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Thinking of moving from the UK to Canada? You’re not alone. In 2025, over 600,000 British expats call Canada home, drawn by its breathtaking landscapes, high quality of life, and strong job market. For many, Canada offers a more familiar and secure alternative to its southern neighbour, the USA, with lower crime rates, a shared language, and cultural similarities that make settling in easier.

Many UK expats wonder one main question before making the big move – How does healthcare in Canada compare to the NHS? Canada’s publicly funded system, often praised as a middle ground between the NHS and the private-heavy U.S. model, offers comprehensive coverage. But it’s not as simple as landing and getting free care.

In this guide, we’ll explain how Canada’s healthcare system works for UK expats, what you need to know before you move, and how to make sure you’re covered from day one.

What is Canada’s Medicare?

Canada’s state-funded healthcare system, , is a point of national pride, much like the NHS in the UK. That’s not to say it is not without fault, but it does ensure essential medical treatment is free at the point of delivery. Rather than a healthcare service, it is defined as a health insurance service, funded by the taxes citizens and residents pay in through income tax, sales tax and things like the purchase of lottery tickets.

Medicare is not run nationally, it is run jointly with each province and territory, making 13 healthcare insurance plans across the country. The federal government sets the national standard and awards a , providing long-term funding, then each province and territory is responsible for the management, organisation and delivery of healthcare services.

What is Free For UK Expats and Citizens Under Medicare?

If you’re eligible and registered with your province’s healthcare plan, you’ll typically get free access to:

• GP visits
• Hospital stays and emergency care
• Surgeries and diagnostic tests (like X-rays, MRIs, bloodwork)
• Maternity and prenatal care
• Some specialist referrals

What Isn’t Free?

You’ll have to either pay for the following services or get it covered via private insurance:

• Dental care
• Prescription medication (some provinces cover this partially or for certain groups)
• Vision care (eye tests, glasses)
• Physiotherapy, chiropractic, or massage
• Ambulance services (may have a fee depending on province)

Who Can Claim Medicare in Canada?

Medicare in Canada isn’t a single national program, instead, it’s a collection of publicly funded healthcare systems run by each province or territory. That means who can access it, and when, depends on where you live in Canada.

Generally, you can claim Medicare if:

• You are a permanent resident of Canada
• You hold a valid work permit (usually for 6+ months)
• You are an international student with appropriate documentation
• You have established residency in a specific province (e.g., by providing proof of address)

Do UK Expats Get Free Healthcare in Canada?

As a UK expat, you won’t be eligible for Medicare coverage the moment you arrive. However, once you become a permanent resident or hold certain types of work or study permits, you may be able to apply. Each province has different rules, but most require a waiting period, often up to 3 months, before coverage begins. During the waiting period, it’s highly recommended to arrange private health insurance to cover any medical needs until your provincial plan kicks in.

Examples of waiting time for healthcare coverage:

• Ontario: 3-month wait for new residents
• British Columbia: 3-month wait (plus the month you arrive)
• Alberta: Often no wait if you arrive with PR status

How to Access Medicare in Canada as a UK Citizen

Once you are eligible to gain access to Medicare, you must apply for a through your province’s health ministry. You’ll need:

• Proof of ID (passport)
• Proof of legal status (visa, PR card, work/study permit)
• Proof of address in Canada

Your health card gives you access to free public healthcare services like GP visits, hospital stays, and emergency care.

Medicare Challenges

Canada offers an extremely high standard of medical care. However, as with the NHS at home, a nation-wide, free at the point of delivery service is always going to struggle. There are reports of long wait times and a lack of doctors within Medicare, others criticise the fact that prescriptions are not included in the service, which means costs can escalate if you have a chronic disorder. If you are unduly worried about these points, you could take out private health insurance to complement what is available through Medicare.

What If I Move Provinces in Canada?

As Medicare is a health insurance run at a provincial level, if you are moving provinces, you will be expected to inform your local authority you are leaving and must register with the health insurance plan of your new province.

While that is going through, you are covered by the insurance plan of your “home” (previous) province, for up to three months, which should give you time to submit all the necessary paperwork and register your change of address.

If you are travelling around within Canada and fall ill, you will be covered even though you are in a different province. The Canada Health Act requires all provinces and territories to extend medically necessary hospital and physician coverage to their eligible residents during temporary absences from the province or territory.

Private Health Insurance in Canada for UK Expats

If you’re thinking of moving to Canada from the UK, you should considering taking out health insurance for a number of reasons. Having private health insurance in place for your arrival will cover the waiting period before you can access Medicare or other health schemes. Health insurance will also help to cover costs of the services not free on Medicare.

Popular Health Insurance Providers for UK Expats in Canada

• Sun Life
• Blue Cross
• Manulife
• Group Medical Services
• Allianz Care

Top Tip for UK Expats in Canada: Private insurance can be costly in Canada, so if you are moving for reasons of employment, it is worth negotiating to have health insurance included in your relocation package.

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