Why provinces differ
Health coverage in Canada is run by each province, so what you can get differs even within the same country. Below are several commonly asked comparisons, based on the provincial websites as of October 2026. Policies change quickly, so check the official pages.
| Item | BC | Ontario |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting period for new residents | Rest of arrival month plus 2 months | None at present |
| Prescription drugs for young people | No equivalent; Fair PharmaCare by household income | OHIP+: free for ages 24 and under with no private insurance |
| Shingles vaccine | Not publicly funded; self-pay | Free at ages 65-70 |
| Ailments pharmacists can treat | 21, plus contraception | 28 (from July 2026) |
1. Waiting period for new residents
Ontario's website states that there is currently no OHIP waiting period, so eligible residents are covered right away.[1] In BC, the wait is the rest of your arrival month plus two months, and you pay for all care yourself during that time.[2]
2. Prescription drugs for young people
Ontario's OHIP+ covers prescription drugs for free for people aged 24 and under who have no private insurance.[3] BC has no equivalent program; drug assistance is calculated by household income under Fair PharmaCare.
3. Shingles vaccine
Ontario provides the shingles vaccine free for people aged 65 to 70,[4] and Quebec provides it free for those 71 and older.[5] BC does not fund it. A HealthLink BC page lists a price of about $150 per dose, two doses are needed, and some employer insurance plans reimburse it.[6]
4. Ailments pharmacists can treat
From July 2026 Ontario expanded pharmacist-treated minor ailments to 28, adding head lice, warts, dandruff and tension headache, among others.[7] BC currently covers 21 minor ailments plus contraception.[8]
What BC offers
- Since April 2023, prescription contraception is free across the province, covering more than 60 products.[9]
- Fair PharmaCare: prescription costs are covered 100% when net household income is $13,750 or less.[10]
If you are moving
The BC government advises people arriving from abroad to buy private insurance before arrival and keep it until MSP begins.[2]
Sources
- Ontario.ca — Apply for OHIP and get a health card
- Province of BC — MSP coverage wait period
- Ontario.ca — OHIP+
- Ontario.ca — Get the free shingles vaccine
- Quebec.ca — Programme de vaccination contre le zona
- HealthLink BC — Shingles vaccine (self-pay)
- Ontario MOH — Executive Officer notice on minor ailments (2026-05-19)
- Province of BC — Pharmacists' Prescribing for Minor Ailments and Contraception (PPMAC)
- BC Government news — free prescription contraception (2023)
- Province of BC — Fair PharmaCare assistance levels (regular)