Canada has a predominantly public-financed health care system which is privately delivered. Canada 's health care system is best described as an interlocking set of ten provincial and two territorial health insurance plans. Known to Canadians as "Medicare", the system provides access to universal and comprehensive coverage for necessary hospital services, as well as in-patient and out-patient physician services.

Canada 's health care system relies extensively on primary care physicians (e.g. general practitioners), who account for about 51% of all active physicians in Canada . They are usually the initial contact with the formal health care system and control access to most specialists, many allied providers, hospital admissions, diagnostic testing and prescription drug therapy. Private practitioners are generally paid on a fee-for-service basis and submit their service claims directly to the provincial health insurance plan for payment. Over 95% of Canadian hospitals are operated as private non-profit entities which are run by community boards of trustees, voluntary organizations or municipalities.

The following provinces cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans:

Alberta
Under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, students must register within three months of their arrival. Coverage costs are approximately $34 CDN per month and are available for the term stated on the student authorization.

The student authorization must be valid for more than three months. A letter from the student or educational institution confirming the intent of a 12 month residency is required to determine eligibility. For more information, contact:
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
P.O. Box 1360 ,
Edmonton , Alberta
Canada , T5J 2N3

For telephone inquiries, dial 310-0000 and ask for either 403-427-1432 ( Edmonton ) or 403-297-6411 ( Calgary ).

British Columbia
Under the British Columbia Medical Services Plan (MSP), a student must hold a student authorization upon entering Canada to be eligible for medical coverage. As of January 1st, 1998 , new medical regulations state that international students with a student authorization of six months or longer must be covered under the province's medical service plan.

There is a three month waiting period and students should apply immediately upon commencement of their studies. The cost is roughly $36 CDN per month. Students are recommended to take out a private medical insurance for the first three months OR if they will be studying for less than six months in total. Those studying for longer than six months should not acquire private medical insurance for any longer than this time period as it will still be mandatory for them to be covered by MSP. For more information contact:
B.C. Medical Services Plan
PO Box 1600
Victoria , British Columbia
Canada , V8W 2X9
For telephone enquiries, call 1-800-663-7100.

Saskatchewan
Under Saskatchewan's medical plan, students must register immediately upon arrival. Coverage, which is free, is available for students and their dependants for the duration of the student authorization or visa. For more information contact:
Saskatchewan Health
Registration, T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina , Saskatchewan
Canada , S4S 6X6

For telephone enquiries, call 1-800-667-7551 or (306) 787-3251.

The following provinces do not cover international students under their Provincial Health Care Plans:

• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario : Ontario universities and their affiliated colleges, with the exception of the University of Windsor , require that international students and their dependents as well as international employees and their dependents studying and/or working at their institution, purchase on a compulsory basis the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP). For more information on this compulsory plan, contact the Ontario University that you will be attending.
• Prince Edward Island
• Québec