Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 911 for emergencies. ER overcrowding is severe — average waits of 4-8+ hours, with some patients waiting 12-24+ hours. Use walk-in clinics or virtual care (Maple, Telus Health) for non-life-threatening issues. In Quebec, 811 provides health advice in French and English. In other provinces, 811 is the health info line.
Response time: 6-10 minutes in cities (target 8 minutes). 20-45+ minutes in rural/northern areas. ER wait times average 4-8+ hours nationally — triage prioritises by severity.
Cost: ER visit: $500-1,500+ CAD without insurance. Ambulance: $250-850 CAD (varies by province — BC $80 residents, $530 non-residents; Ontario $240-$3,500). Hospital stays: $3,000-5,000+ CAD/day. ICU: $8,000-10,000+/day.
Healthcare System
Canada's Medicare system provides universal public healthcare for residents, but it is administered by 13 separate provincial/territorial plans — meaning rules, coverage, and wait times vary by province. The system covers hospital and physician services but NOT prescription drugs, dental, vision, or mental health (these require private insurance or employer plans). Visitors and temporary residents receive NO public coverage whatsoever — everything is out-of-pocket or via travel insurance. Walk-in clinics are the primary access point for visitors. Canada faces a severe family doctor shortage — 6.5 million Canadians (2024) lack a family doctor, and ER overcrowding is a national crisis with average waits of 4-8+ hours. Quebec operates in French; medical services outside Montreal may have limited English.
Designed for: Canadian residents with provincial health cards. Visitors have zero public coverage.
GP Access & Costs
Walk-in clinics widely available in cities — no appointment or health card needed. Family doctor registration is for residents only (waitlists of months to years). Virtual care platforms (Maple, Telus Health MyCare) offer same-day video consultations.
Typical wait: Walk-in clinic: 1-4 hours. Virtual care (Maple): 15-30 minutes. Family doctor (residents): 2-6 weeks routine. ER: 4-8+ hours for non-urgent.
Availability: Walk-in clinics concentrated in urban areas — many close by 5-6pm or on weekends. Virtual care expanding rapidly. Rural and northern communities face extreme shortages — some areas have no doctor for hundreds of kilometres. Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Urgent Care Centres offer alternatives in some provinces.
GP Visit
$80-200 CAD for walk-in clinic
Private GP
$80-200 CAD per walk-in visit. Virtual: $49-79 CAD. Specialist: $200-500+ CAD.
ER Without Insurance
$500-1,500+ CAD for ER visit. Hospital stays: $3,000-5,000+/day. Ambulance: $250-850 CAD. Childbirth: $5,000-15,000+ CAD. Air ambulance (northern): $10,000-50,000+ CAD.
Medication
Prescription drugs NOT covered by public Medicare — Canadians use employer plans, provincial pharmacare, or pay out-of-pocket. Visitors pay full price. Generic medications available. Pharmacists in some provinces can prescribe for minor conditions (UTIs, skin infections) and renew prescriptions.
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm typical. Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec), Rexall, London Drugs widely available — many open until 10pm or midnight. Some 24-hour Shoppers locations in major cities. Costco and Walmart also have pharmacies (often cheaper).
OTC: Common medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antihistamines, hydrocortisone) widely available OTC. Codeine products require prescription (unlike some countries). Pharmacists in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and other provinces can prescribe for minor ailments without doctor visit.
Controlled substances: Opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants strictly controlled. Foreign prescriptions NOT accepted — need Canadian doctor's prescription. Carry a doctor's letter listing all medications with generic names, doses, and medical necessity. Cannabis is legal recreationally (19+ in most provinces, 18+ in Alberta/Quebec) but cannot be taken across international borders.
