Getting a health card in Saskatchewan is one of the significant steps to start your journey in the Canadian Prairies. Newcomers must ensure access to proper healthcare in Saskatchewan once they move to the province. It is essential for them to focus on a Saskatchewan health card because they must stay protected from illness or accident.
Healthcare in Saskatchewan is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, and the SHA takes care of the commitments. Also, other associated firms supervise healthcare in this province.
Getting a health card in Saskatchewan as a newcomer
Immigrating to Saskatchewan implies that you must first apply for a health card to access the several available health benefits. Moreover, new immigrants must register for their health card as soon as they arrive in this province because they already have a waiting period of three months before they can access health insurance coverage.
Typically, the health coverage will commence on the day of the third month after arriving in Saskatchewan. For instance, if an individual moves to the province on September 26, their coverage will begin from December 1.
The following categories of newcomers will be able to access their health benefits from the very day of their arrival:
- Permanent Residents
- International Students
- Canada’s non-immigrants have stronger ties with their profession or trade.
More details about health cards in Saskatchewan for new immigrants
The Ministry of Health governs the healthcare of residents in this province. The ministry also supervises the different organizations that administer the various healthcare programs. These include:
- Saskatchewan Health Authority
- The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
- eHealth Saskatchewan
Holding a health card in Saskatchewan implies that you will have access to various healthcare services. The following services fall under the healthcare coverage category (via Saskatchewan Health Authority).
- Occupational therapy or Physiotherapy
- STI treatment
- Mental Health Services
- Screening Mammography for women in the age group of 50 to 69.
- HIV testing
- Immunizations, as well as annual flu shots
- Treatments related to drugs and alcohol
- Medically required dental surgeries
- Diagnostic and Laboratory procedures
- Medical services provided by organizations aligned with SHA (private clinics, hospitals, exceptional care homes, and community agencies)
Healthcare Services that SHA doesn’t cover
The following services don’t fall under the healthcare coverage via SHA:
- Regular dental services
- Prescription drugs
- Eyeglasses
- Air ambulance
- Massage therapy, naturopaths, paramedical services and acupuncture
- Psychologist
- Employment or Insurance Medical Examinations
- Ground ambulance (seniors are an exception to this)
Which documents are essential to get your health card in Saskatchewan?
In order to start the health card registration in Saskatchewan, you will need to submit the following supporting documents (for you and your family under 18 years):
- You must submit proof of your legal stay in Canada in the form of a Permanent Residence Card, PR confirmation, ID card of Canadian immigration, or Convention Refugee (Notice of Decision).
- Foreign nationals can submit proof in the form of a study permit confirming full-time enrollment, a work permit, a foreign passport using an immigration stamp, and a Temporary Resident Permit.
- Proof supporting the fact that you are legally staying in Saskatchewan. You can provide the following:
- Lease, mortgage, or rental agreement you might have signed.
- Utility bills in the form of home telephone, Cable TV, gas, water, electricity, etc. Mobile bill won’t be accepted.
- Registration of a motor vehicle.
- Employer’s letter or pay stub.
- Student ID card.
- Insurance policy – home, auto, tenant.
- Transcripts or reports from any school, college, or university.
- Driver’s license in Saskatchewan or any temporary license.
- Student or Employee ID card.
- Immunization record.
How to apply for it?
Once you submit the copies of your supporting documents, you have two methods of applying for a health card in Saskatchewan:
- Get yourself a printout of the application form for the health card. Complete this form and attach all the relevant copies of all your supporting documents. Further, mail or fax them and ensure you submit copies of your documents front and back. Don’t send your original documents via mail. You can send them to eHealth Saskatchewan Registries, 2130 11th Avenue, Regina, SK.
- Begin your health card application online. To complete your application, you must start your application as a new user. Also, you will have to provide all the information from scratch and attach all copies of your documents (both front and back).
Conclusion
You must apply for your health card right away once you arrive in Saskatchewan. However, you must become eligible to do so, which means you must be a resident of this province and live in it for a minimum of six months in one year. During your waiting period, you must also access private healthcare insurance to get coverage for accidents or injuries. Also, don’t forget to display your Saskatchewan health card when traveling to other provinces in Canada. Saskatchewan will be responsible for paying any healthcare service amount to the host province. However, check out what services will come under the healthcare.
