7 Best Insurance Health for Expatriates and Immigrants in Canada

Will you live in Canada (or Quebec) or have you moved there as an expatriate? Do you need health insurance coverage? Next, read our full list of the best companies to choose from, how to make your decision, how the Canadian health care system works and more!

If you’re planning to move to Canada you probably already know that before you leave Brazil you’ll need to take out health insurance, right? But do you know what are the best options for expatriates and immigrants in Canada?

If the answer is no, don’t worry because I’ll give you all the tips throughout this article and still share some important information for those who want to live in the country.

Check it out!

Why do you need to hire health insurance when immigrating to Canada?

The main reason to hire health insurance everyone already knows, that is to be covered in case of accidents abroad. However, why is it so important to do this still in Brazil and especially, what are the benefits for those who want to move to Canada?

Here I list the two of which I believe are the main reasons:

• You will have security and tranquility in the move to Canada
• You will be covered during the “waiting period” before being covered by the Canadian health care system

Security and peace of mind in moving to Canada

When we change countries it is normal to take a while before we understand how everything works there. Therefore, taking out health insurance still in Brazil will ensure that your change is smooth and any issue you have, you can count on your insurance company.

And the best thing is that health insurance is not to be used only in cases of emergency. Depending on the plan, you can also make an appointment with a specialist, take exams and use it normally, as an insurance in Brazil.

You will be covered during the “waiting period” before being covered by the Canadian health care system

This is another factor that immigrants in Canada need to be vigilant. There, each province has its own health plan, that is, those who live in British Columbia use the Medical Services Plan, but those who live in Ontario will use the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Of course, the rules for use, values, deadline for arrival of the card and everything else change from province to province.

In some cases, even for those who are entitled to the provincial plan upon arrival in the country, the card may take a few months to be issued. Therefore, if you have health insurance that covers at least the first months in Canada, better.

How to Choose Health Insurance for Expats and Immigrants in Canada

Here you will get to know the 7 best health insurance for those who are going to move to Canada and then will have to choose the best plan for your case. Some of the points that you need to take into consideration at this time are:

• Is the plan for an individual? Or does it also cover a family (if you are married, have children, are moving with your parents, etc.)?
• Does the plan include all the coverage you need (especially if you have some type of disease, disability, are pregnant, or need special treatments)?
• What is customer support? Is it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Are you offered in your language?

How does Canada’s health care system work?

As I mentioned above, the health system in Canada varies from province to province. Some have a free health system, while others charge a monthly amount for its inhabitants.

In any case, the health system in Canada is public (not necessarily free) and all residents are entitled to a family doctor, regardless of their province. This doctor is like a general practitioner who will accompany you over time and will refer you to other specialists when necessary.

Regardless, even if you qualify for the Canadian public health system, it will probably take some time before you can get into the system… then you will still want a separate insurance policy in the meantime. In this case, you will find a list and also a table comparing what I consider to be the best insurers.

As usual, I suggest you make a quick budget online in all the options I quote below. Despite taking a certain amount of time, this will certainly help you save money at the end of the comparisons.

Note: The companies listed below are all foreign and only a portion of them offers service in Portuguese. If you have a preference for a national service, check the Promo Insurance option at the end of the article.

What are the 7 best health insurance for expatriates and immigrants in Canada?

It’s time to see the best international health insurance for immigrants and expatriates in Canada and what are the positive and negative sides of each in my view. They are:

1. Cigna
2. IMG
3. Aetna
4. GeoBlue
5. SafetyWing
6. Global Underwriters
7. Foyer Global Health

Then keep reading, because I’ll also talk a little bit about the various immigration programs Canada offers to foreigners!

The first place on our list goes to Cigna, this is an American company that maintains a strong presence in several countries of Europe. Certainly, one of the best options for those looking for international coverage.

With a history of more than 60 years in the market, Cigna serves more than 170 million citizens around the world. Nikki was once one of those clients when she had to purchase insurance to obtain her resident card in Sweden.

This company offers an impressive array of plans and serves expatriates and immigrants exceptionally well, among them those who intend to reside in Canada.

In such cases, you can choose between individual or family plans. One of the great advantages of Cigna is its flexible plans with adaptability and additional benefits according to your profile.

When making a budget, you can choose between Silver, Platinum and Gold plans. These plans are covered in more than 200 territories and countries, excluding the United States. There is also the Close Care plan, which ends up coming out more account of just having coverage in your country of origin and in the country you intend to reside.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:

• Customer service 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Has coverage for COVID-19 including PCR tests
• They have a digital portal for consultations and search for hospitals and clinics nearby
• For the most part, it is not necessary to use the reimbursement system and Cigna pays the health providers directly
• Offer flexible and tailor-made plans
• Ease to obtain a budget in detail, without having to register

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Cigna:

• Not all plans offer maternity coverage

2. 2. IMG

IMG is another large company that offers international health insurance. Currently, it has 3 subsidiaries around the world and has been in the market for more than 25 years.

