…continued

It is important for newcomers to Canada to know that although public health insurance is similar across the provinces and territories, there are some differences in the services and products that are covered by provincial/territorial coverage. As many immigrants and refugees do not remain in the province or territory where they first arrived, they will likely be confronted with various provincial/territorial health care systems.

Every province and territory provides telehealth services to its residents. Telehealth services use information and communications technology, such as live videoconferencing, to connect clinicians to patients who are not in geographic proximity, such as when a patient lives in a remote or rural location.³ Confidential telehealth services are provided to all residents, including immigrants and refugees.  In most cases, a third-party interpreter is also provided to facilitate communication between the clinician and the patient.

For more information on health care coverage for new permanent residents, visit the Kids New to Canada website and the Health Canada website describing the provincial and territorial roles in health care and information about applying for a health card.

¹http://www.kidsnewtocanada.ca/care/insurance

²http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/ohip_waiting_pd.aspx

³Praxia Information Intelligence and Gartner for Canada Health Infoway. (2011). Telehealth Benefits and Adoption: Connecting People and Providers Across Canada.