Key takeaways
- British Columbia: coverage runs to the end of the month you leave Canada
- Quebec: coverage stops on the day you leave to live outside Canada
- Ontario and Alberta publish a grace period only for moves to another province, so plan as if coverage ends the day you leave
- Your new country may make you wait for public coverage, so buy private cover for the gap
- Short trips have different rules: see the temporary absence option
When provincial health coverage ends if you move abroad
| Province | Moving abroad to live | Source |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia (MSP) | Coverage continues for the rest of the month you leave | HIBC: Leaving BC |
| Quebec (RAMQ) | Coverage stops on the day you leave | RAMQ: Moving outside Québec |
| Ontario (OHIP) | No grace period published for moves abroad; the 2-month grace period is for moves to another province | Ontario: moving permanently |
| Alberta (AHCIP) | No grace period published for moves abroad; the month you leave plus 2 months is for moves to another province | Alberta: moving out of Alberta |
Checked October 5, 2026. For Ontario and Alberta, the calculator assumes coverage ends on the day you leave. That is the safe way to plan. Ask your plan to confirm your date in writing.
How the calculator counts the gap
It finds the last day of provincial coverage for your province, then counts the days from the next day until the day before your new coverage starts. Those are the days you need private insurance.
For a long stay abroad where you keep Canada as home, it shows the absence limits for your province and the key dates, such as 6 months and 24 months after you leave.
Worked example
Sam lives in Vancouver and flies to Lisbon on December 10, 2026. MSP covers him until December 31, 2026. His Portuguese coverage starts March 1, 2027. He has a gap from January 1 to February 28, 2027: 59 days. He should buy private health insurance for at least those dates, and ideally from the day he leaves, because MSP pays only a small part of emergency care abroad.
Keeping coverage during a long stay instead
If you are not moving for good, you may be able to keep your provincial plan. Choose "Long stay abroad" in the calculator to see your province’s limits. In short: Ontario allows up to 2 years for work, study or a long stay if Ontario stays your home; BC allows an extended absence of up to 24 months once in 5 years; Alberta allows 2 years for travel and 4 for work; Quebec residents must not be away 183 days or more in a calendar year. You must usually tell your plan before you go.
Your plan pays very little abroad anyway
Even before your coverage ends, provincial plans pay only part of emergency care outside Canada. BC pays up to $75 a day for hospital care abroad. Ontario pays $200 to $400 a day for inpatient care and does not pay to bring you back to an Ontario hospital. A single hospital night in many countries costs much more. Travel medical insurance from the day you leave is the safe choice.
What to do next
- Tell your provincial plan before you leave, and return your card if they ask.
- Ask your new employer or the destination’s public plan when your coverage starts.
- Buy private cover for the full gap, including pre-existing conditions if you have any.
- Fill prescriptions before you leave if your insurer allows extra supply.
For the full rules by province, read health insurance when you leave Canada. Add this to your leaving Canada checklist. If you are coming back later, see the returning to Canada checklist.