Federal health coverage for rejected asylum claimants topped $275M over last decade
Canada spent over $275 million on health coverage for rejected asylum seekers between 2016/17 and 2024/25. The Interim Federal Health Program costs related to rejected claims rose from $10 million in 2016/17 to $53 million in 2024/25.
Canada's Immigration Department reported that the country spent over $275 million on health coverage for asylum seekers whose claims were rejected between 2016/17 and 2024/25. The Interim Federal Health Program covered almost 132,000 people with rejected claims during this period. The program's costs for rejected claims increased from $10 million in 2016/17 to over $53 million in 2024/25. Around 19,000 people used the program annually between 2021/22 and 2024/25. Starting May 1, a 30% co-pay will be imposed on users receiving supplemental health coverage, along with a $4 fee for filling eligible drug prescriptions. The government's response came after an order paper question from Alberta Conservative MP Burton Bailey.
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