Interim Federal Health Program

INTERIM FEDERAL
HEALTH PROGRAM

The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides temporary health care coverage to protected people in Canada (mainly resettled refugees and refugee claimants). This plan is administered by the Medavie Blue Cross and thus physicians providing care to patients who only have IFHP coverage have to register with them (see Information for Health-Care Professionals below).  
Depending on the protected person’s category, different types of health coverage are available under the IFHP. Additional provincial coverage is also available depending on the province. The 3 main types of health care coverage under the IFHP are summarized here: 

Basic Coverage
Similar to regular provincial plans (in-patient and out-patient services provided by doctors and nurses, laboratory and diagnostic tests, ambulance services). 

Supplemental Coverage
Similar to social assistance provincial coverage (dental and vision care*, home care, psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy*, hearing aids and other medical equipment). 

Prescription Drug Coverage
Coverage for medications listed on provincial formularies (in Alberta, the Alberta Blue Cross Drug Benefit List. Special medications specific to refugee patients, such as antihelminthics, are also covered under the IFHP (see Summary of Coverage below). 


* See Appendix A1 for a list of dental, optometry and physiotherapy clinics in Calgary accepting IFHP coverage. 

Resettled refugees in Alberta are eligible to apply for a Personal Health Number (PHN) under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) as soon as they arrive. This process usually takes no more than a few weeks, and these patients are covered by the IFHP until they obtain their PHN. Under the IFHP, resettled refugees in Canada are covered by the 3 main coverage plans listed above (basic, supplemental, prescription drug). Physicians treating refugee patients can stop billing the IFHP as soon as their patients have a valid PHN and can start billing as they would for any other patient. 

Refugee claimants are covered by the IFHP until their asylum claim is processed and are not eligible to apply for the AHCIP before then. Under the IFHP, claimants are also covered by the 3 main coverage plans (basic, supplemental, prescription drug). If their claim is accepted, these refugees can then apply for a PHN at an authorized registry agent. Rejected claimants are still covered by the IFHP until they are accepted, deported or abandon their claim. 

For more information on the Interim Federal Health Program, please refer to the following links: 


Information for Health-Care Professionals (including information on how to become a Medavie Blue Cross registered provider and submit a claim)

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