Canada is a socialist country. This means that every Canadian had access to decent health care which is funded by each provincial government. The public system covers visits to doctors and specialists, as well as some hospital stay and procedures, but it does not cover dental costs, nor prescription drugs, which many Canadians pay for though private insurance policies. Because the system is administered by the provinces, the requirements for international students to access health care differs drastically across the country. Generally it can be said that international students have good health services available to them at a minimal cost, but at a cost. Health insurance must be arranged before your arrival in Canada. This may be as simple as registering yourself in the provincial insurance coverage or a compulsory enrolment in your university's health plan. Look below at the provincial guidelines of the province you wish to study in.

Newfoundland
In Newfoundland international students must find private health insurance coverage, as they are not allowed to register for the provincial health plan. Schools will have an arrangement with one insurance provider which you may be registered for automatically once you enroll. Each school may have a different carrier, but at Memorial University, as an example of the costs you will face in addition to tuition, coverage for a year for a single student is $480.

Nova Scotia
Universities and colleges in Nova Scotia will provide you with an international student health plan, at a cost of approximately $500 a year. This is compulsory unless you can provide proof of coverage by a recognized hospital or medical insurance carrier. You may be able to enroll in the provincial plan if you are in Nova Scotia for more than 13 months and are not absent for more than 31 days of that period. With proof of your status as a student in Nova Scotia, you can apply for Medical Services Insurance in the thirteenth month of your stay.

New Brunswick
In New Brunswick, health insurance is available through your college or university. Coverage will be equivalent to what the province's residents are eligible for, including doctor's visits, some specialists and limited hospital services. At the University of New Brunswick, the cost is $275 per year, and can be pro-rated if the student is not intending to be in the province for an entire year. The student unions of most schools will have a supplementary coverage which includes prescription medications and dental fees, which can cost you up to $200 a year.

Prince Edward Island
Basic coverage is purchased from a private health carrier through each school, which entitles international students to similar coverage as provincial residents. All international students are enrolled once they register as full-time students. Within the first four weeks of your school year, you will have the choice to "opt out" of this basic health coverage if you have your own private insurance. These premiums will be comparable to the $500 international students pay in other provinces. Basic coverage is topped up by another plan available through the student union. All costs can be pro-rated according to the length of time you will be in P.E.I.

Quebec
In Quebec you are not eligible for the provincial health insurance. In its place, each school will require that you enroll in their University Health Plan, which covers doctor's visits, some hospitalization and specialized services. The services vary by school. The approximate cost is $500 a year for a single student, $1000 for a couple and $2000 for three or more people. If you work in the province (even on-campus) you can apply for Quebec Medicare. The health insurance board is called la regie de l'assurance-maladie du Quebec (RAMQ).

Ontario
In Ontario an international student, you are not covered by provincial health insurance and the University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is compulsory for all foreign students, at an approximate cost of $450 per year. This health insurance is province-wide, for all international students in the province and covers basic medical services. Additional coverage can be bought through student union plans.

Manitoba
Foreign students in Manitoba are eligible for provincial health insurance from the first day of arrival in the province at a cost of $453 a year for a single student. This assumes you will be in the province for more than six months of the year. The fee is paid to the university along with tuition, when it is applied directly to the province.

Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan you are eligible for medical insurance through the province from the day of your arrival at no cost, as long as you arrive in Saskatchewan directly from your country of origin and have not been in another Canadian province longer than three months.You will need to apply through your International Student Office to register and your card will be issued within a month. Optometrists, dentists, medication and ambulances are not covered.

Alberta
Alberta Health Care is accessible to international students at premiums which are paid on a monthly basis. At present, these are $34 per month for a single student, $68 for a family and are to be paid for the full year. University student unions will have their own additional plans with private carriers to offset the costs of dental visits, medication and ambulance services.

British Columbia
If you will be in B.C. for more than six months you are required to enroll in the Medical Services Plan at premiums of $36 a month for an individual, $64 for two people and $72 for three or more. Full access to medical services will not be granted immediately: the waiting period for processing will take the balance of the month in which you arrived in the province, plus two months to process. For this three month period you should purchase private health insurance, which your school should assist you in finding. After living in the province for more than twelve months, you can apply for premium assistance, whereby you will not have to pay full fees. You must contact Medical Services if you plan to be out of the province for more than two months.