Title: About the Canada Health Act

URL Source: http://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act.html

Markdown Content:
The [Canada Health Act](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-6/) is Canada's federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance. Under the act, eligible residents of Canada must have reasonable access to required health services. The services are to be provided on the same terms and without patient charges.

Learn more about the Canada Health Act:

*   [Canada Health Act](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-6/)
    *   [Extra-billing and User Charges Information Regulations](http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-86-259/index.html)

*   [Infographic: Canada Health Act](http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/canada-health-act-infographic.html)
*   [Canada Health Act annual reports](http://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/reports-publications/canada-health-act-annual-reports.html)

The act sets out the criteria and conditions for the coverage of insured health services and extended health care services. The provinces and territories must meet these conditions to receive their full federal cash contribution under the Canada Health Transfer. Failing to meet these conditions could result in deductions to their transfer payments.

[Read about Canada Health Transfer deductions and reimbursements.](http://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act/transfer-deductions-reimbursements.html)

Insured health services include medically necessary hospital, physician and certain surgical-dental services. Extended health care services include certain long-term care services like nursing home care and adult residential care.

[Learn more about publicly funded health insurance coverage](http://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act/how-publicly-funded-coverage-works.html).

## Contact us

Contact us if you have questions about a health insurance issue or the act:

Canada Health Act Division

 Health Canada

 Address locator: 0908C

 70 Colombine Driveway

 Tunney's Pasture

 Ottawa ON K1A 0K9

Telephone: 1-800-465-7735 (Service Canada)

**E-mail:**[medicare.spb.chad-dlcs.dgps.assurance.maladie@hc-sc.gc.ca](mailto:medicare.spb.chad-dlcs.dgps.assurance.maladie@hc-sc.gc.ca)

## Related links

*   [Infographic: What is a patient charge?](http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/science-research-data/what-is-a-patient-charge-infographic.html)
*   [Letter to provinces and territories on the importance of upholding the Canada Health Act - 2025](http://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act/letter-provinces-territories-january-2025.html)
*   [Letter to provinces and territories on the importance to upholding the Canada Health Act - 2023](http://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/canada-health-care-system-medicare/canada-health-act/letter-provinces-territories-importance-upholding.html)