Starting in May, refugees and asylum seekers in Canada will co-pay health costs

30-Jan-2026

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The federal government is changing how the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) operates, requiring refugees and asylum seekers to co-pay for certain supplemental health benefits.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on January 27 that, beginning May 1, beneficiaries will be required to pay $4 for each eligible prescription medication filled or refilled under the program. The change is an effort to help make the program more sustainable amid growing usage and rising costs, the federal agency says.

The changes also include refugees and asylum seekers paying 30 per cent of the cost of other eligible supplemental health products and services, such as dental care, vision care, counselling and assistive devices.

Basic health benefits - including doctor visits and hospital care - will remain fully covered with no co-payments under IFHP.

The IFHP provides temporary health coverage for refugees, asylum claimants, protected persons and other vulnerable foreign nationals who are not yet eligible for provincial or territorial health coverage, covering essential and urgent services until they transition to public plans.