Appendix A – The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Policy
This policy comes into effect on November 05, 2014. The authorities will make amendments to this policy as and when required. The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides limited, temporary, taxpayer-funded coverage of healthcare benefits to people in the following groups. These individuals are typically not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.
- Protected persons (including resettled refugees)
- Refugee claimants and,
- Certain other groups
The Statement of the Scope of this Document
This document specifies the policies of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). This document is meant for:
- Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) beneficiaries
- Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) providers and,
- The general public
In addition, the authorities will make amendments to this policy from time to time.
The Purpose and Scope of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
The primary purpose of this program is to provide limited, temporary coverage of healthcare costs for specific groups of people. In particular, the authorities provide this coverage to:
- Protected persons
- Refugee claimants
- Rejected refugee claimants and,
- Certain persons detained under the provisions specified in theImmigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) typically offers six types of coverage. These comprise:
- Type 1: Basic, Supplemental and Prescription Drug Coverage
- Type 2: Basic and Prescription Drug Coverage
- Type 3: Basic and Public Health or Public Safety (PHPS) Prescription Drug Coverage
- Type 4: Public Health or Public Safety (PHPS) Basic Coverage and Public Health or Public Safety Prescription Drug Coverage
- Type 5: Coverage for persons detained under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and,
- Type 6: Coverage for the Immigration Medical Examination (IME)
Discretionary authority exists for paying certain costs related to healthcare in exceptional and compelling circumstances. In addition, the program helps in protecting public health and public safety. Moreover, it provides coverage that is not more generous than the coverage that Canadians typically receive via numerous government-funded benefit programs.
It is worth highlighting that the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) does not intend to cover all migrants who do not possess the cover that provincial or territorial health insurance plans or programs typically offer. Instead, the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) intends to provide coverage on an interim basis.
The Specific Program Terms
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) does not cover people who are or were eligible for cover under any provincial or territorial health insurance plan. The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) does not cover the cost of healthcare services and products. This is especially so in case individuals can make a claim under a private insurance plan for those products and services without regard to the amount that the plan would typically cover for those products and services. It is worth highlighting that the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) does not cover Canadian citizens.
Termination of Coverage – Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
