Overview
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) is a federal program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that provides limited, temporary health coverage to asylum claimants, protected persons, resettled refugees and certain other groups who are not yet eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance. Claims under the program are administered by Medavie Blue Cross. The program has three parts: basic coverage, supplemental coverage and prescription drug coverage.
Healthcare access is critical for refugees who may be fleeing violence, trauma, or persecution. Understanding what IFHP covers and how to access it is essential for protecting your health and your family's health while you are in Canada.
Who is Eligible for IFHP
IFHP covers several categories of people, including:
IRCC lists the following groups as eligible for the IFHP:
- Asylum claimants (people who have made a refugee claim in Canada)
- Protected persons in Canada, including people whose refugee claim or pre-removal risk assessment was accepted
- Resettled refugees (government-assisted and privately sponsored)
- People whose refugee claim was found ineligible but who are eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment
- People detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act while in CBSA custody
- Victims of human trafficking, victims of family violence, and people covered by specific temporary public policies
For an asylum claimant, IRCC states that coverage begins when the person receives their Acknowledgement of Claim letter, Refugee Protection Claimant Document or Refugee Protection Identity Document, and continues until the person qualifies for provincial or territorial health insurance or leaves Canada. Coverage ends earlier if the claim is withdrawn or abandoned. For a person who receives a positive decision on a refugee claim or PRRA, IRCC states that coverage continues for 90 days after the positive decision or until the person qualifies for provincial or territorial health insurance, whichever comes first. A positive decision makes a person a protected person; it does not itself make them a permanent resident.
What is Covered
IRCC's coverage summary describes three parts to the program.
Basic coverage (no cost to the beneficiary) includes, for example, in-patient and outpatient hospital services; services from medical doctors, registered nurses and other health care professionals licensed in Canada, including pre- and postnatal care; and laboratory, diagnostic and ambulance services.
Supplemental coverage includes, for example:
- Urgent dental care
- Vision care
- Mental health counselling
- Physiotherapy and speech language therapy
- Assistive devices such as prosthetics, mobility aids and hearing aids
- Home care
- Medical supplies and equipment
Prescription drug coverage covers eligible prescription medications.
IRCC states that the IFHP does not cover all health care services and products, and does not cover services or products that can be claimed under other health insurance. The current list of covered items and any limits are published on the IFHP coverage summary page and through Medavie Blue Cross.
Coverage Gaps
The IFHP is not full health insurance. IRCC's coverage summary, as published on canada.ca, sets out the following limits:
- Not everything is covered: IRCC states that the IFHP does not cover all health care services and products. Whether a particular item is covered is determined by the coverage summary and by Medavie Blue Cross, and IRCC's page for health care providers states that some services need pre-approval.
- Co-payments on supplemental benefits: IRCC's coverage summary states that the IFHP covers 70% of eligible costs for supplemental benefits and that the beneficiary pays the remaining 30% directly to the provider.
- Co-payment on prescriptions: the same page states that the beneficiary pays the provider $4 for each eligible prescription filled or refilled.
- No duplication with other insurance: the IFHP does not cover services or products that can be claimed under other health insurance, including provincial or territorial coverage once the person qualifies for it.
Basic coverage remains free of charge. Because co-payment amounts are set by IRCC and can change, the current figures are those shown on the IFHP coverage summary page. If a medical need is not covered by the IFHP, healthcare providers can discuss available options and community health organizations may provide additional resources.
Provincial Health Coverage
IRCC states that IFHP coverage ends when the person qualifies for health insurance from their province or territory. Registering with the provincial or territorial plan as soon as eligibility is established keeps coverage continuous.
Each province and territory sets its own eligibility rules, and they differ on when a refugee claimant or protected person qualifies. The provincial or territorial health ministry is the source for those rules.
Understanding provincial coverage is important because the benefits, covered services, and costs may differ from IFHP. Some provinces provide more comprehensive coverage than IFHP; others may be more limited.
Accessing IFHP Services
IRCC's instructions are to use the Medavie Blue Cross provider search tool to find a health care provider registered with the IFHP, and to show the IFHP eligibility document to the provider on arrival. The documents IRCC lists are the Acknowledgement of Claim letter, the Refugee Protection Claimant Document or Refugee Protection Identity Document, or an Interim Federal Health Certificate of Eligibility. There is no separate IFHP card or reference number.
IRCC states that a registered provider cannot charge a beneficiary for basic care, or more than the approved co-payment for supplemental care and prescription medications. Registered providers submit their claims to Medavie Blue Cross. A provider who is not registered with the IFHP is not obliged to accept it.
Applying for IFHP
A refugee claimant does not make a separate application for the IFHP. IRCC states that coverage for an asylum claimant begins on receipt of the Acknowledgement of Claim letter, Refugee Protection Claimant Document or Refugee Protection Identity Document, which itself serves as the eligibility document.
IRCC directs beneficiaries with questions about their coverage to Medavie Blue Cross, which administers the program, and to the IFHP online account that beneficiaries can create. Community organizations and legal clinics can also assist in confirming IFHP eligibility.
Documentation of claim filing and any documents confirming IFHP status should be retained. If delays occur in receiving IFHP identification, the issue should be escalated to ensure healthcare access when needed.
If Your Application is Denied
Coverage can end or a claim can be refused, for example where the person's claim has been withdrawn or abandoned, where the person has qualified for provincial or territorial insurance, or where the service is not an eligible benefit. Medavie Blue Cross, as administrator, and IRCC are the sources for the reason.
Community legal clinics and immigration organizations can help a person understand a refusal and raise it with the program.
If access to healthcare is limited due to lack of IFHP coverage, community health centers and some hospitals provide care on a sliding scale fee basis or for free. Forgoing necessary medical care due to cost concerns is not advisable.