politics
Canada Caps Mental Health Sessions for Asylum Seekers at 10 Hours per Year
The federal government introduced a 10-hour annual limit on covered mental health sessions for refugee claimants and asylum seekers under the Interim Federal Health Program. The change took effect alongside a new 30 per cent copayment requirement for supplemental benefits.
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The federal government introduced a 10-hour yearly cap on mental health sessions for asylum seekers and refugee claimants under the Interim Federal Health Program earlier this spring. The limit was announced to practitioners by Medavie Blue Cross, the program's administrator, in an email dated April 27. No previous cap existed.
Background on the Policy Change The government also implemented a 30 per cent copayment for supplemental benefits including dental care, optometry and therapy. Basic health coverage remained unchanged. A follow-up email on May 1 allowed limited exemptions for clients already enrolled in covered counselling who had reached the 10-hour limit.
All beneficiaries remain subject to the cap beginning January 1, 2027.
A Toronto-based social worker and therapist who works with refugees described the change as creating confusion due to inconsistent communication from Medavie Blue Cross. Two former asylum seekers told CBC News that 10 hours would not have been sufficient for their recovery and that the copayment would have created a financial barrier.
The department estimated the overall IFHP changes would save about $200 million annually. The Parliamentary Budget Officer reported that IFHP program costs rose from $211 million in 2020-21 to $896 million in 2024-25, with a projection of $1.5 billion by 2029-30. A breakdown specific to counselling services was not available.
