Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program eligibility

You and your family (spouse or common-law partner and dependants) may be eligible for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage if:

• you’re a Person in Need of Protection, living in Nova Scotia on humanitarian and compassionate grounds or a Convention refugee (with proof of application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency)
• you’re a non-Canadian married or a common-law partner to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (with proof of application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency and a marriage certificate or IRCC Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union)
• you’re a full-time student from another Canadian province or territory moving permanently to Nova Scotia
• you’re a Canadian citizen coming from another country to study in Nova Scotia for more than 1 school year
• you’re a work permit holder (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re a Nova Scotia employment contract holder (contract must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re an international student study permit holder (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re a diplomatic passport holder (permit must be for 12 or more months)
• you’re a family member of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member (permit must be for 12 or more months), except USA NATO members and their families
• you’re a Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) member (permit must be for 12 or more months) and their families
• you’re a religious worker (permit must be for 12 or more months)

Moving to Nova Scotia

When you move to Nova scotia from another province, territory or country, there may be a waiting period before you become eligible for coverage under the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program.

Families

Family members covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program include a spouse or common-law partner and dependants. Each family member must be legally entitled to remain in Canada.

Spouses are 2 people married to each other. Common-law partners are 2 people living together for at least 1 year.

Dependants

Dependants covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program include children and legal wards of an adult, who are 18 or younger and are supported by an adult. Dependants can’t be married or living in a common-law relationship.

Dependants who are 19 or older need to apply for a Health Card as an individual.

Families with an overage dependant need to contact MSI Resident Services to apply.

Babies

A parent needs to register the birth of their baby if the baby is born in Nova Scotia. When you register the birth of your baby, you can also apply for a Health Card for your baby. If you don’t apply for a Health Card when you register the birth of your baby, contact MSI Resident Services.

Adopted children

Adopted children born outside Nova Scotia or Canada may be eligible for a Health Card if:

• they’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you’re a Nova Scotia resident
• they’re adopted by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you have proof of application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence status

Non-eligible residents

Non-eligible residents include:

• people entitled to insured health services under an act of the Legislature or Parliament of Canada that takes precedence over the Health Services and Insurance Act
• members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
• federal penitentiary inmates
• Canadian citizens coming from another country to study in Nova Scotia for less than 1 school year
• members of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• United States of America (USA) NATO members and their family members
• full-time students from another Canadian province or territory studying in Nova Scotia
• residents with an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Temporary Resident Permit
• tourists, transients and visitors

Canadian Armed Forces and federal penitentiary inmates receive coverage from the federal government.

United States of America (USA) NATO members and their family members receive coverage from their government.

Denied or cancelled coverage

You need to renew your Health Card before the expiry date shown on your card. If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you don’t lose your insured healthcare services coverage on the date your Health Card expires.

If your card is expired or denied, you may need to pay for the service and save your receipts to make a claim after your Health Card is renewed. Depending on the situation, you may only receive partial reimbursement up to the amount that can be covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program.

You can make a claim for services received if you meet the eligibility requirements for Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program coverage at the time you receive the services.

Your Health Card and program coverage may be cancelled:

• on the day you depart to live outside Canada
• on the day you no longer meet the eligibility requirements (like when your study or work permit expires or you depart to live outside Nova Scotia)
• on the last day of the second month following the date you became a resident of a new province or territory within Canada

Appeals

If you don’t agree with a decision that MSI or Department of Health and Wellness makes for you, you can submit an appeal request in writing. You can also authorize someone to appeal a decision on your behalf.