Interim Federal Health Program Changes: What Asylum Seekers Need to Know

Starting May 1st, individuals covered by Canada’s Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), regardless of province, will be required to contribute to the cost of some healthcare services. This includes prescription medications and certain supplementary care.

The federal government announced these changes in the 2025 federal budget, citing the need to ensure the programme fédéral de santé intérimaire‘s long-term sustainability amidst growing demands.

What Services are Affected?

While basic healthcare services like doctor visits and hospital care will remain fully covered, beneficiaries of the IFHP will now face the following costs:

• Prescription Medications: A $4 co-pay per prescription filled or renewed.
• Supplementary Health Services: 30% of the cost for services considered ‘supplementary,’ including dental care, vision care, mental health support, and medical equipment (such as supplies for diabetes management).

Concerns About Access to Care

Advocates and researchers are expressing concerns that these changes may create barriers to healthcare access for asylum seekers, who often face significant financial hardship. Janet Cleveland, a researcher affiliated with the SHERPA Institute, emphasizes the financial strain on this population. “Requiring them to pay 30% for supplementary health products and services is substantial. These are people struggling to afford rent and food. They are, generally, very low-income populations,” she stated.

Delaying or forgoing necessary medical care and medications can have serious consequences, not only for the individual’s health but also for the broader community. Many asylum seekers eventually obtain permanent resident status in Canada, making preventative care crucial. “Poorly managed diabetes, for example, is sure to have serious long-term impacts for the individual. But it’s also costly for society later,” Cleveland warns.

Advocacy Groups Respond

Gauri Sreenivasan, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, expressed deep disappointment with the changes. “Everyone’s health suffers when a member of our community cannot access the care they need.”

Who Does the IFHP Cover?

The Interim Federal Health Program provides temporary health coverage to:

• Asylum seekers
• Refugees who have been recognized as refugees abroad before arriving in Canada
• Other protected persons

This coverage is in place while they wait to become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance programs.

These changes to the IFHP highlight the ongoing challenges faced by asylum seekers in accessing essential healthcare services in Canada. It remains to be seen how these new cost-sharing measures will impact their health and well-being.