The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides limited and temporary health care coverage for specific groups of people until they become eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance or leave Canada, such as:

• protected people, including resettled refugees,
• asylum claimants, and
• certain other groups.

The IFHP doesn’t provide services directly to you. The services are provided to you by health care providers (for example, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, etc.). A company called Medavie Blue Cross is responsible for registering health care providers and paying them for any eligible IFHP claims submitted on your behalf.

Find out more about who is eligible for IFHP and the services available to them.

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides the following coverages:

• Basic Coverage (such as doctor visits, hospital care, lab tests) is fully covered under the IFHP and is free-of-charge.
• Supplemental Coverage (such as vision care, urgent dental care) is partially covered. You pay 30% of the costs of the eligible supplemental health care services and products and IFHP will cover the remaining 70% of the eligible costs.
• Prescription Medication Coverage (medications and products) is partially covered under the IFHP. You will pay $4 for each prescription medication, filled or refilled, and other products listed on provincial/territorial public medication plan formularies, IFHP will cover the remaining eligible costs of prescription medication or products.
• In some cases, one Immigration Medical Exam (IME) is fully covered under the IFHP and is free-of-charge.

The IFHP doesn’t cover services or products that you can claim under other insurance plans, such as:

• provincial or territorial health care, or
• private insurance plans
  

The only exception applies to urgent dental care for beneficiaries who are eligible for additional coverage through the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). In these cases, coordination of benefits is possible and IFHP acts as the first payer.

Find out more about the products and services covered by the IFHP and how long you will be covered.

Any of these documents issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citenzenship, Canada (IRCC) will show your eligibility for the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP):

• Acknowledgement of Claim and Notice to Return for interview Letter (AoC) (without a photo)—you get this letter after you make a asylum claim and you’re scheduled for an interview.
• Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD) (with photo) or Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID) (with photo)—you get this document after your interview and either:
  • Your asylum claim is referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), or
  • It is decided that your claim isn’t eligible to be referred to the IRB but you are eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment

• Interim Federal Health Certificate of Eligibility (IFHP) (without a photo)—you get this certificate if you’re a resettled refugee going to live in Canada or a member of another eligible beneficiary group.

An officer from IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will give you your IFHP eligibility document.

Find out how to get health services through IFHP

Follow these steps:

1. Find a health care provider who is registered with Medavie Blue Cross.

• Medavie Blue Cross is the company that manages Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) claims.
• If your health care provider isn’t registered with Medavie Blue Cross, they can easily register.

2. Show your IFHP eligibility document to your health care provider before you receive treatment.

3. Confirm any applicable co-payment cost (for supplemental health benefits and prescription medications) before you receive treatment.

• Your provider must inform you of the portion of the cost covered by IFHP and the amount you will need to pay for the service or product.

4. After you receive the service or product, your provider will collect the co-payment amount from you (if applicable).

• You may be asked to sign a claim form. Signing the form confirms that you received the service or product. The remaining portion of the cost will be submitted by your provider to Medavie Blue Cross for reimbursement.

5. If you paid a co-payment, ask your provider for a receipt as proof of payment for your records. This is important for your personal documentation.

Note:

• Before using any services, ask if the provider takes part in the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) and agrees to send the IFHP eligible portion of the bill to Medavie Blue Cross.
• You should never be required to pay the full cost of covered services or products upfront. You are only responsible for paying your designated co-payment amount, where applicable. If you pay more than your co-payment, the IFHP cannot reimburse you directly.
• You will pay $4 for each prescription filled or refilled. For other eligible supplemental health services and products, you will pay 30% of the eligible cost.
• You do not have to pay a co-payment for basic health services covered by the IFHP, such as hospital visits, doctor services. You also do not have o pay for Pre-Departure Medical Services outside Canada.
• If you go to a pharmacy that is not located in your province of residence (e.g. if you live in Ontario and request a prescription medication in Quebec), your claim may be rejected. Make sure that you tell us if you move to another province.
• If you pay a provider for a service or product that is covered by the IFHP, you are not reimbursed by the IFHP.
• If you need a health care service or product that isn’t covered you will have to pay for it.

