Coming from a country that has a weak health care framework, I’m amazed to see the benefits that Canada provides for their people. The healthcare in Canada is mostly free and covers most of the services that are being offered by private entities. Healthcards are issued by Provincial Ministry of Health to individuals who applied for it. Supplementary benefits can also be obtained (with an additional cost) but most of the time these are already covered by employers (for those who are working) as part of the health benefits.
Below are the benefits that a citizen and permanent residents can expect:
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) provides the following benefits:
- medically required services provided by a physician enrolled with MSP;
- maternity care provided by a physician or a midwife;
- medically required eye examinations provided by an ophthalmologist or optometrist;
- diagnostic services, including x-rays and laboratory services, provided at approved diagnostic facilities, when ordered by a registered physician, midwife, podiatrist, dental surgeon or oral surgeon;
- dental and oral surgery, when medically required to be performed in hospital*;
- orthodontic services related to severe congenital facial abnormalities.
* Surgical removal of an impacted third molar (wisdom tooth) is an MSP insured service only when hospitalization is medically required, due to the extreme complexity of the extraction and where there is associated pathology. The removal of healthy wisdom teeth, even if impacted, is not a benefit.
The Medical Services Plan (MSP) does not provide coverage for the following:
- services that are deemed to be not medically required, such as cosmetic surgery;
- dental services, except as outlined under benefits;
- routine eye examinations for persons 19 to 64 years of age;
- eyeglasses, hearing aids, and other equipment or appliances;
- prescription drugs;
- chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry services (except for MSP beneficiaries with premium assistance status);
- preventive services and screening tests not supported by evidence of medical effectiveness (for example, routine annual “complete” physical examinations, whole body CT scans, prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests);
- services of counsellors or psychologists;
- medical examinations, certificates or tests required for:
- driving a motor vehicle
- employment
- life insurance
- school or university
- recreational and sporting activities
- immigration purposes
Note: The Ministry of Health provides funding through regional Health Authorities for hospital programs, mental health and addictions services, and residential/assisted living.