Making sure you're covered by Manitoba Health and Healthy Living

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Manitoba Health and Healthy Living, a provincial government department, oversees health care services available to Manitobans. Most of these services are delivered through your regional health authority.

Medicare in Canada – keeping you covered

Canadian residents receive the hospital and physician care they need, without worrying about whether they can pay for it. The Canada Health Act says each province and territory must offer health care that is:

• publicly run
• comprehensive, to cover medically necessary services provided by a doctor or hospital
• universal, to offer every insured person the same coverage
• portable to other provinces
• accessible, to prevent barriers to medically necessary hospital or physician services

Registering for health care

A Manitoba health card allows you to see a doctor, get a prescription, visit a hospital emergency room or use most other health services. If you don’t already have one, registering for a health card is your first step.

You are eligible for health coverage in Manitoba if you…

• are a Canadian citizen or have landed immigrant/permanent resident status
• have a permanent residence in Manitoba
• live in Manitoba for at least six months in a calendar year

You are not eligible if you are a…

• tourist
• visitor
• student from outside Manitoba

Where you can register for or update your health card

In Winnipeg:

Client Services
Manitoba Health and Healthy Living
Main Floor - 300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB R3B 3M9

Telephone:
786-7101

Fax:
783-2171

Toll free Fax (in North America only):
1-866-608-2983

TTY/TDD:
774-8618

City of Winnipeg (application form pick-up only):

510 Main Street
Winnipeg MB R3B 1B9

Outside Winnipeg:

Contact the city or municipal office in your area to obtain an application form. You must send your completed application to Client Services for processing.

For more information:

1-800-392-1207 Toll-free in North America

TTY/TDD:
774-8618
1-800-855-0511Manitoba Relay Services Toll free

Registering in person

The following documents are acceptable to support your application:

• social insurance number
• previous provincial health card
• passport
• birth certificate
• immigration documents from Citizenship & Immigration Canada
• Canadian Citizenship card
• Treaty Status card

What to do if...

…you have a change in your address, marital status or other key information

It’s important to keep your health card up to date. Contact Client Services to report a change in address, birth or adoption, death, marriage, divorce or legal separation. Be sure to let us know if there are any errors on your health card. You need to provide proof for most changes or corrections.

…you move to Manitoba from another province or territory

If you are eligible, coverage begins on the first day of the third month after you arrive in Manitoba. So, if you arrive on April 29, your coverage begins on July 1. Until then, you are covered by the health plan of the province or territory you came from. You are required to arrange this external coverage with your previous health plan.

…you return to Manitoba after spending time outside Canada

You may be eligible for coverage on the day you return to Manitoba. Contact Client Services for a review of your specific circumstances.

…you are new to Manitoba and came here from another country

Bring your passport and originals of every document that Citizenship & Immigration Canada has issued to you and your dependents.

…you lose your health card

Call Client Services immediately:

786-7101 in Winnipeg
1-800-392-1207 Toll free