Fed spent over $275M on medical care for rejected asylum seekers since 2016
· Toronto Sun
OTTAWA — Over the past decade, more than $275 million was spent by the Immigration Department on medical care for rejected asylum seekers.
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That figure is contained within data from an order paper question (OPQ) filed in February by Conservative MP Burton Bailey, seeking data on Ottawa’s Interim Federal Health Program since 2016.
According to the data, costs for the program have skyrocketed over the past decade.
In the 2016-17 fiscal year, a total of $10,130,132.63 was spent on medical care for refugee claimants who were later rejected — with $6.9 spent on basic services, $41,407 on immigration medical exams, and $3.2 million on supplemental health services.
That’s compared to the $53,374,286.50 spent in FY 2024-25, which represents a 427% increase.
In FY2024-25, $32 million was spent on basic health services, $43,394 on immigration medical exams, and $22 million on supplemental services.
Basic coverage is used for doctors visits, trips to the hospital and laboratory services, while supplemental services include items not normally covered under provincial health insurance, such as prescription drugs, dental care and vision.
Requests by Bailey to obtain how many of those claimants had active removal orders were not included in the response, as the program’s database doesn’t keep track of that data.
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Co-pay coming soon to program
The Interim Federal Health Program is designed to cover medical costs of refugee claimants, and remains in effect until the claimant receives provincial coverage, or their claim is rejected.
Enrollment in the program is automatic once refugee status is claimed.
While that program is currently free, the federal government is introducing a new co-pay system that will charge beneficiaries $4 per prescription, and 30% of fees incurred through supplemental and other health services.
That co-pay system is set to come into effect on May 1.
Number of rejected claimants on the rise
According to the data contained within the OPQ, a total of 4,375 refugees claimants saw their applications rejected by the Immigration Department.
That number increased steadily over the following decade, climbing to 10,736 in FY 2018-19, and peaking last year at 19,771.
That’s a 352% increase.