Provincial health coverage

Alberta's provincial health plan, AHCIP, offers residents access to essential physician services and hospital-based care. While it provides strong foundational coverage, many everyday health expenses fall outside the public plan.

What's covered? AHCIP covers medically necessary doctor visits, diagnostic tests, surgeries, and hospital stays. Mental health care is covered only when delivered by a physician or psychiatrist, leaving gaps for therapy, counseling, and psychology services.

What's not covered? AHCIP does not cover routine dental care, prescription drugs outside hospitals, vision exams or glasses for adults, most medical equipment, and services like massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic.

Is this coverage enough? Alberta residents often rely on private insurance to help pay for prescriptions, dental, vision, paramedical practitioners, and other out-of-pocket costs.

British Columbia's MSP provides publicly funded access to doctors, specialists, diagnostic tests, and hospital treatments. It forms the core of health coverage in the province but excludes many everyday health expenses.

What's covered? MSP covers physicians, specialists, diagnostic tests, and hospital treatments. Mental health services are covered when provided by physicians but not by psychologists or counsellors, leaving significant gaps. Paramedical services—such as physiotherapy, massage, chiropractic, and naturopathy—have very limited subsidized coverage, often with strict caps.

What's not covered? MSP does not cover routine dental care for adults, most prescription drugs outside the hospital, adult eye exams and glasses, or hearing aids.

Is this coverage enough? B.C. residents typically turn to private insurance for drug plans, dental and vision benefits, and additional health services.

Manitoba Health covers doctor visits, surgeries, hospital care, and some diagnostic services, forming the baseline of public health coverage for residents. However, many common health expenses remain uninsured.

What's covered? Manitoba Health covers doctor visits, surgeries, hospital care, and some diagnostic services. Mental health coverage is available through physicians and psychiatrists only; psychologists and counsellors must be paid out of pocket. Limited coverage exists for physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments, usually requiring referrals.

What's not covered? The plan does not cover adult dental care, routine vision care, glasses, contacts, and most prescription drugs unless individuals qualify for special pharmacare programs. Paramedical services like massage therapy, naturopathy, and acupuncture are not publicly funded.

Is this coverage enough? Many Manitoba residents require additional insurance for prescription drugs, dental, vision, and paramedical services.

New Brunswick Medicare provides foundational coverage for medically required care, including physician services, hospital stays, and diagnostic testing. However, many supplementary health needs fall outside the public system.

What's covered? Medicare covers physician services, hospital stays, and diagnostic testing. Mental health treatment from psychiatrists is covered, but services from psychologists and therapists are not.

What's not covered? The plan excludes adult dental work, prescription drugs (unless covered through separate provincial drug plans), routine eye exams and glasses, physiotherapy outside hospitals, most paramedical care, and medical equipment such as mobility aids or hearing aids.

Is this coverage enough? No, many New Brunswick residents often rely on private health insurance to cover these everyday health costs.

Newfoundland and Labrador's MCP covers core medical services such as doctor visits, hospital care, and diagnostic tests. While comprehensive for medically necessary treatment, it lacks coverage for many common health expenses.

What's covered? MCP covers doctor visits, hospital care, and diagnostic tests. Paramedical physiotherapy has limited coverage and often requires a referral. Mental health support with physicians is covered, but therapy with psychologists or counsellors is not.

What's not covered? MCP does not include routine dental care for adults, outpatient prescription drugs (except through separate drug programs), vision exams and eyewear, or most paramedical services such as massage, acupuncture, and naturopathy.

Is this coverage enough? Typically, residents find the basic coverage insufficient and often purchase additional insurance to cover prescription drugs, dental care, vision needs, medical supplies, and paramedical services.

Nova Scotia's MSI covers essential medical services, but the plan leaves significant gaps where private insurance is often needed.

What's covered? MSI covers medical services such as doctors, specialists, hospital care, and diagnostic tests. Mental health care is publicly covered only when provided by physicians or psychiatrists, leaving residents to self-fund therapy and psychological services.

What's not covered? MSI does not cover adult dental services, prescription drugs outside hospitals, eye exams and glasses for adults, hearing aids, physiotherapy outside the hospital system, or most paramedical practitioners. Massage, acupuncture, and naturopathy are not insured.

Is this coverage enough? No, many Nova Scotians purchase private insurance to manage prescription, dental, vision, and paramedical costs.