An interesting point is that the IMG website offers support and customer service every day and in more than 17 languages.

Regarding the plans, IMG offers several options, both in individual plans and family plans. In addition, they also have plans assembled with specific objectives, such as for immigrants and expats.

These are options that aim at a long duration of at least 1 year and can be renewed. However, there are also short-term plans, if that is what you are looking for.

The IMG website is very intuitive and simple to use, it is possible to use filters according to the dates and duration you are looking for, your personal information and the information of your destination. This way, you can get a well-detailed estimate of what plans and coverage are available to you.

But pay attention to the specifications of each plan, IMG has no coverage for all ages.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with IMG:

• 24/7 customer service
• More than 17,000 doctors available for care around the world
• Website option in Portuguese
• Availability of adjustments in existing plans so that they better suit your needs
• The company considers COVID-19 as any other illness and injury

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with IMG:

• No plans for over 75

The primary mission of Now Health International is to provide a fast, efficient and affordable service, as the name suggests. The company focuses its efforts on establishing a solid relationship with its customers, providing clear and agile information about the available plans, as well as having a dedicated support team to solve any questions that may arise.

Now Health’s plans are carefully designed to address the daily challenges experienced by those residing abroad, providing guidance and high-quality health care around the world.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Now Health International:

• Plans customized according to individual needs.
• Clear information and excellent customer service.
• Comprehensive coverage in 194 countries and territories.
• Plans with high quality maternity routine coverage.

Disadvantages of an International Health Insurance Plan with Now Health International::

• 12-month lack required to use maternity coverage.
• Some procedures require the use of the company’s reimbursement system, which implies initial payment for the service.

For more than 50 years of serving travelers around the world, Aetna has already received the award for “Best International Private Health Insurance Provider” and is one of the global leaders in health solutions.

Therefore, if you are planning to move to a new country and are looking for a reliable option, Aetna is a great option.

All of this company’s plans are flexible, which is good news as they do not have a wide variety available. It is possible to add complementary services such as dental treatments. Despite this, the plans offered are of great quality and have coverage of up to 5 million dollars.

Remembering that all plans also serve families, and in all available options medical evacuation and repatriation expenses are included in coverage.

For expats and immigrants, the most convenient plan is Aetna Pioneer, which has a minimum coverage of $1,750 million. If you were interested, it is possible to fill out a form to get an exact quote and detailed information on other available plans.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:

• They include expenses with maternity
• You can choose between short, medium or long-term plans
• App available for easy location of providers
• Customer service 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Pre-vier support available for questions, such as drug issues for regular use

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Aetna:

• Few plans available and a high price compared to other options on the list

One of the most popular options for travelers and digital nomads is SafetyWing. This happens since this company offers very diverse international health insurance options for remote workers, businesses and immigrants.

One of the great differentials of SafetyWing is its identity, the site is super complete and intuitive where you get all the necessary information in acomplicated way.

Another advantage is that this option has cheaper insurance and the possibility of coverage of up to 2 children up to 10 years old completely free of charge in your plan.

The values vary according to your age, in the most account option, the maximum coverage is 250,000 dollars without the possibility of care for pre-existing diseases. However, it is possible to hire an additional that includes this type of coverage.

In addition, every 90 days of plan purchased in Canada, you get 30 days of coverage in your home country free of charge.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Safety Wing:

• Site with intuitive and user-friendly design with information location
• Customer service and support every day of the week, 24 hours a day
• Has coverage for Covid-19, provided they are recommended by a doctor
• Free 30-day coverage in your home country every 90 days of a plan abroad

Disadvantages of an International Health Insurance Plan with Safety Wing::

• They don’t have plans as complete as other list options
• The prices available on the site do not include fees and taxes (you will have to create an account and fill in your information if you want an accurate quote)

Global Underwriters offers its quality services for different profiles of travelers who need international health insurance, covering student needs, digital nomads and expats who venture in different countries.

The most suitable plans for immigrants and expatriates in Canada are the Diplomat Long Term and the Diplomat International.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwriters:

• Customer service every day of the week, 24 hours a day
• Up to $1,000,000 medical coverage in the plans mentioned above, plus $1,000,000 for coverage in accidental death or dismemberment cases
• The Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans have coverage for emergency dental services, repatriation of remains and medical evacuations

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Global Underwritres:

• Diplomat Long Term plan does not offer travel coverage in Afghanistan, Cuba and Iran
• The Diplomat International plan has no coverage for Covid-19
• Global Underwriters does not serve residents of Australia, Iran, New York, South Dakota and Maryland

Foyer Global Health is a member of the giant European corporation Foyer Group, and is an international health insurance specialist for travelers, students, digital nomads and expatriates.