For more information on how to get health services and products, please have your provider contact the Medavie Contact Centre at 1-888-614-1880.

UCI stands for “unique client identifier.” It is also known as a client identification number (client ID). The UCI is either an eight or ten-digit number, and looks like: 0000-0000 or 00-0000-0000.

This number is located on one of five possible IFHP eligibility documents provided to you by IRCC or CBSA.

Information on how to obtain a copy of your eligibility document can be found on IRCC’s website.
You can also contact IRCC directly at 1-888-242-2100 for more information on how to obtain a copy of your eligibility document.

Yes. The Interim Federal Health Program provides coverage for mental health services provided by:

• general practitioners/family doctors,
• mental health hospitals and
• clinics.

Family doctors/general practitioners can diagnose and treat some mental health conditions. Depending on your situation, they may refer you to other mental health professionals, covered by the Interim Federal Health Program, such as:

• clinical psychologists,
• psychotherapists,
• counselling therapists or
• psychiatrists who specialize in mental health.

When your physician refers you, you have coverage for the mental health services these professionals provide. Mental health professionals can help you improve or maintain your mental health with:

• therapy,
• counselling,
• medication or
• a combination of these options.

A co-payment may be required for mental health services. You should confirm any co-payment costs prior to receiving treatment.

Any health care providers you see must be registered with the Interim Federal Health Program. You can locate a registered provider in your area by using the search tool called 'locate a provider' found by clicking here.

Please submit a request to update your personal information directly to IRCC by submitting a request on IRCC’s web form or contacting IRCC’s call centre 1-888-242-2100.

Please submit a request to update your contact information directly to IRCC by submitting a request on IRCC’s web form or contacting IRCC’s call centre 1-888-242-2100.

Start date:

Your Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage starts on the date your eligibility document is issued.

End date:

If you made an asylum claim from within Canada

You are eligible for coverage until:

• you withdraw your asylum claim, or
• the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) finds you abandoned your asylum claim, or
• your asylum claim isn’t eligible and you can’t apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), or
• you leave Canada.

Your IFHP coverage will automatically expire 90 days from the decision date if:

• the IRB finds you to be a Convention refugee, or person in need of protection, or
• you get a positive decision on your PRRA application and become a protected person.

During this time, you must contact your provincial or territorial Ministry of Health to find out when you can apply for health coverage. In some provinces, you can apply as soon as you get a positive decision. In these cases, you should apply right away.

If you are a refugee resettled from outside Canada

In Canada, the government of your province or territory covers health services. When you first arrive, it may take some time for you to be covered for these services. Until then, your health care will be covered by the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).

Basic Coverage

You will remain eligible for basic coverage (for example, doctor visits and hospital care) until you become eligible for provincial or territorial health coverage, which typically occurs within 3 months. During this time, you must apply for health insurance from the province or territory where you live.

Supplemental and Prescription Medication Coverage

In most cases, your supplemental and prescription medication coverage will be valid for 12 months from the date you arrive in Canada. If you are still eligible after this, you must apply to extend your IFHP coverage.

If there are specific services you are looking to receive, please have your health care provider contact us to determine if you are eligible for a benefit or service. You can also see your eligibility through the Secure Beneficiary Web Portal.

Find out more about who is eligible for the IFHP and the services available to them.

Note: Your coverage can be cancelled or changed without notice if your immigration status changes.

After you are treated, your health care provider may give you a claim form. You must sign this form to prove you received the health service or product.

No. Basic health care services, including care from a physician or another primary care provider like a nurse practitioner, lab and diagnostic testing, ambulance services, and care received in a hospital are free-of-charge. You do not have to pay to see a doctor.

IFHP co-payments mean that you will pay a portion of the cost of your supplemental health care directly to your IFHP health care provider when you receive these services or products. The amount paid will depend on the service or product.

For example, if you need urgent dental care and the total cost of the service is $200, you will need to pay $60, which is 30% of the total cost of the service. Your dentist will submit a bill to IFHP for the remaining $140.

For prescription medication, regardless of the total cost of the medication, you will need to pay $4 for that prescription. If you fill ten (10) prescriptions per year, you will need to pay $40 annually for those medications. If you fill four (4) prescriptions in a single visit to your pharmacist, you will need to pay $16 for those medications. If your medication costs less than $4, you will pay the full cost of the medication.

