This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission if you click a link, at no cost to you. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.

KEY POINTS

Provincial Health Insurance Limitations
Your provincial health insurance may not fully extend across provinces or territories and may require funding expenses out-of-pocket and then seeking reimbursement from your home province.
Unforeseen Risks
Be prepared for the unexpected. You can quickly experience financial hardship and stress from medical emergencies and cancelled or interrupted plans. Proper trip planning can mitigate these risks and provide peace of mind.
Growing Travel Trends
Demand for domestic and international travel continues to rise. Fortunately, the travel insurance industry is very competitive and offers an array of options that allow for customized coverage at affordable rates.

Travel trends show that Canadians are increasingly traveling cross country and abroad. The excitement of an adventure often makes us forget about all the things that could go wrong.

We have all heard stories about someone billed hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills after experiencing a medical emergency in a foreign country.

Or maybe it is a story about a Canadian billed for expensive medical services while in another province.

These risks are real and may be more common than you think. We all plan for a perfect vacation, but we need to prepare for the unexpected. Whether it is a sprained ankle, antibiotics for a sudden illness, or a crisis requiring emergency evacuation – you need to reduce your risk before your venture out of your home province.

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail

〰️

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail 〰️

So, let’s consider what coverage is provided by your government healthcare system.

How does healthcare insurance work in Canada?

Canada boasts a comprehensive healthcare system primarily funded and managed at the provincial level. The Canadian healthcare model provides universal access to medically necessary services, ensuring equal access to quality care for all residents.

In 2024, the federal government announced plans to pass legislation for the new Canada Pharmacare Act. The initial phase will include nationwide coverage for contraception and diabetes treatment. At present, the federal government has not put forth a clearly defined plan of what subsequent phases, if any, will entail.

Each province and territory operate their own healthcare system, leading to variations in coverage and administration.

Let’s explore the provincial healthcare systems, how they work together, and what they cover for inter-provincial travel.

Does provincial health insurance work across provinces?

You can present your provincial government issued health care card in another province or territory and receive insured physician services or hospital services. Services obtained from an out-of-province private clinic may not be covered by your home province.

Typically, you will not have to pay out-of-pocket for insured services received while out-of-province provided the cost of services does not exceed the approved rate of your home province.

All provinces and territories, except Quebec, have entered into reciprocal agreements to facilitate the inter-provincially billing of insured services.

It may be surprising to learn that not all your provincially insured services are covered while you are out-of-province.

For instance, the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan includes coverage for mental health and addiction services, physiotherapy, cancer services, and others, but this coverage does not extend beyond the province.

To explore the coverage available in your current province of residence, you can refer to the following links:

Let’s look at some of the provincial health coverage you will not have while in another province.

What will your provincial insurance not cover while you are out-of-province?

British Columbia

Unexpected medical services are covered provided they are medically required, rendered by a licensed physician, and normally insured by the Medical Services Plan. You are accountable for any additional fees incurred beyond those that would have been applicable if the services were performed in British Columbia.

Medical Services Plan does not provide out-of-province coverage for physician assistants, nurse practitioners, chiropractors, or physical therapists. Hospital care is limited to $75 per day.

PharmaCare does not provide out-of-province coverage for prescription drugs, medical supplies, or subsidized ambulance services.

The British Columbia government recommends:

B.C. residents are strongly advised to purchase additional health insurance when travelling to other Canadian provinces/territories to cover the cost of services not included in the reciprocal agreement between the provinces/territories.

Alberta

The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (“AHCIP”) provides coverage for insured physician and hospital services across Canada provided such services are covered within Alberta.

The AHCIP may cover the following services in Alberta, but not when the individual is out-of-province:

Vision care
Mental health and addiction services
Physiotherapy
Midwifery services
Cancer services
Home care services
Podiatry and optometry services
Dentistry services except for medically required oral surgery.

Out-of-province surgeries may have limited coverage and it is recommended that you contact the Out-of-Province Out-of-Country unit prior to booking any elective health services outside of Alberta.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan health coverage covers most medically necessary services (hospital and physician) provided by a publicly funded facility in Canada.

Prior approval must be received from the Ministry of Health prior to receiving out-of-province services related to mental health, alcohol and drug, problem gambling, and rehabilitation/therapy.

Manitoba

Manitoba Health will not cover out-of-province personal home care benefits (e.g., basic nursing care, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, prescription drugs, meals, laundry and linen services), ambulance services, services that are not medically required, private nursing, and more.

A Manitoba physician in a border area may refer you to an out-of-province medical facility or physician. A subsequent referral from an out-of-province physician for specialized care within that province would result in you assuming full financial responsibility for such services.

Physicians are encouraged to contact Manitoba Health out-of-province claims or Lifeflight prior to referring a patient to an out-of-province hospital that would require air transport. Such costs are only covered in certain circumstances.

The Manitoba government recommends:

Because some services are excluded, you are encouraged to obtain additional health insurance before travelling.

Ontario

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (“OHIP”) never covers prescription drugs provided in non-hospital settings, dental services provided in a dentist’s office, eyeglasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery, or cosmetic surgery.

OHIP provides out-of-province coverage for physician services (including walk-in clinics) and services provided in a public hospital (e.g., emergency, diagnostic, laboratory). All services must be medically necessary to be eligible for OHIP coverage.

OHIP does not cover the following while out-of-province:

Services not covered in Ontario (e.g., cosmetic surgery)
Ambulance services
Prescription drugs and other drugs given outside of a hospital
Home-care services
Fees charged by private hospitals or facilities
Diagnostic or laboratory services provided outside a public hospital
Long-term care or residential services
Assistive devices (e.g., prosthetics).

OHIP’s website advises:

We recommend that you buy private health insurance before leaving Ontario to cover any uninsured services you may need.

