Canada will require refugees and asylum seekers to co-pay for health care starting in May

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/refugees-health-care/article_eec5044d-f310-48f8-84fe-d6095d13b4d0.html

49 Comments

  1. **Paywall bypass:** [https://archive.ph/VboDH](https://archive.ph/VboDH)

    **In Brief:**

    * The co-payment plan — first revealed in Ottawa’s 2025 budget in November — will apply to refugees sponsored to Canada by the federal government and community groups in their first year in the country, as well as asylum claimants who arrive at the border for protection.
    * Patients will still be fully covered under the Interim Federal Health Program’s basic plan to see doctors and specialists, access hospital care, and for diagnostics.
    * However, they will now be asked to pay out of pocket 30% of the costs of services such as dental, optometry and physiotherapy under its supplemental benefit plan. They will also be charged a $4 flat rate on each prescription.

  2. LetsGetLitPlease on

    I also don’t want to have to pay my co-pays. My bad for paying taxes and contributing to society I guess.

  3. Yet Canadian citizens had to sign up for the dental plan, have to renew it annually and it doesn’t even cover all the costs.

    Ridiculous

  4. ILikeVancouver on

    Can we just admit it’s all being scammed instead and shut the whole fucking thing down?

  5. Several_Still3890 on

    No. More. Refugee. Our country is on the precipice of falling apart. We cannot afford to take in any more people that are going to be a burden.

  6. « According to the Immigration Department, it covered 623,365 beneficiaries in the fiscal year 2024-2025 — up from 90,328 a decade ago. The expenses amounted to $896.5 million, up by $306.1 million from 2023-2024 due to increased volumes of claims. »

  7. Insane how much free coverage they already get. Meanwhile people I know have rotting teeth because apparently dental care is not healthcare if you’re a Canadian. Clownass country sometimes.

  8. If you think any of these people will be paying their own health care think again.

    As refugees they’re legit just given money monthly based on their family size and other factors.

    So our taxes are just paying for their healthcare, but at an extra step.

    This is the same problem with temporary immigrants sneakily bringing in their ill family members from other countries. They come here ill on visitor visas, go to our hospitals, get emergency surgery and get a huge bill they never end up paying because they just fly back to their home country.

    Canada’s entire immigration and refugee system is just abused.

  9. Seniors in Canada have far fewer benefits than newcomers. That’s the reality. It needs to change. This is a good first step.

    The big deal is the lack of capacity, though, not payment. Our emergency rooms are over run because of sheer volume.

  10. The fact that non-Canadians get better healthcare than tax-paying Canadian citizens is insane!

  11. MinuteCampaign7843 on

    Where do I sign up for the gravy train? I’m tired of working myself to the bone so other people can sit around and get paid to have kids.

  12. I have a few friends that work with asylum seekers & refugees from various countries. If everyone in these comments is angry over free dental and eye care, you would all lose your minds at how much money they get on top of all of that lol.

    Money for housing, money for childcare, food vouchers for specific kinds of food (or cash if they argue that they don’t like the selection of food), money and support of all kinds so they can live here with as little financial burden as possible until they become a working/contributing member of society.

  13. Single, white, homeowner and almost 30 years old. Would be better off living in an 18 person family compound with nary an English speaker in the bunch. Payments would be cheaper groceries would be subsidized and I wouldn’t have to work

  14. Yellowbook8375 on

    Fair is fair.

    Tbh if we could afford it, I’d have no problem helping out, but we’re not doing so hot rn

  15. RedEyedWiartonBoy on

    The system is badly broken but this is a start.

    Like tightening a couple of bolts on the Titanic.

  16. If this takes effect, tax payers don’t have to foot the bill for those that don’t contribute but enjoy the benefits.

  17. Harold-The-Barrel on

    r/canada: why are non-Canadians getting more health benefits than Canadians?

    Maybe ask your government to make those benefits standard for everyone?

    r/canada: no that’s socialism

  18. I’m glad these folks all got treated, meanwhile myself a born and raised Canadian can’t even get a family doctor.

  19. There needs to be COLA adjustment made as well. Giving them $103,800 for the first year with the ability to earn beyond that without any mechanism for clawback is insane. That’s over $150k in earnings for a Canadian taxpayer.

  20. Where can my family who has been here for generations sign up for this $4 per prescription? And dental? And physio? My elderly dad is currently paying $1500 per month for physio after a stroke. Would love to have some help from our Canadian government.

  21. thatguydowntheblock on

    Fucking ridiculous the handouts that these “refugees” get. Honestly, it’s disgusting.

  22. Jesus Christ the new plan they get is way better than almost any Canadians. wtf this HAS to stop!!

  23. Stop giving them money – just give them the essentials in an outdoor refugee camp! It’s not meant to be comfortable. This HAS to stop!!’

  24. Mindless-Flower11 on

    Why the fuck do they seem to care more about the health & stability of foreigners than their own Canadians?! I feel like I’m going insane reading this article. What about the homelessness crisis that rises everyday due to unaffordable housing & food prices? Canadians have always had to pay for their own dental, vision & prescriptions unless they were lucky enough to get a job that offers good benefits. This is absolute bullshit… I am seeing red!!! 😡😡😡

  25. Great. When my family came in the 20s they had to put up a guarantee for each family member.

  26. These fucking refugees barely have to lift a finger and are living better than most Canadians, it’s a fucking disgrace.

  27. economybadplantsgood on

    Hooray medical debt that we will all collectively pay interest on ; and it’s basically a head tax