for your start date | Fee charged (free for emergencies at 65+); amount not published online | Several targeted programs. Many common heart, diabetes and mental-health drugs cost $5 per prescription under Prescription Care. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No fixed wait published; new PRs are covered for one year at a time at first | $115 | NL Prescription Drug Program Assurance Plan for high drug costs relative to income. |
Fees are for medically necessary ground ambulance for residents with a valid health card; seniors, low-income residents and inter-facility transfers often pay less or nothing. Saskatchewan's rates are from its 2024 fee brochure; Nova Scotia's from the provincial fee regulation. Sources are listed below and in the sidebar. Confirm with the province before you rely on a number.
Moving between provinces
If you already live in Canada and move to another province, most provinces make you wait until the first day of the third month after you arrive. Move on July 12 and Alberta, for example, covers you from October 1. Your old province keeps covering you in the meantime, so register in the new province as soon as you arrive and keep your old card until the new one starts. Ontario no longer has a waiting period.
See the checklist for moving to another province for the full list: health card, driver's licence, vehicle registration and taxes.
The gaps, and how people fill them
- Dental: provinces cover only limited dental surgery in hospital. The federal Canadian Dental Care Plan covers residents of any age who have no dental insurance and an adjusted family net income under $90,000, if they filed a Canadian tax return. Newcomers usually qualify only after their first tax year.
- Eye exams and glasses: routine exams for adults 19 to 64 are generally not covered. Children, seniors and people with medical eye conditions are covered in most provinces, but the rules vary.
- Prescriptions: employer benefits usually pay 80% to 100%. Without them, use the provincial program in the table. Most programs require you to enrol separately from your health card.
- The waiting period: if you land in B.C., Quebec or Saskatchewan, buy private visitor or newcomer insurance for the first three months. RAMQ recommends buying it within five days of arrival.
Frequently asked questions
See the full monthly cost, province by province
Health coverage is one line. Compare take-home pay, rent and groceries with your own salary.