TORONTO – The federal government of Canada has made changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) by reinstating full coverage for several health-care services available to refugees. However, medical professionals are expressing concerns that the adjustments are insufficient to meet the needs of a larger population of refugees.
Effective May 1, the IFHP imposed a significant 30 percent co-payment on various essential health-care products and services, including wheelchairs and mental health counseling. This measure drew criticism from over a dozen organizations, including the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Psychiatric Association, which argue that refugees often cannot afford these additional costs, jeopardizing their physical and mental well-being.
As of July 31, the government has resumed covering the full costs of critical supplies such as home oxygen tanks, feeding pumps, sleep apnea monitors, and implantable hearing aids for children and teens. Additionally, it has restored coverage for long-term care services, now capped at $1,736 per month.
Dr. Parisa Rezaiefar, a physician lead at the Ottawa Newcomer Health Centre, acknowledges that while the renewed coverage will benefit some refugees, many others still lack access to critical services like dental care, eyeglasses, mental health counseling, and essential medical supplies. "To me, it sounds like a very superficial approach by specific targeting of items that are significant, yet they apply only to a very few people," remarked Rezaiefar, who is also an associate professor at the University of Ottawa.
In parallel, Dr. Vanessa Redditt, a family physician at the Women's College Hospital's refugee clinic in Toronto, welcomed the positive changes but expressed that the co-payments should never have been implemented initially. The IFHP still mandates that refugees and refugee claimants pay $4 for each prescription—a cost many patients find prohibitive.
Since the introduction of the co-payments in May, both Redditt and Rezaiefar have worked extensively to identify pharmacies willing to waive fees and find funding sources to mitigate the financial burden on patients. Unfortunately, many refugees are foregoing essential health-care services because of their inability to pay. "We've seen children hospitalized for weeks because they cannot be discharged home due to the inability to afford medical supplies that will keep them safe and healthy at home," Redditt stated.
Furthermore, they observe numerous cases of individuals requiring crucial mobility aids such as wheelchairs and those who have experienced severe trauma now facing co-payments for essential counseling services.
While the IFHP covers hospital visits and doctor appointments entirely, health-care professionals warn that failing to cover the full costs of prescription drugs and supplementary health services will ultimately lead to more expensive medical interventions later on due to deteriorating health conditions. Redditt recalls dealing with newly arrived, government-assisted refugees who opt out of necessary dental care, which could escalate into more severe health issues.
Rezaiefar added, "We're going to wait until they have complications and end up in the hospital." She questioned the logic behind the federal government's assertion that co-payments are measures for cost-saving, asserting that declining health care leads to increased expenses in acute care settings and could hinder individuals' ability to participate in the workforce.
Health insurance for refugees is managed by Medavie Blue Cross. According to the company's insurance code guide, patients still need to pay 30 percent for regular, non-implantable hearing aids, catheters, wheelchairs, canes, and crutches, although services like in-hospital physiotherapy and occupational therapy are fully covered. Rezaiefar points out that this does not assist those who require these therapies but do not meet inpatient criteria.
In response to concerns, a spokesperson for the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada stated that the recent changes in health coverage are not a reversal of earlier measures implemented in May 2026. The adjustments aim to align refugee health benefits with provincial and territorial health plans but reportedly impact a small percentage of the current IFHP beneficiaries.
Despite the government's claims, health-care advocates are committed to continuing their efforts to persuade federal decision-makers against cutting funding for vulnerable populations. They argue that providing adequate health care will enable refugees to contribute positively to society. Rezaiefar emphasized, "We're blaming refugees and newcomers for our health-care system that is already struggling and we're making health care more inequitable." She confirmed that their advocacy efforts are far from over.
