Prince Edward Island Healthcare

Prince Edward Island Healthcare (also known as Hospital and Medical Insurance) is funded by the Provincial and Federal Government and is only provided for eligible residents of the Province.

As with all of Canada, it is imperative to have some kind of health insurance as the cost of healthcare is very expensive. PHA Expat insurance offers free qoutes for people from ANY country moving to ANY country.

If you are a Canadian citizen, or have Immigration status and a permanent resident of PEI who physically lives in the Province for at least 6 months and one day of the year, you are eligible for the Prince Edward Island Healthcare Card.

If you are coming from somewhere else in Canada, you will become eligible on the first day of the third month after you become resident in. If you are a Canadian citizen or have landed immigrant status and you are arriving from outside of Canada you should be eligible from the day you become resident in the Province. Persons coming on a work permit or other immigration document should contact the Health Department for information on eligibility.

Everyone must register for PEI Hospital and Medical Services Insurance to be eligible for Prince Edward Island Healthcare benefits. You will need to provide documentation of citizenship or immigration status when applying. Once the application has been approved you will be issued with a Prince Edward Island Healthcare Card. You must carry your card at all times to present if you require health services.

As the health coverage in PEI only covers necessary medical treatments it is highly recommended that you have additional coverage. The health card will need to be renewed every five years.

Prescription drugs, dental care and even a trip in an ambulance can be very expensive. Benefit packages that cover your healthcare in PEI are normally offered by employers (check your benefits package before accepting a job or alternatively you can purchase your own, private plan. Certain illnesses are covered by the Prince Edward Island Drug Cost Assistance programs.

Health Issues

As a whole there are very few serious issues that concern PEI healthcare. The two major illnesses that have hit the headlines are the SARS outbreak (2003) and the continued threat of West Nile Virus. SARS originates from the Far East (China in particular) and the main outbreaks were in Toronto and Vancouver. Several other Canadians contracted the illness through Far Eastern travel. However, over the past few years there were hardly any confirmed cases in Canada and hopefully, effective treatment and vaccinations will reduce the threat further.

With the arrival of the summer comes the Mosquito. Unfortunately mosquitos are everywhere - especially near water - and some carry the West Nile Virus that is known to cause illness in humans to varying degrees. It does seem that the younger you are the less prone to the effects, though this is by no means clinically proven.

The best protection is to avoid being bitten in the first place, so wear long sleeves and pants (trousers) with a good quality repellant. The best one we have found is "Deep Woods Off" that also comes in a kid's formula. Stay away from bodies of still or stagnant water especially around evening time when they are most active. If you feel the symptoms (see link above) see a doctor as soon as possible.