Manitoba Health Care Card and Insurance Plans

Manitoba Health Care card is one of the essential documents residents need upon arrival to the Province of Manitoba, Canada. 

The card also allows residents to receive health care services and product discounts. Insurance plans offered through Manitoba Health are some of the most comprehensive in Canada.

Manitoba medical insurance is available to citizens, permanent residents, temporary workers, and international students, including their eligible dependents and spouse.

What is Manitoba Health Care Card?

Manitoba Health care card is a certificate given to eligible residents which grants them access to basic medical insurance, including doctor’s visits and some prescription drugs in the province.

Also referred to as Manitoba Health Plan, or MHSIP (Manitoba Health, Seniors, and Active Living Insurance Plan), this coverage supplies all Manitoba residents with free, fundamental medical benefits. Alongside Pharmacare (the provincial drug benefits program). Immigrants and holders of a temporary permit who spend a minimum of 6 months per year in the province are qualified to get a health card.

Eligibility for Manitoba Health Card

If you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, work permit holder, or have physically resided in Manitoba for six months, then you are eligible for free healthcare coverage. It allows your dependents and you to see a doctor, visit a hospital emergency room, get a prescription, or use many other health services.

As for dental care, routine eye exams (for people older than 19 but younger than 65), and private nursing, you and your dependents are not insured.

Manitoba free health care coverage can be supplemented by purchasing additional health insurance from private insurance companies. But, first, let’s take a breakdown of the procedures and coverage eligibility of the Manitoba health plan.

List of eligibility requirements:

• Be a citizen of Canada
• Have Immigration status as mentioned in The Health Services Insurance Act:
  • Permanent residents.
  •  Must be valid permit holders and their spouses/dependents.
  • Work permit holder.
  • International students.
• Establish a permanent residence in Manitoba, and
• Reside (physically) in Manitoba for six months in a calendar year

The following are not eligible for coverage:

• Tourists
• Transients
• Visitor
• Transients
• Domestic students are temporarily absent from other provinces and territories in Canada to attend educational institutions in Manitoba.

When to use your health card

Holders of health cards must present them upon request whenever they’re visiting the hospital or assessing other medical services.

In Manitoba, just like many other Canadian provinces, your health card registration is affected by a change in family status, address, marriage, new address, birth, death, adoption, legal separation, or divorce should be reported to the nearest Insured Benefits Branch or Manitoba Health (via phone), and your new health card will be sent to you.

How to apply for Manitoba Health Care Card

You can apply for Manitoba Health Insurance coverage in one of two ways:

1. Apply in person
2. Apply online

Apply in person

To apply in person for a Manitoba Health care Card, you need to visit the Registration and Client Services Office located at 300 Carlton St., Winnipeg. Registration can also be done via mail, fax, and email: [email protected].

You can also get your registration form at the office.

Apply online

To apply for a Manitoba health care card online, you need to fill in the necessary information, such as personal information https://forms.gov.mb.ca/health-registration/, residence and citizenship/immigration information, etc., then send it with supporting documentation to: [email protected].

How to renew or replace Manitoba health card

Once you obtain your Manitoba health care card, it is valid for the next five(5) years. Renewing or replacing your health card (in case it gets damaged, stolen, or lost) is very important because you need to carry a valid card whenever you require a medical service. A Manitoba health card can not be used by someone whose name does not appear on it.

Renewing your Manitoba health card

After five years, your Manitoba Health care card ceases to be valid. To renew it, you need to:

1. Apply online using the e-Notice of Change form.
2. Contact the Insured Benefits Branch

Replacing your Manitoba health card

A valid Health Card can be replaced if lost, damaged, or destroyed. You will also need to replace in case of any significant changes in your personal information or marital status.

To replace your Health Card:

• Contact the Insured Benefits Branch, or
• Fill in the e-Notice of Change.

Change of Address for Manitoba Health Card

When filling out the e-Notice of Change, tick the box “Change of Address.” Then, provide the new address in the next section and submit the form.

Manitoba Seniors Health Coverage

The Manitoba Health Plan provides benefits for permanent residents. All permanent residents of Manitoba (residing in the province for at least six months a year) have access to these benefits.