Practical Tips
- Use walk-in clinics for non-emergencies — much faster than ER and typically $80-200 CAD
- Download Maple or Telus Health MyCare for same-day virtual doctor consultations ($49-79 CAD)
- Travel insurance is absolutely essential — a single ER visit can cost thousands without it
- Call 811 (Health Link) for free 24/7 health advice by phone — available in all provinces
- Pharmacists in several provinces can prescribe for minor conditions (UTIs, pink eye, skin infections) — ask at Shoppers Drug Mart
- If in Quebec, learn basic French medical terms — "urgence" (emergency), "pharmacie", "ordonnance" (prescription)
- Keep all receipts and documentation for insurance claims — Canadian billing is detailed
Who can get care in Canada?
Emergency care for anyone
Emergency departments in Canada treat everyone regardless of residency or insurance status. Charges can still apply afterwards.
Public system for visitors
The public system does not cover visitors, so care is paid privately or through insurance.
Seeing a Doctor as a visitor
Walk-in clinics widely available in cities — no appointment or health card needed. Family doctor registration is for residents only (waitlists of months to years). Virtual care platforms (Maple, Telus Health MyCare) offer same-day video consultations. Typical cost: $80-200 CAD for walk-in clinic. Virtual consult (Maple): $49-79 CAD. Specialist: $200-500+ CAD. Typical wait: Walk-in clinic: 1-4 hours. Virtual care (Maple): 15-30 minutes. Family doctor (residents): 2-6 weeks routine. ER: 4-8+ hours for non-urgent.
Insurance needed for entry or visa
Not a formal entry requirement, but medical cover is strongly recommended. Emergency care without cover: $500-1,500+ CAD for ER visit. Hospital stays: $3,000-5,000+/day. Ambulance: $250-850 CAD. Childbirth: $5,000-15,000+ CAD. Air ambulance (northern): $10,000-50,000+ CAD..
Documents worth having ready
- Comprehensive travel insurance with medical repatriation (ESSENTIAL — healthcare is very expensive)
- Passport and visa/eTA
- Doctor's letter for any controlled medications (in English and French if visiting Quebec)
- Copies of prescriptions with generic drug names
- Provincial health card application info (for new residents — 3-month wait in most provinces)
- Proof of financial means for medical costs
Local contacts in Canada
Emergency services
911
Call 911 for emergencies. ER overcrowding is severe — average waits of 4-8+ hours, with some patients waiting 12-24+ hours. Use walk-in clinics or virtual care (Maple, Telus Health) for non-life-threatening issues. In Quebec, 811 provides health advice in French and English. In other provinces, 811 is the health info line.
Pharmacies
Mon-Sat 9am-9pm typical. Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec), Rexall, London Drugs widely available — many open until 10pm or midnight. Some 24-hour Shoppers locations in major cities. Costco and Walmart also have pharmacies (often cheaper).
Common medications (ibuprofen, acetaminophen, antihistamines, hydrocortisone) widely available OTC. Codeine products require prescription (unlike some countries). Pharmacists in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and other provinces can prescribe for minor ailments without doctor visit.
What is the emergency number in Canada?
911 for all emergencies (police, fire, ambulance). In remote areas without 911 service, dial 0 for the operator. Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000) and similar provincial lines offer free nurse advice 24/7.
Is healthcare free in Canada for visitors?
No. Canada's universal Medicare system only covers Canadian residents with a valid provincial health card. Visitors, tourists, and temporary residents must pay out-of-pocket or through travel insurance. Even Canadians moving between provinces may have a waiting period (typically 3 months).
Join the waitlist to see 3 more FAQs
Sources: Health Canada, CIHI Wait Times 2024, Provincial health authorities, Canadian Medical Association, Statistics Canada Health Reports 2024
Last reviewed: March 2026 by ViscaCare
Further Reading
How to Access Healthcare as an International Student
Provincial health coverage for students varies — some provinces cover international students, others don't.
Read guideHealthcare in the United States
Compare Canada's Medicare with the US system — very different models right next door.
Read guideHealthcare in the United Kingdom
See how the NHS compares with Canada's provincial healthcare model.
Read guide