It’s important to discuss all potential costs with your health care provider before accepting any services or products. This helps you understand and confirm the co-payment amount you will need to pay.

If you believe you have been overcharged, you should:

1. Ask your provider for an explanation of the charges. Request a clear breakdown of what is covered by IFHP and what portion represents your co-payment.
2. Retain all financial records of service received from your provider, including bills, receipts, etc.
3. If you still need help, contact Medavie Blue Cross Support at: 1-888-614-1880. They can review the bill and correct any errors.
4. Inform your refugee or asylum-support organization, if applicable. They can help you communicate your concern with Medavie Blue Cross or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

If you are an asylum claimant who a work permit and have been in Canada for more than one year, you might be eligible for publicly-funded health insurance available through your province or territory. You might also have access to health insurance coverage through your job, if you have one, or to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if you have filed taxes in Canada.

If you are eligible for any other coverage, you should register for them as soon as possible. You can reach out to your provincial or territorial Ministry of Health, or local settlement or community support organizations, for help with this.

If you are covered under another plan, public or private, you should inform IFHP right away so that we can make sure your health care benefits are covered by the right insurer.

You may get a letter from Medavie Blue Cross asking you to confirm if you were given health services or products on a given date.

You should:

• answer the question,
• sign the letter, and
• return it to Medavie Blue Cross:

Interim Federal Health Program
Medavie Blue Cross
644 Main St. PO Box 6000
Moncton NB E1C 0P9

This isn’t a bill. This will help to prevent fraud. Signing this letter won’t affect your health coverage or your immigration status.

Please have the provider contact the Medavie Contact Centre at 1-888-614-1880 for more information regarding authorization requests.

Please contact the Medavie Beneficiary Support Center at 1-888-614-1880 and advise them that you are looking to receive services from a different health care provider. A member of our customer care team will be able to assist you with this.

This information can be found by viewing your claim history through the Secure Beneficiary Web Portal, or by contacting the Medavie Beneficiary Support Center at 1-888-614-1880.

By subscribing to the Secure Beneficiary Web Portal, you’ll have access to view the following information:

• confirm your eligibility status
• view available services
• submit inquiries related to IFHP coverage
• locate IFHP service providers
• access the Medavie IFHP Beneficiary Handbook

Find out up to date information about the IFHP by subscribing to automatic email notifications.

To take advantage of the Secure Beneficiary Web Portal, please click here and click on “Register”.

All you need to get started is access to the internet, a valid email address and your Unique Client Identification (UCI) number. The UCI number is found on your IFHP eligibility document.

For best performance, please ensure you are using a supported browser:

• Google Chrome (latest version)
• Firefox (latest version)
• Edge (latest version)
• Safari (latest version)

If you continue having issues with the Beneficiary Secure Web Portal, please contact the Medavie Beneficiary Support Center at 1-888-614-1880 and a member of our customer care team will be able to assist you.

No, you do not have to get certain vaccinations. The pre-departure vaccination services offered through the IFHP are voluntary.

During your immigration medical exam, your panel physician may offer you vaccines to update your immunization status before you arrive in Canada. If you choose to get vaccinated overseas, you should bring your vaccination record to Canada.

If you have a question you can contact either IRCC or Medavie Blue Cross.

• You can contact IRCC by submitting an online request through the IRCC Web Form or by calling the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (within Canada only). They can answer questions regarding:
  • Eligibility documents
  • IFHP eligibility status and validity period
  • The status of your immgration application

• You can contact Medavie Blue Cross by calling the contact centre at 1-888-614-1880. They can answer questions regarding:
  • A benefit’s eligibility
  • Confirmation of a claim payment or pre-approval of a benefit
  • Finding a health care provider

You can register to become a health care provider with the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) online or on paper. For detailed instructions on how to register, call Medavie Blue Cross at 1-888-614-1880.

Note: Pharmacies must contact their software vendors to update their carrier codes so that IFHP pharmacy claims can be submitted electronically to Medavie Blue Cross.

