Currently, the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) offers refugee claimants, protected persons, resettled refugees, victims of human trafficking, victims of family violence, detainees and others some health coverage while they await status or eligibility for other forms of coverage, including provincial or territorial health insurance. Learn more about eligibility and what IFHP covers at Canada.ca.

The Federal government recently announced that effective May 1st, 2026, people covered by IFHP will be required to pay a $4 co-payment for prescription medications and a 30% co-payment for supplemental health services, including mental health care, dental and vision services, rehabilitation, and essential medical supplies.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has written a letter to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship expressing concerns about these new co-payments. DABC strongly supports this letter and share CMA’s concerns.

We would like to add and emphasize the following:

• Many refugees or asylum seekers are people with disabilities who enter the country after fleeing from war or persecution and may face high essential healthcare or mental health care costs.
• At DABC and our national affiliate organization DAC, we support many individuals with disabilities who struggle to afford healthcare when they have several other urgent needs.
• If people cannot afford their healthcare, they are more likely to delay accessing necessary healthcare until they have no other choice. This further worsens health outcomes for refugees and places an unfair administrative burden on healthcare workers.

We have seen how policy adjustments that negatively affect people with disabilities can cause generational impacts, deepen disability poverty, and create greater societal inequities. We echo CMA in urging the government to reconsider these changes and to work collaboratively with those impacted by any changes to IFHP, including patients and healthcare providers.