Accessing Healthcare with IFHP

IFHP Eligibility

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides limited and temporary health care coverage until a person becomes eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance. According to IRCC's IFHP eligibility page, the groups covered include:

• Refugee claimants who are waiting for a decision from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), as well as some people whose claim was refused and people who are eligible for a pre-removal risk assessment
• Protected persons, including people with a positive IRB or pre-removal risk assessment decision
• Resettled refugees (government-assisted, privately sponsored, blended visa office-referred and joint assistance sponsorship)
• People detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and certain holders of temporary resident permits

A refugee claimant does not file a separate IFHP application. IRCC states that coverage begins when the claimant receives an Acknowledgement of Claim, a Refugee Protection Claimant Document or a Refugee Protection Identity Document. That document is the proof of coverage shown to health care providers. A claimant can also open an account in the IFHP portal to check coverage status and print documentation.

For a claimant, IFHP coverage continues until the person qualifies for health insurance from their province or territory or leaves Canada. It ends earlier if the claim is withdrawn, is declared abandoned by the IRB, or is found ineligible for referral without eligibility for a pre-removal risk assessment. Each province and territory sets its own rules on when a claimant qualifies for its health plan.

What IFHP Covers

IRCC's IFHP coverage summary divides coverage into basic coverage, prescription drug coverage and supplemental coverage. As of May 1, 2026, IRCC's co-payment page states that beneficiaries pay $4 for each eligible prescription filled or refilled and 30% of the cost of other eligible supplemental benefits, paid directly to the provider. Co-payments do not apply to basic coverage. Coverage applies only to services from providers registered with the IFHP.

Finding a Healthcare Provider

IRCC states that IFHP coverage is available only for services and products from health care professionals who are registered with the program, which is administered by Medavie Blue Cross. Ways to find a registered provider include:

• 1.Use the provider search tool: IRCC's page on getting medical treatment directs beneficiaries to the Medavie Blue Cross search tool to find a provider registered with the IFHP.
• 2.Community health centres: Many community health centres and refugee health clinics are registered with the IFHP and serve newcomers, sometimes in several languages. Registration can be confirmed with the clinic before a visit.
• 3.Walk-in clinics: Walk-in clinics do not require an appointment. Whether a particular clinic is registered with the IFHP can be checked through the search tool or by asking the clinic.
• 4.Ask settlement agencies: Settlement organizations for refugees often have lists of IFHP-friendly healthcare providers.
• 5.Ask friends and community: Other refugee claimants in your community can recommend doctors they have had good experiences with.

Making an Appointment and Visiting a Doctor

When you are ready to see a doctor, follow these steps:

Getting Prescriptions Filled

After seeing a doctor, you may receive a prescription. To fill your prescription:

1. The prescription is taken to a pharmacy registered with the IFHP. The Medavie Blue Cross search tool lists registered pharmacies.
2. The pharmacist is told that the patient is covered by the IFHP
3. The IFHP eligibility document is shown
4. The pharmacy checks coverage for that product and dispenses the medication
5. As of May 1, 2026, the patient pays a $4 co-payment to the pharmacy for each eligible prescription filled or refilled, according to IRCC

If a medication is not an eligible product under the program, the pharmacist may contact the prescriber to discuss an alternative. IRCC's coverage summary states that the program does not cover services or products that can be claimed under other health insurance, public or private. Asking the pharmacist about coverage before paying the full price avoids surprises.

Emergency Care

Hospital services, including emergency departments, and ambulance services are part of IFHP basic coverage. In a medical emergency:

• 1.Call 911: 911 is the emergency number across Canada for a life-threatening injury or illness.
• 2.Go to the emergency department: Hospital emergency departments treat people who arrive in an emergency. Bringing the IFHP eligibility document helps the hospital bill the program, but treatment in an emergency is not delayed to check paperwork.
• 3.Inform staff: Telling registration staff about IFHP coverage lets the hospital bill the program rather than the patient.
• 4.Keep receipts: Keep all receipts and documents related to your emergency care for billing and record purposes.

Example Healthcare Encounters

This shows language such as what you might encounter when accessing healthcare with IFHP.

Additional Healthcare Resources

Beyond IFHP coverage, many communities offer additional health services for refugees and asylum seekers:

• •Refugee health clinics: Many communities have specialized clinics for refugees with staff experienced in refugee health issues
• •Mental health services: Many areas have free or low-cost mental health support specifically for refugees
• •Vaccination programs: Provinces and territories run publicly funded immunization programs through public health units; eligibility rules are set locally
• •Settlement health services: Many settlement agencies provide health information and navigation services
• •Interpreters: Many hospitals and larger clinics can arrange interpretation; availability and languages vary by facility