Each new registered provider will receive a complete kit including:

• welcome letter,
• claim forms,
• direct deposit request form,
• benefit grids, and
• the IFHP Information Handbook for Health Care Professionals.

To check your patient’s eligibility for the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) before you provide a service:

1. Ask for their eligibility document. This could be

• Acknowledgement of Claim and Notice to Return for Interview Letter (AoC) (without a photo)
• Refugee Protection Identity Document (RPID) or Refugee Protection Claimant Document (RPCD) (with photo)
• Interim Federal Health Certificate of Eligibility (IFHC) (without a photo)

You can also see examples of IFHP eligibility documents in the IFHP Information Handbook for Health Care Professionals.

2. Confirm their identity with:

• an immigration document that has a photo
• a government-issued identification that has a photo

3. Check their eligibility for IFHP using their identification number (the 8 to 10 digit number on their eligibility document) and by either

• logging into the Secure Provider Web Portal
• calling Medavie Blue Cross

If you have questions about the types of benefits and services covered, you can also contact Medavie Blue Cross by:

• email: CIC_Inquiry@medavie.bluecross.ca
• fax: 506-867-3841

To take advantage of the Secure Provider Portal (ePay), please visit medaviebc.ca/health-professionals and click on “Register Now” All you will need is access to the Internet. Medavie Blue Cross does not require any special software for accessing the ePay Service nor is it designed to be integrated with a practice management or accounting software.

The ePay service is compatible with the following internet browsers:

• Google Chrome (latest version)
• Firefox (latest version)
• Edge (latest version)
• Safari (latest version)

Medavie Blue Cross offers approved health care providers the advantage of signing up to the Secure Provider Web Portal called ePay. With ePay, health care providers can electronically submit their claims directly to us for reimbursement. You’ll also be able to:

• Easily keep track of your claims
• Have access to your payment summaries
• Submit pre-authorization/pre-determinations to confirm beneficiary eligibility

In addition, unless Medavie Blue Cross is advised otherwise, your contact information will be added to the list of IFHP providers, which beneficiaries can search by using the search tool by clicking here.

It takes two business days for our system to show if a patient is eligible. Beneficiaries are still eligible during this period. All Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) beneficiaries are eligible for coverage starting on the date their IFHP eligibility document is issued.

In cases where an IFHP beneficiary is requesting services within two (2) business days of the “effective date” indicated on the IFHP eligibility documents, providers are asked to:

1. review the “effective date” on the certificate to confirm that it is within the two business day period;
2. render the service/product and delay the submission of the invoice to Medavie Blue Cross until the coverage has been updated in their system (i.e. 2-3 business days).

For additional information or enquiries related to this, please contact the Medavie Contact Centre at 1-888-614-1880 for assistance.

Yes. The IFHP Basic Coverage includes:

• mental health services provided by physicians (such as psychiatrists, general or family practitioners), or
• services provided by mental health hospitals.

The IFHP also includes mental health coverage for services provided by allied health professionals (such as clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers or counselling therapists) under the IFHP Supplemental Coverage. To become an IFHP registered provider, allied health professionals must be licensed in the province or territory in which they practice with their provincial or territorial licensing body.

Notes:

• The IFHP does not require prior approval for the services provided by physicians or mental health hospitals.
• Medavie Blue Cross requires prior approval for mental health services provided by allied health professionals.
• For more information refer to the IFHP benefit grids.

The Interim Federal Health Program provides supplemental coverage for interpretation services for mental health therapy. For more information, please see the Supplemental Coverage benefit grid.

Rates for services/products provided are in line with:

• provincial/territorial health insurance rates (where applicable),
• usual or customary fees for a given service (where applicable), or
• standard Interim Federal Health Program rates.

The beneficiary pays a co-payment for Supplemental health benefits.

For prescription medications, the beneficiary will pays $4 for each prescription medication filled or refilled

For all other supplemental health benefits, the beneficiary will pays 30% of the eligible cost of the services and products, in accordance with the relevant benefit grid. IFHP pays the remaining eligible cost.

Note: that beneficiaries should not be charged more than the approved IFHP co-payment amount, i.e., 30% of the eligible amount covered under the appropriate benefit grid.

