CANADA - MEDICAL COVERAGE COST THRESHOLD INCREASED

IRCC | January 2, 2019

The annual cost threshold figure for excessive demand on health and social services has been updated. 

The average Canadian per capita health and social services cost has increased from $6,604 to $6,839, and 3 times that average has been updated from $19,812 to $20,517.

Part of the immigration application review and decision-making process is Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decision makers determining if an individual might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada.

Excessive demand provisions

Subsection R1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) defines “excessive demand” as either of the following:

• a demand on health services or social services for which the anticipated costs would likely exceed average Canadian per capita health services and social services costs over a period of 5 consecutive years immediately following the most recent medical examination required under paragraph A16(2)(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), unless there is evidence that significant costs are likely to be incurred beyond that period, in which case the period is no more than 10 consecutive years
• a demand on health services or social services that would add to existing waiting lists and would increase the rate of mortality and morbidity in Canada as a result of an inability to provide timely services to Canadian citizens or permanent residents

On June 1, 2018, the Temporary Public Policy Regarding Excessive Demand on Health and Social Services (public policy) was established, pursuant to authorities under section A25.2. This public policy allows officers to exempt individuals who meet the specific eligibility criteria set out by the Minister from paragraph A38(1)(c) (excessive demand).