How to Find a Doctor in Canada on a Visa

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Posted ByAlanna
A laptop in Canada showing a search website. The search results displayed are two doctors.

Whether you’re coming to Canada because you’re participating in the International Experience Canada (IEC) program or you have a super visa, you need to think about your health. That includes access to medical care.

Visiting Canada on a visa is an exciting experience. The second-largest country in the world has something to offer everyone, from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan city life to vast expanses of nature. As Canada is such a large country, it’s important to know how to find a doctor in your Canadian province.

You should absolutely know how to find a doctor in Canada while on a visa, and how to address the costs of the treatment those professionals provide. Let’s take a closer look at how travel insurance can offer you stability and security, making it easier to seek and receive care during your visit.

Can a Tourist See a Doctor in Canada?

Non-residents wanting to access healthcare in Canada can schedule a doctor’s appointment or visit an emergency medical facility while in Canada. However, the Government of Canada advises that guests in the country are responsible for any costs associated with that care.

In general, for visitors to Canada or tourists, the only two options are to self-fund any medical expenses that arise (which could end up very expensive) or to purchase visitors to Canada travel insurance.

If you will be entering Canada on an IEC visa or a super visa, the Government of Canada requires you to purchase travel health insurance. More specifically:

  • IEC participants must have health insurance that covers their entire length of stay which covers: 
    • medical care, 
    • hospitalization, 
    • and repatriation.
  • Super visa eligibility includes the need to have:
    • at least one year of health insurance,
    • $100,000 in insurance coverage,
    • an insurance policy from a Canadian company (or a company approved by the minister of IRCC).

If you are travelling to Canada on an IEC visa, you may be able to apply for a provincial government health insurance plan (GHIP) in your Canadian province once you are in Canada. If you are eligible and enrol, you can use the healthcare system in Canada in the same way as an eligible Canadian citizen or permanent resident, including signing up for a family doctor in your local area. (Bear in mind that you still need to keep your IEC visa policy!) 

If you want to learn more, we have an article outlining eligibility for Canadian healthcare and how to apply for it.

How to Find a Doctor in Canada that Takes Your Insurance

When you purchase a travel insurance policy, you’ll be connected with your chosen insurer. These companies offer self-service tools and customer service support to help you find a family doctor or other health professionals.

Best Quote Travel Insurance can help you find the best available policy for your needs, taking coverage and cost into account. We work with leading insurers across Canada to provide a variety of travel insurance options. That means you can focus more on your upcoming visit to Canada with the peace of mind that your travel insurance is set up and in place.

Get an insurance quote on the left-hand side of this page for peace of mind during your trip. 

Did you know that we have a visitors to Canada (also available for IEC visa and Super Visa) insurance plan with coverage features not found anywhere else?

With BestQuote MedEC, on top of all of the typical visitors to Canada emergency medical benefits, you also get three prepaid doctor's appointments per year for free with Maple.

 

Read more about MedEC's unique policy benefits here.