Interim Federal Health Program: Summary of coverage
(Source: Government of Canada)
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) covers certain pre-departure medical services for refugees coming to Canada for resettlement. This coverage includes the following services:
- immigration medical exams and follow-up treatment of health conditions that would make someone inadmissible to Canada under paragraph 38(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- vaccinations
- outbreak management and control
- medical support needed for safe travel
Description of in-Canada IFHP coverage
In Canada, the IFHP provides limited, temporary coverage of health-care benefits to people in the following groups who aren’t eligible for provincial or territorial (PT) health insurance:
- protected persons, including resettled refugees;
- refugee claimants; and
- certain other groups.
The IFHP does not cover the cost of health-care services or products that a person may claim (even in part) under a public or private health insurance plan. The IFHP does not coordinate benefits with other insurance plans/programs so co-payments aren’t possible.
Basic coverage (similar to health-care coverage from provincial or territorial health insurance plans)
- in-patient and out-patient hospital services
- services from medical doctors, registered nurses and other health-care professionals licensed in Canada, including pre- and post-natal care
- laboratory, diagnostic and ambulance services
Supplemental coverage (similar to the coverage given to social assistance recipients by provincial and territorial governments)
- limited vision and urgent dental care
- home care and long-term care
- services from allied health-care practitioners including clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, counselling therapists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, physiotherapists
- assistive devices, medical supplies and equipment, including:
- orthopedic and prosthetic equipment
- mobility aids
- hearing aids
- diabetic supplies
- incontinence supplies
- oxygen equipment
Prescription drug coverage (similar to the coverage provinces and territories give to social assistance recipients)
- prescription medications and other products listed on provincial/territorial public drug plan formularies
Coverage for the Immigration Medical Exam (IME)
- for most categories of beneficiaries, the IFHP also covers the cost of one IME and IME-related diagnostic tests required under the Immigration Refugee Protection Act
The benefits covered by the IFHP have certain limits including maximum dollar amounts. For more details, please consult the IFHP benefit grids:
Additional Resources:
Interim Federal Health Program – Refugees are eligible for the Interim Federal Health Care Program Certificate when they first arrive in Canada to cover immediate health care needs.
The Interim Federal Health Program – Questions and Answers sheet in English and French.
How to register as a provider with the Interim Federal Health Program – A simple step-by-step document to simplify the IFHP registration process. This is used as a part of our outreach to the BC Medical Office Assistant Association, since they are central to the process of refugees accessing health care through IFHP registration.
