New Canada Interim Federal Health Program Changes Effective May 2026

Last Updated On 27 January 2026, 6:21 PM EST (Toronto Time)

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Today, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announces it is introducing co-payments under the Interim Federal Health Program starting May 1, 2026.

The Interim Federal Health Program is temporary federal health coverage for eligible refugee-related groups until they transition to provincial or territorial health insurance.

Starting May 1, 2026, co-payments will apply to prescriptions and other supplemental services, while basic doctor visits and hospital care will remain fully covered under the IFHP.

The change, first flagged in Budget 2025, is intended to shift part of the cost of supplemental benefits to beneficiaries at the point of service, while keeping core medical care free of charge under the program.

What is the Interim Federal Health Program in plain English

The IFHP provides limited and temporary coverage for urgent and essential health products and services for eligible beneficiaries until they transition to provincial or territorial health care programs.

Refugee (asylum) claimants, protected persons or resettled refugees, and members of certain other groups qualify for short-term health care coverage in Canada.

This coverage comes from the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) and in most cases there is no need to apply for IFHP as eligibility is based on immigration status.

The program relies on a network of registered health care providers across Canada, and eligibility and covered services must be verified during care and billing.

As per the official government IFHP page, healthcare coverage is activated or cancelled automatically.

What is changing on May 1, 2026

IRCC’s notice sets out two co-payments that apply to supplemental health benefits:

$4 for each eligible prescription medication filled or refilled under the IFHP
30% of the cost of all other eligible supplemental health products and services, including dental care, vision care, counselling and assistive devices.

Beneficiaries will pay these amounts directly to their health care providers when they receive IFHP-eligible supplemental products or services.

What is not changing

Basic health care benefits remain free of charge under the IFHP.

That includes basic services such as doctor visits and hospital care, with no co-payments required.

This distinction matters because it separates core medical care from supplemental benefits, where the new co-payment rules apply.

IRCC describes the policy as a sustainability measure tied to growing demand.

The government’s position is that co-payments help keep supplemental health care accessible while responsibly managing demand, supporting long-term sustainability so the program can continue providing essential support to current and future beneficiaries.

How the new co-payments will work at clinics and pharmacies

A co-payment is the portion of the cost that the beneficiary pays directly to the provider, with the remaining cost covered by IFHP.

Starting May 1, 2026, the “front desk” process for supplemental benefits becomes more important:

the provider confirms you are still eligible under IFHP
the provider checks whether the service or product is covered under IFHP benefit grids
the provider confirms whether a co-payment applies and how much you must pay
you pay the co-payment directly to the provider
the provider bills the remaining covered portion to IFHP through Medavie Blue Cross

The goal for beneficiaries is to avoid surprises by asking the right questions before receiving non-urgent supplemental services.

The services most likely to trigger out-of-pocket costs

The $4 prescription co-payment is straightforward and could appear often for people with ongoing medication needs, because it applies each time an eligible prescription is filled or refilled.

The 30% co-payment is where costs can vary, because supplemental services and products can range from low-cost items to higher-cost care.

IRCC explicitly lists the categories that fall under this 30% rule:

prescription medications
urgent dental care
vision care
mental health counselling
occupational therapy
physiotherapy
speech language therapy
assistive devices like prosthetics, mobility aids and hearing aids
home care and long-term care
medical supplies and equipment

What IRCC is advising beneficiaries to do starting May 1, 2026

IRCC’s guidance is a practical checklist designed to reduce confusion at the point of care:

continue to choose a health care provider registered under the IFHP using the IFHP Provider Search tool
ask whether a co-payment will apply before receiving care
confirm how much you will need to pay
keep receipts for any co-payments made

Receipts are not optional paperwork. They are proof of payment if there is a billing dispute, a misunderstanding over what was covered, or a disagreement about the co-payment amount.

What health care providers must do under IFHP rules

The “professionals” guidance provides an unusually clear look at how IFHP works behind the scenes, and it explains why patients sometimes face billing confusion even when they are eligible.

Providers must verify eligibility each visit

IRCC’s professional guidance says that each time a provider sees a patient, they must make sure:

the patient is still covered by entering their Unique Client Identifier (UCI) in the secure provider web portal
the patient has no other public or private health insurance plan or program
the care needed is listed in the IFHP Benefit Grids, and some services require pre-approval

IRCC also instructs providers to tell clients in advance if the service or product is not covered.

Coverage can take 2 business days to appear in the system

One of the most useful operational details for beneficiaries is the activation timing.

IRCC’s guidance states that it takes at least 2 business days for coverage to be activated in the Medavie Blue Cross system after it is issued and that beneficiaries are still eligible during this period.

Providers can still provide services if the effective date on the certificate is within 2 business days, but providers must wait at least 2 business days before submitting the invoice to Medavie for it to be accepted.

This detail helps explain why newly issued coverage can create short-term confusion at clinics or pharmacies, even when the patient is eligible.

IRCC says an information toolkit is available with guidance and resources for beneficiaries, stakeholders, and service providers.

The May 2026 update introduces a new point-of-service cost for IFHP supplemental benefits: $4 for each eligible prescription fill or refill and a 30% co-payment for other eligible supplemental services such as dental, vision, counselling, and assistive devices.

At the same time, basic doctor and hospital care remains fully covered under IFHP, with no co-payments required.

For beneficiaries, the safest way to prepare for May 1 is to use IFHP-registered providers, confirm whether a co-payment applies before receiving supplemental care, confirm the amount, and keep receipts every time you pay.

Frequently asked questions on IFHP

Will basic doctor visits and hospital care still be free under IFHP after May 1, 2026?

Yes, IRCC’s notice states basic health care benefits, including doctor visits and hospital care, remain fully covered under the IFHP with no co-payments required.

Do co-payments apply every time I refill a prescription?

IRCC’s notice states the $4 co-payment applies for each eligible prescription medication filled or refilled under the IFHP.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.