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The federal government will soon require sponsored refugees and asylum seekers to co-pay for their health-care coverage.
The co-payment plan was first announced in the government&#8217;s 2025 budget in November.
On Tuesday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) shared more details about the changes to Canada&#8217;s <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-within-canada/health-care.html" target="_blank">Interim Federal Health Program</a> (IFHP).
The IFHP provides limited and temporary coverage for urgent and essential health care and services to government-sponsored refugees and asylum seekers until they transition to provincial or territorial health care programs.
Starting May 1, 2026, IFHP beneficiaries will need to co-pay $4 for each eligible prescription medication filled or refilled under the IFHP and 30 per cent of the cost of all other eligible <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-within-canada/health-care/interim-federal-health-program/coverage-summary.html" target="_blank">supplemental health products and services</a>, including dental care, vision care, counselling, and assistive devices.
<div id="attachment_2003032" style="width: 1085px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2003032" class="wp-image-2003032 size-full" src="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-09T095650.495.jpg" alt="health care" width="1075" height="550" srcset="https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-09T095650.495.jpg 1075w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-09T095650.495-500x256.jpg 500w, https://images-dh-production-baselayer.dailyhive.com/uploads/2024/07/Untitled-design-2024-07-09T095650.495-1024x524.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1075px) 100vw, 1075px" />True Touch Lifestyle/Shutterstock</div>
Other supplemental coverage that sponsored refugees or asylum claimants will need to pay out of pocket for includes:
<ul>
<li>Psychologists and counselling therapists</li>
<li>Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech language therapists</li>
<li>Assistive devices like prosthetics, mobility aids and hearing aids</li>
<li>Home care and long-term care</li>
<li>Urgent dental care and limited vision care</li>
<li>Medical supplies and equipment</li>
</ul>
A co-payment is the portion of the cost that refugees or asylum seekers pay directly to their healthcare providers, while the remaining cost is covered by the IFHP.
&#8220;Introducing co-payments will help keep supplemental health care accessible for eligible beneficiaries while responsibly managing growing demand,&#8221; stated the IRCC. &#8220;This change supports the long-term sustainability of the IFHP so it can continue providing essential support to current and future beneficiaries.&#8221;
The IRCC noted that basic health-care benefits, including doctor visits and hospital care, will continue to be fully covered under the IFHP, with no co-payments needed.
Ottawa advises refugees and asylum seekers using the IFHP to do the following starting May 1:
<ul>
<li>Continue to choose a health care provider registered under the IFHP using the <a href="https://ifhp.medaviebc.ca/en/providers-search" target="_blank" rel="external">IFHP Provider Search tool</a></li>
<li>Ask their health care provider whether a co-payment will apply before receiving care</li>
<li>Confirm how much they will need to pay</li>
<li>Keep receipts for any co-payments made</li>
</ul>
Canada is one of the largest recipients of refugees in the world, setting a record number of claims in 2024, according to a <a href="https://dailyhive.com/canada/refugee-claims-canada-record" target="_blank">report</a> from the United Nations Refugee Agency last year.
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Some people in Canada will soon be required to co-pay for health care

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The federal government will soon require sponsored refugees and asylum seekers to co-pay for their health-care coverage.