The Interim Federal Health Program: Healthcare Coverage for Refugee Claimants

Getting sick or needing medical care is stressful enough without also worrying about how to pay for it, and most refugee claimants aren't yet eligible for provincial health coverage like OHIP when they arrive. The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) exists to fill that gap. This article explains what it generally covers, who it's for, and how it fits together with Ontario's provincial health system.

What the IFHP Is

The Interim Federal Health Program is a federal program that provides limited, temporary health coverage to refugee claimants and certain other groups who aren't yet eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance. It's meant to bridge urgent and essential health needs during the period before someone becomes eligible for a program like OHIP, or while their immigration status is still being resolved.

Who Is Generally Eligible

The program is generally aimed at people in immigration situations where provincial coverage isn't yet available, including:

• Refugee claimants whose cases are still pending
• Resettled refugees during their initial period in Canada, in some circumstances
• Certain other federally identified groups, such as some individuals in immigration detention

Eligibility categories and coverage levels can differ within the program, so don't assume every category receives identical coverage.

What Kind of Care Is Generally Covered

The IFHP is generally structured around essential and urgent health care, which can include things like:

• Physician and hospital services for urgent or essential needs
• Basic laboratory, diagnostic, and some ambulance services
• Limited prescription drug coverage
• Some supplemental coverage in specific circumstances, such as basic dental or vision care in defined situations

The program isn't a full replacement for provincial health insurance, and its coverage limits and categories are set federally and can change. Confirm current coverage details rather than assuming a particular service is included.

How the IFHP Interacts With OHIP

The IFHP is meant as a bridge, not a permanent solution. Once someone becomes eligible for provincial coverage in Ontario, they generally need to apply for OHIP directly — it isn't automatic just because IFHP coverage existed beforehand. There can be a gap between when IFHP-only coverage effectively ends and when OHIP coverage becomes active, so it's worth understanding the timing of both rather than assuming continuous coverage.

Situations Where This Coverage Gap Matters Most

A few scenarios come up often enough to plan for in advance:

• Pregnancy and childbirth. Prenatal and delivery care needs are ongoing and time-sensitive, so understanding your coverage early in a pregnancy matters more than most other situations.
• Chronic conditions requiring regular medication. If you rely on prescription medication, confirm early whether and how it's covered, rather than discovering a gap at the pharmacy counter.
• Mental health support. Coverage for counselling and related services can be narrower than physical health coverage, so ask specifically rather than assuming parity.
• Children in the household. Coverage details for dependent children can differ from adult coverage, and school or daycare enrollment sometimes requires proof of health coverage.

In each of these situations, confirming your specific coverage before you need it is far better than sorting it out during a medical emergency.

If Your Claim Ends

Because IFHP eligibility is tied to immigration status, a change in that status — a final decision on a refugee claim, for example — can affect continued eligibility for the program. If your claim is refused, appealed, or otherwise changes status, check how that affects your health coverage promptly rather than assuming nothing changes.

Frequently asked questions