The federal government has restarted some of its temporary healthcare coverage for refugees and asylum seekers, months after slashing benefits for the groups.
Ottawa introduced changes to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) earlier this year following a pledge to lower funding for it. The program was created in 1957 to provide limited and temporary health-care coverage to foreign nationals deemed vulnerable and disadvantaged. But the IFHP’s costs have exploded in recent years, as more asylum seekers and refugees have come to Canada.
Starting in May, most people in the program would be required to pay 30 percent of the costs for health services, assistive devices, and medical supplies that had previously been covered, as well as $4 for each eligible prescription medication filled or refilled….