Being an extremely reliable company, Foyer Global Health is one of the options listed with the largest variety of plans available in the market, ideal for fitting into different customer profiles.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:

• Online service, by phone and email 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• evacuation and repatriation services available
• All plans have coverage of surgeries, consultations and basic dental treatments
• Offer Medical Advice for Vaccinations and Preparations of Travel First Aid Kit

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Foyer Global Health:

• Do not leave the cover limits clear
• They do not have service in Portuguese, only in English, French and German

Bonus options:

Geoblue is a reference company when it comes to health insurance. She has been serving customers for more than 20 years with quality digital health services.

Despite this, it is important to say that it is not possible to hire GeoBlue services if you are a citizen of New York or Washington. If that’s the case, I recommend that you skip this option and go to the next on the list.

In detail, GeoBlue has several plans to suit the different goals of their clients, such as immigration. If this is your case, the Xplorer Essential plan is the most recommended, it is a long-term plan and has limited coverage.

If you prefer short-lived plans, learn more about GeoBlue Voyager.

If you want more information about GeoBlue plans and pricing, you need to fill out a form or contact one of the company’s brokers.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:

• Customer support every day of the week, 24 hours a day
• Application and various other tools, such as telemedicine
• Some plans have unlimited coverage and for pre-existing diseases

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with GeoBlue:

• Cannot be hired by residents of Washington and New York
• Plans are not very flexible
• It is necessary to contact a broker to get the exact prices of plans

If what you are looking for is a national company, Promo Insurance is one of the best options available. With a Brazilian service, for Brazilians, this is a solid company that offers several insurance options and companies for simple and efficient comparisons of international health plans.

Unlike the above options, Promo Insurance acts only as an intermediary between insurers and travelers, providing all service, managing bureaucracies and information necessary for customers.

In addition, all negotiations are made directly with Promo Insurance, which avoids inconvenience with international payments and communication errors arising from the understanding of the foreign language.

Just pay attention and check if you are purchasing international health insurance, since this portal also negotiates travel insurance.

Advantages of an international health insurance plan with Insurance Promo:

• It is not necessary to make international payments and all negotiations are conducted with a Brazilian company
• Opportunity to compare different companies and plans in one place
• A well-structured site with the possibility of using filters to find the plan and company that best suits your needs

Disadvantages of an international health insurance plan with Promo Insurance:

• By Insurance Promo acts as an intermediary, often the available prices are not the lowest found in the market

Comparative table of the 7 best health insurance for expatriates and immigrants in Canada

To help your decision, see below the comparative table between the health insurances that are listed above.

In this way, you will be able to better understand what are the advantages and disadvantages of each company and which one suits your needs.

	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote	Make a Quote
BENEFIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT	LIMIT
Information about the benefit
Medical Maximus	Unlimited (for the Platinum plan)	$8,000,000	The website does not inform	Unlimited	$1,000,000.00 per year	The website does not inform	$1,000,000
Co-insurance in the US	You choose. From 70% (100% subsequent) to 100%	100% 100%	Not to	60% for maximum co-insurance and then 100%	Yes, for higher rates	Only for emergencies	Yes I
Off-net-net-safe co-insurance in the US	You choose. From 70% (100% subsequent) to 100%	90% to $5,000 (100% subsequent)	Yes, for higher rates	100% 100%	100% 100%	100% 100%	100% 100%
Availability for Mental Health	No period of waiting	Waiting period of 12 months	Co-payment of $25 per visit, franchise exemption	75% up to 40 visits / 60% after this	Not to	Waiting period of 10 months	It depends on the plan
Benefit for Mental Health	Hospital and Ambulatory: maximum $5,000 (for all life) to full coverage depending on plan	Hospital and Outpatient Clinic: maximum $50,000 for life	Co-payment of $250 after franchise	100% up to 60 days		Hospitaltion and Ambulatory: limit not described
Remedies prescribed in the hospitalization	$500 to total coverage depending on plan	Up to $8,000,000	Yes I		Refund total	Yes I	Yes I
Remedies prescribed in the outpatient clinic	None unless you buy the option of International Outpatient Clinic	Up to $8,000,000			Refund total	Yes I	Yes I
Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains	Full coverage	Up to $8,000,000	Yes I	Up to $25,000	Not to	Up to 10,000.00	Yes I
Accidental death and dismemberment	It depends on the plan	Clause available, limit depends on age. $75,000 for 19-29 years; $7,500 for 65-89 years.		$50,000			It depends on the plan
Dental Emergency	Total coverage	Up to $8,000,000	Optional	$1,000 per year, $200 per tooth	Yes, however you must pay an extra fee to the contracted plan	Depending on the plan, it is unlimited	Has coverage in the Diplomat Long Term and Diplomat International plans
Treatment Required on Terrorism	Up to the limit of coverage	Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life			Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life	Available clause up to a maximum of $50,000 for life	Yes I
Amateur Sports	Unlimited	Available clause up to $10,000	Not to	Yes I	Not to	Not to	Not to
Neonatal care
Routine nursery care of a newborn child from a covered pregnancy	$25,000 to $156,000 depending on plan	Additional deduction of $1,000, maximum $50,000 for life, wellness benefit of $200 for the first 12 months	Yes I		It depends on the plan	Depending on the plan, it may be unlimited	Depending on the plan, it may be unlimited
Child born through fertility treatment (such as IVF or surrogacy)	Only after the baby completes 90 days	Excluded	It depends on the plan		Not to	Waiting period of 10 months
Neonatal Intensive Treatment Unit	See the website for updated information	Maximum of $250,000 for the first 31 days	Not to		Not to	Up to 20,000 with 10-month waiting period
Pre-existing diseases
Period of exclusion of pre-existing condition	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any clause will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease	Conditions that are fully evidenced in the application and have not been excluded or restricted by any condition will be covered as any disease
Pre-existing condition, grace time	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation	Any date prior to the day of implementation
Pre-existing, maximum annual single coverage	Unlimited depending on plan	Up to $8,000,000	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan	Refund total	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan
Pre-existing, maximum single coverage for life	Unlimited depending on plan	Up to $8,000,000	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan	Refund total	Unlimited depending on plan	Unlimited depending on plan