Quebec

The Quebec Health Insurance Plan will cover out-of-province professional services rendered by doctors, dentists, and optometrists if such services are covered in Quebec.

These services include nursing care, certain diagnostic procedures, accommodation in a ward (room with 3 or more beds), prescription drugs administered during hospitalization.

Reimbursement is capped at the respective Quebec rates for each service.

Quebec is the only province that has not entered into reciprocal service agreements with other provinces. Therefore, you will likely need to pay for your out-of-province medical services and then seek subsequent reimbursement.

You are responsible for 100% of the following services received out-of-province:

Any medical services not covered in Quebec
Services rendered by a health professional other than a doctor, dentist, or optometrist
Cost of private or semi-private hospital room
Emergency transportation, by ground or air
Cost of bringing a person back to Quebec
Drugs purchased outside Quebec, even if prescribed by a physician before leaving Quebec, if you regularly take prescription drugs

New Brunswick

You can present your New Brunswick Medicare card anywhere in Canada, except Quebec, and received insured physician and hospital services. Specific services like genetic screening and procedures still in the experimental or developmental phase may not be covered by interprovincial agreements and require you to submit a claim for reimbursement consideration.

New Brunswick physicians must request prior approval before referring a patient out-of-province for addiction or psychiatric treatment unless the treatment is provided in a general hospital. Travel and accommodation fees are not covered for out-of-province services.

Prince Edward Island

Insurable medical services (e.g., emergency, or sudden illness) out-of-province may be covered with a valid PEI Health Card; however, pre-approval is required for non-emergency or elective medical or hospital services.

No fees are charged for ground or air ambulance if referred by an attending PEI physician for transport out-of-province. Travel from an out-of-province hospital to home is not covered by PEI Medicare and is the responsibility of the patient.

Nova Scotia

Medical Services Insurance provides out-of-province coverage for insured services if they are received in an accredited public hospital. Pre-approval is required for referrals outside of the province for addiction or psychiatric treatment unless the treatment is provided by an accredited public hospital.

You are responsible for any fees charged for out-of-province medical services that exceed what MSI pays for such services in Nova Scotia.

Preferred accommodation, take home drugs, etc. are not covered under the provincial health plan.

It is recommended you contact the Nova Scotia MSI Registration Department for any out-of-province travel exceeding three months.

The province recommends the following:

It is strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance when you travel outside the province or country.

Newfoundland and Labrador

If you plan to leave the province for more than thirty days, you should obtain an Out-of-Province Coverage Certificate to ensure that your Medicare Coverage Plan coverage will not expire.

Many services are not insured including, but not limited to:

Drugs and vaccines
Provision of medical appliances
Writing of prescriptions
Acupuncture
Non-medically necessary examinations
Surgery for cosmetic purposes
Eye examinations or corrective lenses
Routine in-hospital dental extractions
Services by chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, naturopaths, osteopaths, physiotherapists, nurses, or other paramedical personnel
Services provided in a private non-approved Canadian diagnostic imaging facility
Out-of-province coverage is not available for medevac or ground and air ambulance. Other medical expenses incurred while out-of-province may or only be partially covered or not at all.

The province recommends:

Travelers are strongly advised to obtain additional insurance from a private insurer to cover health care costs that are not covered by the Medical Coverage Plan.

Northwest Territories

The NWT Health Care Plan covers the cost of medically necessary hospital services, provided at a hospital, on an inpatient or outpatient basis within Canada.

Services not covered include, but are not limited to:

Hospital charges above the standard ward rate for private or semi-private accommodation
Services not medically necessary (e.g., cosmetic surgery)
Experimental procedures
Ambulance charges (except inter-hospital transfers)
Dental services, other than specific procedures related to jaw injury or disease
Alcohol and drug rehabilitation, unless prior approved

Out-of-province insurance does not cover the above services or medevac or ambulance services.

The province recommends:

It is recommended that you get travel insurance when you travel.

Nunavut

Insured services include certain doctor and hospital services.

Services not covered include, but are not limited to:

Prescriptions drugs
Optometric services
Dental services other than specific procedures related to jaw injury or disease
Services of chiropractors, naturopaths, podiatrists, osteopaths, and acupuncture treatments
Physiotherapy, speech therapy, and psychology services not related to a hospital admission
Services not medically required (e.g., cosmetic surgery)
Experimental procedures
Ambulance charges (except inter-hospital transfers)
Dental services, other than specific procedures related to jaw injury or disease
Alcohol or drug rehabilitation

Yukon

You will be responsible for out-of-province coverage charges that exceed the approved Yukon provincial rate. In addition to physician and hospital service charges, you may also be responsible for:

Hospital transfers
Air ambulance charges
Escort charges
The cost of return transportation to Yukon

The province recommends:

Purchase extra coverage when travelling to other parts of Canada.

Is your provincial health insurance sufficient?

The individual provinces have clearly recommended that their residents obtain supplement travel insurance when travelling across the country or internationally.

Travel insurance offers essential medical benefits like emergency treatment, prescription drugs, ambulance services, and repatriation. Many plans also offer coverage for pre-existing medical conditions.

Additionally, travel insurance often reimburses for trip interruptions or cancellations, covers lost baggage, and provides 24/7 multilingual assistance and sometimes concierge services for added convenience and support.

These benefits ensure comprehensive protection and peace of mind for travelers.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec, provide an integrated and relatively seamless healthcare service model. However, the provinces are quick to point out that individuals should obtain supplemental travel insurance when travelling out-of-province.

Feel free to explore our Travel Insurance Guide and reviews of the 12 travel insurance providers available on our partner platform. We are confident you will be able to find a tailored policy that fits your budget and provides peace of mind throughout your adventure.

We wish you safe travels!

Travel Insurance Guide

Travel Insurance Company Reviews