Medical travel from Canada
Canada's single-payer system provides excellent care but has significant wait times for non-urgent surgery. Orthopaedic, cardiac and imaging waits can run for many months. Medical travel is legal, funded by provincial plans under specific conditions, and increasingly used by Canadians who want to avoid the queue.
Photo: Bharatahs · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where patients from Canada can be treated
9 destination countries with hospitals listed on Medcasts. Compare prices, hospitals and visa rules.
Does your insurer cover treatment abroad?
Send us your insurer's name or policy details. We check with the hospital what may be covered, what is excluded and what pre-authorisation you need — before you travel.
Common questions from Canada patients.
Does my provincial health plan cover treatment abroad?
Under the Canada Health Act, provinces may fund out-of-country treatment if it is medically necessary and not available in-province. Ontario, BC, Alberta, and Quebec have established out-of-country funding programmes. We help with the application.
Can I use my employer health plan?
Many group plans (Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life) have out-of-country emergency or elective coverage. Check your benefits or ask us to review your plan.
Is this legal and safe?
Yes, it is legal. Check each hospital's accreditation on its Medcasts profile, and ask us which ones have English-speaking international patient teams.
What if I need follow-up back in Canada?
We provide a complete English discharge summary, imaging on disc, and coordinate with your Canadian GP for any follow-up.
Where to take this next
Cost calculator
Hospital-reported pricing across procedures × destinations.
Match-me triage
Three questions → specialty + destination + 3-hospital shortlist.
Insurance coverage
How cashless billing and reimbursement work, and what policies usually exclude.
Free second opinion
Have a specialist review your reports and treatment plan before you decide.
How patients from this country approach medical travel
- Common destinations from your country
Patients from your country often travel to specific destinations based on flight time, language, cultural fit.
- Cost reality vs domestic
Compare the written quotes you receive with what the same care would cost at home, including travel and stay.
- Visa pathway
Some destinations have streamlined visa pathways for patients from your country. Others require more documentation.
- Insurance coverage
Most domestic insurance excludes elective international. Some international policies may cover; verify pre-authorization.
Tell us your procedure and we'll quote it.
Share your diagnosis or referral letter — we'll shortlist hospitals, give you transparent pricing, and tell you exactly when you could be treated.