Ontario's OHIP provides residents with medically necessary physician services, hospital treatments, and diagnostic testing. While comprehensive for core medical needs, OHIP does not cover many everyday health expenses.

What's covered? OHIP covers medically necessary physician services, hospital treatments, and diagnostic testing. Physiotherapy is only partially covered for specific age groups or qualifying medical conditions. Mental health coverage is available through physicians and psychiatrists but not psychologists or counsellors.

What's not covered? The plan excludes adult dental care, prescription drugs outside the Ontario Drug Benefit (primarily for seniors and eligible groups), routine eye exams for adults aged 20–64, glasses, and most paramedical services.

Is this coverage enough? No, many Ontarians use private insurance to fill gaps in prescriptions, dental, vision, and therapy services.

Health PEI provides core medical coverage, including doctor visits, hospital care, and diagnostic services. However, day-to-day health costs often fall outside the public plan.

What's covered? Health PEI covers doctor visits, hospital care, and diagnostic services. Some physiotherapy services are publicly funded, but massage, chiropractic, and similar treatments are not.

What's not covered? PEI does not cover standard dental care for adults, most prescription drugs (unless through separate drug programs), vision exams or eyewear, most paramedical treatments, or counselling and psychological services unless delivered by medical doctors.

Is this coverage enough? No, many PEI residents rely on supplementary insurance to cover drugs, dental, vision, and additional therapy needs.

Quebec's RAMQ program covers medically necessary physician care, hospital services, and diagnostic tests. The province offers more extensive drug coverage than most provinces, though premiums may apply.

What's covered? RAMQ covers medically necessary physician care, hospital services, and diagnostic tests. The province covers prescription drugs for residents enrolled in the public plan (or through employer benefits). Physiotherapy has limited public coverage, often requiring referrals. Mental health services are publicly available through physicians but not psychologists or psychotherapists.

What's not covered? RAMQ excludes adult dental care, routine vision exams and eyewear (with some age-based exceptions), and most paramedical services.

Is this coverage enough? No, Quebecers often rely on private insurance for dental, vision, paramedical, and expanded mental health support.

Saskatchewan Health covers physician services, hospital care, and diagnostic testing. While robust in medical necessity, it does not insure many everyday health services.

What's covered? Saskatchewan Health covers physician services, hospital care, and diagnostic testing. Drug coverage is available with some limitations. Limited coverage exists for chiropractic and physiotherapy but often with caps. Mental health coverage applies only to physician-provided treatments.

What's not covered? The plan excludes adult dental services, prescription drugs outside separate drug plans, vision exams and glasses for adults, and paramedical services like massage and acupuncture.

Is this coverage enough? No, private insurance is typically used to help pay for drugs, dental, vision, and therapy expenses.

The Northwest Territories offers comprehensive physician and hospital coverage, along with some additional benefits through extended health programs depending on eligibility.

What's covered? The Northwest Territories covers physician services, hospital care, and diagnostic testing. It offers strong core coverage for medical care, routine dental care, and vision exams and eyewear.

What's not covered? Many prescription drugs and most paramedical services are not covered unless individuals qualify for enhanced benefits (such as for seniors or Métis residents). Mental health therapy from non-physicians is also excluded.

Is this coverage enough? No, residents often use supplementary health insurance to manage drug, dental, vision, and therapy costs.

Nunavut's healthcare system offers comprehensive coverage for essential medical services while excluding certain specialized treatments and services from its standard benefits package.

What's covered? Nunavut provides full coverage for physician services, hospital care, and medically required diagnostic testing. The territory also offers additional benefits for residents who qualify under its extended health programs.

What's not covered? Adult dental services, most prescription drugs, vision exams and eyewear, physiotherapy outside hospitals, paramedical care, and mental health services from psychologists or counsellors are not included in standard coverage.

Is this coverage enough? No, Nunavut residents frequently rely on supplemental insurance to fill these gaps.

Yukon's healthcare system provides essential medical coverage while excluding certain services, leading many residents to supplement with private insurance for comprehensive health protection.

What's covered? Yukon's health plan offers comprehensive medically necessary care, including hospital services, doctor visits, and diagnostic testing. Additional benefits exist for seniors under separate programs. Mental health support is covered only when provided by physicians or psychiatrists.

What's not covered? The plan does not cover routine dental care for most adults, prescription drugs (unless residents are part of specific programs), routine vision care, glasses, or most paramedical services.

Is this coverage enough? No, Yukon residents often purchase private health insurance to cover prescriptions, dental, vision, and paramedical needs.