Saskatchewan Healthcare

Saskatchewan Healthcare is funded by the Provincial and Federal governments 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.

If you are a resident of Saskatchewan and live in the Province for at least 6 months of the year you are eligible for the Saskatchewan health benefits. Ordinarily, you have to be in Saskatchewan for three months before you become eligible for health benefits, although, there are certain Classes Of Newcomers who may be eligible from the date they arrive in Saskatchewan.

Everyone must Register with the health registration department at Saskatchewan healthcare to be eligible for benefits. Once the application has been approved you will be issued with a health services card to each family member.

As the Saskatchewan Healthcare Coverage only applies to necessary medical treatments it is highly recommended that you have additional coverage. Prescription drugs, dental care and even a trip in an ambulance can be very expensive. Benefit packages that cover your healthcare in Saskatchewan are sometimes offered by employers or alternatively you can purchase your own, private plan.

Health Issues

As a whole there are very few serious issues that concern healthcare in Saskatchewan. 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 Saskatchewan Healthcare department will issue advisories throughout the mosquito season to keep you informed about the threat level.

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 kids 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. Both subjects are also covered with local information on the Ministry of Health and LongTerm Care homepage.