The IFHP Benefit Grids list the services and products covered. Benefits are subject to limits and maximum dollar amounts, and some benefits require special authorization from Medavie Blue Cross.

For more information, please consult the IFHP Information Handbook for Health Care Professionals.

You must notify beneficiaries of the cost they will be required to pay before they receive a service or product from you. Once payment is received, you must issue a receipt to the beneficiary for the co-payment amount collected.

You are not required to provide care to any IFHP beneficiary except where you have a professional obligation to do so. If a client identifies that they cannot pay the co-payment, you may refer them instead to another provider or decline to provide them with care, where it is permissible to do so. If a service has already been provided and the client does not pay the co-payment, you should proceed according to your usual collections policy. IFHP will not reimburse beneficiaries or providers for co-payment amounts.

The IFHP does not cover the cost of health care services or products that a person may claim (even in part) under the public health insurance plan. The only exception applies to urgent dental care for the beneficiaries who are eligible for additional coverage through the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). In these cases, the IFHP acts as the first payer.

Medavie Blue Cross agrees to make payment to the provider or an assignee (in cases where payment has been assigned to a third party) on a weekly basis for the eligible amount due for claims received and adjudicated during the relevant claim period. The payment, together with the explanation of benefit summary is available to provider electronically and should a provider not have access electronically, they can request a mailed version.

If a provider wishes to use direct deposit, a registration form may be printed from the Secure Provider Web Portal at secure.medavie.bluecross.ca/eai/login.

A payment schedule is published on the Secure Provider Web Portal, each year, identifying all scheduled payment dates. You can also contact the Medavie Contact Centre at 1-888-614-1880 for further information on payment schedule.

You can register as an IFHP pre-departure medical services provider if you are a:

• IRCC panel physician or
• IRCC panel radiologist or
• certified secondary care provider (such as a hospital or facility) that provides services to refugees overseas

Registration with IFHP is based on your:

• location
• scope of clinical practice
• affiliation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• panel membership status.

For more information, consult the IFHP PDMS Provider Website.

To ensure you will be reimbursed, you must check the eligibility status of each Interim Federal Health Program beneficiary before you provide any services.

If you are affiliated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), you will have beneficiary eligibility confirmed by the IRCC visa office. To confirm beneficiary eligibility, you must:

• Confirm that the beneficiary's name appears on the list received from visa offices (if applicable, and keep a copy).
• Confirm that the identity of the person matches the person in the identification document; and
• Using the beneficiary's IMM 1017 or IMM1020 Form, confirm the 'IMM Type' is: 'Ref - Overseas'.
  
  
• IOM can also verify this designation using eMedical.
  

If you are not affiliated with the IOM, you must:

• Confirm that the beneficiary has an Interim Federal Health Certificate.
• Confirm that the identity of the person on the Interim Federal Health Certificate matches the person in the identification document.
• Keep a photocopy of the beneficiary's Interim Federal Health Certificate in your records.

For services to be reimbursed, as a non-IOM affiliated provider you must attach a copy of the beneficiary's Interim Federal Health Certificate to claims sent to Medavie Blue Cross at the following email ‘medavieworld@bellaliant.net' or postal address:

Interim Federal Health Program
Medavie Blue Cross
644 Main St. PO Box 6000
Moncton NB E1C 0P9

All panel physicians can provide vaccination services covered by the IFHP to eligible beneficiaries.

Immunizations can only be provided in countries where the panel physician has the capacity to deliver vaccinations. The IFHP has developed instructions for the delivery of vaccination services, including:

• standard operating procedures
• vaccination schedules
• consent forms
• documentation worksheets

Rates for services/products provided are in line with:

• the usual or customary fees for a given service or product (where applicable)
• maximum fees or rates for specific benefits as approved by the IFHP.

Certain services and products covered by the IFHP need prior approval to confirm clinical and/or administrative criteria. Benefits are subject to limits and maximum dollar amounts as determined by IFHP.

Consult the IFHP pre-departure medical services benefit grid or the IFHP Information Handbook for Pre-Departure Medical Services Providers.

No, you cannot charge eligible beneficiaries for pre-departure medical services covered by the IFHP.