4. Get medical care through IFHP
Question and answer
Can I get healthcare services after I make a refugee claim in Canada?To get healthcare through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), you must show doctors, nurses, or other healthcare providers one of the following documents:
- your Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID), or
- your Acknowledgement of Claim letter.
The RPID is sometimes called a brown paper. Keep these documents in a safe place and make copies. It can be hard to get a new one if you lose it.
Ask if IFHP covers the service
When getting medical care, ask your healthcare provider if the services you need will be paid for by the IFHP.
If you are getting a prescription medication or extra health service that requires a co-payment, ask your healthcare provider:
- if IFHP will pay for some or all the cost of the service, medication, or equipment you need
- how much you will need to pay
With IFHP coverage, basic medical care is free.
You only need to pay a co-payment for eligible prescription medications and extra health services and products. Co-payment means you pay part of the cost to your healthcare provider and IFHP pays them the rest. There's more information in Step 1 about co-payments and what IFHP covers.
IFHP pays your healthcare provider
When using IFHP, you do not pay the healthcare provider for the service. You only pay the healthcare provider the co-payment, if there is one. Keep receipts for any co-payments you pay.
After you receive a healthcare service, medication, or product through the IFHP the service provider submits a claim. This lets them get reimbursed for the cost of the medical care.
Confirm you received the service
After you're treated, the provider might give you a claim form to sign. You must sign this form to confirm you received the health service or product, so the provider can be paid.
You might receive a letter from Medavie Blue Cross asking you to confirm that you got health services or products on a specific date. Medavie is the company that manages IFHP claims. You should answer the question, sign the letter, and return it to Medavie. This letter is not a bill. It's for record keeping and to prevent fraud.