Moving to Canada can be exciting but there is no doubt that it can also be difficult especially when one thinks about health care. Canada has a great health care system because a lot of the services are publicly funded. It is financed with general revenue raised through federal, provincial and territorial taxation according to the government of Canada (canada.ca).
Healthcare in Canada is administered at the provincial level, and each province operates differently. There are 10 distinct provincial and 3 territorial health insurance plans. 3 provinces also charge health care premium on their residents to help pay for the publicly funded health care services. Each province and territory has its own requirements which enable eligible individuals to receive basic health and medical assistance for free or at a fraction of the cost.
For some foreign workers on work permits and some international students this may not apply. It is advised that they purchase health insurance coverage on arrival. In some provinces, new permanent residents have access to provincial health insurance coverage as soon as they arrive. In others, there is a waiting period of up to three months before accessing health care.
How Telehealth Can Help
As such, access to digital tools and platforms are an important part of bridging the gap between new immigrants and the health care system in Canada. Telehealth has made it easier for permanent residents to receive valuable health care services as they wait for their health care benefits to be validated. People in general have little control over sickness and disease, so it is quite important for new permanent residents to have access to a service that is accessible because during the wait period.
Telehealth comes in as their go-to support tool for anything health care related. By having access to telehealth, new permanent residents can connect to a health care provider and/or facility and receive advice from the comfort of their own home. From the health care provider’s perspective, they can hear the client’s concerns and determine if the patient requires medical assistance or can be safely treated at home. In addition, telehealth is great for permanent residents with an existing diagnosis from their previous country of residence looking for a second opinion on their diagnosis.
With the rapid improvement in technology and the overall vision of making health care accessible, convenient, and reliable, Porton Health has developed the right tools and software applications that can be embedded into hospital websites with little or no installation required. This allows patients to gain access to health care with just simple clicks. Feel free to contact us to see how our applications can improve your online presence in digital health. Visit https://www.portonhealth.com to learn more or email connect@portonhealth.com
References:
https://www.canadim.com/blog/eight-reasons-immigrate-canada/
https://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-health-care.html