Canada Health Act 1984 / Health Canada / Provincial Transfers (CHT)
Canada Public Healthcare System & Canada Health Act Guide 2026
Exhaustive guide to Canada's publicly funded healthcare system: Canada Health Act 5 principles, Canada Health Transfer (CHT) federal funding, provincial delivery, and primary care access.
Overview
Canada's healthcare is funded federally through the Canada Health Transfer (CHT) — $49.4 billion annually (2024/25) — but delivered provincially. Each province maintains a single-payer system. Physicians bill the provincial plan directly under fee-for-service. In 2024, Health Canada's Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) extended dental coverage to uninsured Canadians earning under $90,000/yr.
Key Facts & Statutory Reference
| Item | Detail | Statutory / Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Health Transfer | $49.4B federal transfer (2024/25) | Department of Finance Canada |
| Physician Payment | Fee-for-service billed to provincial plan | Provincial fee schedules |
| Canada Dental Plan | Dental coverage for uninsured under $90k income | CDCP launched 2024 |
| Portability | Coverage maintained when travelling across provinces | Canada Health Act s.11 |
| Wait Times | Specialist median wait: 27.7 weeks (2023) | Fraser Institute Survey |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The CDCP provides federal dental coverage for uninsured Canadians with family income under $90,000 per year, prioritising seniors, children, and adults with disabilities. It is administered by Sun Life Financial on behalf of Health Canada.
Portability means provinces must continue providing insured health services to their residents who temporarily travel to another province or territory in Canada. Costs are reimbursed between provincial health plans.