Attention: At the time this article was published, the information contained in it and in the table was updated. The table was made for informational purposes and the information contained in it is subject to change.

Who do these international health insurances serve?

In most cases, the above companies work for the following citizens living in Canada as expatriates or immigrants:

• The Americans and Americans
• Canadians and the Canadians and the
• The A’less a-
• Chinese s
• Germans and Germans
• French
• Argentinians
• British people and Britons
• The Swedish sles
• New Zealanders

And for citizens of almost every other place in the world

In addition to expatriates and immigrants residing in Canada, these insurances still serve individuals who intend to reside in:

• United States of America
• Canada
• China (and Hong Kong)
• Japan
• Australia

And for expats living in almost any other place in the world

In a simplified way, because they are international plans the insurance below offers its services to basically any citizen.

Canada’s Top Immigration Programs for Foreigners

Finally, if you’ve made it this far, it’s probably because you’ve probably heard about Canada’s immigration programs, whether it’s Express Entry (the most common), or the provincial processes like that of British Columbia (British Columbia) and Quebec.

Also in 2021 the government announced that it is looking for another 400,000 new residents, so we can say that immigrants in Canada are welcome and well seen by the local population.

Therefore, if you dream of living and working outside of Brazil, Canada can be a great school. Below I will comment a little on the country’s top immigration programs and how you can do to apply.

Federal Processes – Express Entry

Federal lawsuits involve all Canadian provinces. This way, you can choose any city in the country to live. Unlike provincial processes, in which you apply directly to a region.

Express Entry (EE) is not an immigration process, but a system that works on the basis of points. Therefore, your age group gives you a certain amount of points, as well as your professional experience, your level of English and French, your school level, if you have a job offer in Canada or if you have studied there… In the end, you will have a total score and it is this score that matters for you to be called by one of the current processes, which are:

• the Federal Skilled Trade
• Federal Skilled Worker
• the Canadian Experience Class

In the end, all profiles go to the pool, a kind of swimming pool. When a new “cutting rating” comes out of one of the above processes, whoever has achieved that score is called for visa or PR (Permanent Residence) visa application.

You can simulate your current score in the Express Entry calculator.

Provincial processes

In addition to federal cases, each province of Canada has its own immigration processes. Some of these processes select the applicants through Express Entry, others do not. Some of the most popular are:

• BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program: The selection is made by EE and is ideal for qualified, semi-skilled, health professionals or entrepreneurs.
• PEQ – Programme de l’expérience quebécoise: Program intended for those who have had some work experience in Quebec.
• FSSW – French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream: Ontario Province Program aimed at applicants with great level of French and English. The selection is made through EE.

I recommend that you visit the Express Entry website for more information on how it works and each of the processes they select there.

In short

Here are the 7 best health insurance companies for expatriates and immigrants in Canada:

1. Cigna
2. IMG
3. Now Health
4. Aetna
5. SafetyWing
6. Global Underwriters
7. Foyer Global Health

Concluding

That’s it. If you have any questions about any of the insurances I recommend here (or about moving abroad in general), just use the comments area below that I always answer!