Dental 

When it comes to dental benefits, the coverage doesn’t include routine or major services, such as cleanings, extractions, fillings, periodontics, endodontics, dentures, bridges, crowns, etc.

There is no coverage for the treatment of accidental injury to teeth.

There is no coverage for dental surgeon services for any specific dental procedures performed in the hospital.

Manitoba Health Plan and Seniors Care will ensure certain dental procedures when hospitalization is required.

Extended health care

Manitoba’s Extended Health Care is designed to provide financial help for medical expenses that aren’t covered by Manitoba Health. These benefits include:

• Assisted care
• Home Nursing
• Ambulance services
• Semi-private hospital room
• Prescription drug coverage
• Paramedical services
• Coverage for eye exams and glasses

Manitoba Extended Health Benefits Plan

The Manitoba Extended Health Benefits Plan covers a wide range of health and medical services to protect you and your dependents. Those eligible for the Extended Health Plan are full-time and part-time employees (regular, term, or departmental).

You must register according to your true family status, listing all eligible dependents. Once you enroll in the program, you are not permitted to opt-out while still employed.

The Extended Health Benefits will pay for 80% of eligible health care services, including:

• Accidental dental treatment
• Athletic therapy
• Audiology
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Chiropractic
• Clinical psychology
• Foot care
• Foot orthotics
• Hearing aids
• Massage therapy
• Medical appliances
• Naturopath
• Nutrition counseling
• Orthopedic shoes and modifications to orthopedic shoes
• Osteopath
• Physiotherapy
• Prosthetic and remedial equipment
• Private duty nursing
• Speech therapy
• Travel protection

Travel and Out of Province Coverage

When you travel outside of Canada, you are responsible for some emergency medical or hospital care costs. Buying health insurance before your departure is always a good idea. Healthcare services in other countries can be more expensive than in Manitoba. Manitoba Health and Seniors Care will pay for the medical services you need in case you get admitted to a hospital outside of Canada on an emergency basis.

Suppose you’ve seen in a hospital emergency or outpatient department. In that case, your coverage is limited to $100 CDN, while physician services are covered by Manitoba Health at the rates paid to Manitoba doctors.

As for Out of Province Coverage, when visiting another Canadian province and requiring medical or hospital care, you can show your Manitoba Health card, and your medical needs will be covered by Manitoba Health.

Out-of-Province Transportation Subsidy Program

Manitoba residents may be eligible for help with transportation costs about accessing medical care outside of the province. You can ask your treating Manitoba specialist to apply for a transportation subsidy on your behalf if your specialist has referred you outside the province for medical care.

The eligibility criteria:

• It would help if you were referred out-of-province by a specialist for insured care and treatment that can’t be provided in Manitoba, and in the case of an out-of-country referral, a treatment that can’t be provided in Canada.
• To demonstrate what investigations or services are medically necessary and why they aren’t available in Manitoba (or Canada, in the case of out-of-country referrals), your treating Manitoba specialist should provide evidence.
• It must be demonstrated that the requested medical service is not being performed on a trial basis, of emerging technology, and is not experimental.
• Prior to the treatment, approval must be granted for medical services requested outside of Canada.

In an emergency, you may be eligible to require air ambulance services, thanks to the information supplied by your referring specialist. If you require such services, you will not be charged for the cost of air ambulance transportation.

Vision Care

The Vision Care Plan is beneficial because it provides reimbursement for certain services for eligible employees and their dependents. If you or your spouse are older than 65, the Manitoba Health program provides a limited vision care benefit. Before you are reimbursed, you must apply for government benefits.

See Also: How To Purchase Health Insurance For Ex-pats In Costa Rica

Vision Care Plan Eligibility

Full-time Employees

• Regular employees upon completing six months of calendar service from the date of employment.
• Term employees upon completion of 12 months of calendar service from the date of employment.
• Departmental employees upon completion of 12 months of calendar service within 36 consecutive months.

Part-time Employees

• Regular employees upon completion of 6 months of calendar service from the date of employment.
• Term employees upon completion of 12 months of calendar service from the hire date.

If eligible, the Vision Care Plan will cover your expenses as follows:

• Full-time employees – 80% for eligible vision care expenses
• Part-time employees – 80% for eligible vision care expenses

What Isn’t Covered by Manitoba Health Plan and Seniors Care?