International Health Insurance in Canada

Our international outpatient insurance provides access to a broad range of healthcare treatments that don’t require admission to a hospital. For example, you can get:

• Consultations with specialists, in-person or online
• Prescribed drugs and dressings
• Radiology and diagnostic tests
• Outpatient rehabilitation
• Cover for hearing aids

This medical insurance add-on covers emergency healthcare and assistance. It could help if there’s a global crisis, or to evacuate you if local treatment can’t help. It can give you:

• Emergency transport to good hospitals.
• Repatriation if you experience a serious medical event
• Crisis response services following travel or security risks
• Help with compassionate travel and living costs
• Travel costs for people who accompany you

Boost your health with insurance for screening, tests and dietetic consultations. There’s also a mental health support program for expats as well.

• Support from wellness coaches
• Access to preventative cancer screenings
• Emotional support from counselors
• Non-symptomatic, routine physical examinations each year
• Transport to a specialist center

Get eye tests and help with the cost of eyewear, plus a wide range of preventative, and routine dental treatments:

• Cover for dental appointments
• Preventative, routine, and major dental treatments
• Routine eye exams
• Support with costs for glasses and lenses

Hospitals: You'll find around 1,017 hospitals in Canada (Government of Canada)

Healthcare ranking: 4^th out of 195 countries (Global health Security Index)

Useful drug names: In Canada, acetaminophen is widely used to treat pain and fever, while Motrin and Advil are popular ibuprofen medications.

Emergency services number (while in Canada): 911

Cigna claim number (while in Canada): +44 (0) 1475 788182

If you fall ill or are injured in an emergency while in Canada, you can access free emergency medical treatment in hospitals across Canada. Head to your nearest hospital or walk-in clinic, or call 911 for an ambulance. Charges for ambulances and walk-in clinics may apply, but costs are usually partially covered by each province.

You may be able to claim back emergency treatment costs on your private health insurance in Canada. This can depend on the exact treatments you receive, plus the terms of your policy.

When it comes to non-emergency hospital treatment as an outpatient or inpatient, you must have a Medicare health card. However, as most expats aren’t eligible for Medicare, you’ll need to have private health insurance for Canada or pay the full medical costs.

Temperatures in the north and east sink to below freezing with short, mild summers, while the west coast has a rainy and temperate climate. Canada’s south coast is very warm in the summer and very cold in the winter.

Given the mixture of climates, Canada may experience severe heatwaves in the summer or ice storms in the winter. If you’re concerned about how this could impact your health, check weather warnings from the Government of Canada

Canada’s healthcare system is often cited as a great example of universal healthcare, but it has its pros and cons. While the system provides high-quality care and universal coverage, people can expect rising healthcare costs and long wait times.

Getting private international health insurance in Canada can help to cut wait times and increase access to high-level care, including private rooms, support for non-emergency treatments, and much more.

It all depends on who you buy your private health insurance in Canada from. With Cigna, you can tailor your plan by choosing between different cover levels. For example, we offer a regional Close Care^SM plan, and global Silver, Gold, or Platinum plans. You can also select a range of optional add-ons.

Whether you’re moving to Canada for work or family reasons, private health insurance goes beyond the basics of Medicare.

Depending on the provider you choose, it can deliver extended services like:

• Prescription medication and glasses
• Dentistry
• Physiotherapy
• Ambulances

Yes, prescription medicines are usually free within the Canadian public healthcare system, but it’s often a different story for expats. However, our optional International Outpatient add-on can help cover you for prescribed outpatient drugs and dressings, as well as doctor and specialist consultation costs.

In the long run, insurance from a private provider may not prove essential for every expat moving to Canada. For example, those seeking permanent residency may find Medicare offers enough coverage once they’ve settled in.

However, it might feel necessary if you have concerns about accessing Medicare or require more specialized health services. Private international health insurance plans can also reduce your waiting time, giving you faster access to the care you need.