Refugee Coverage (IFHP)
At Oakville Physiotherapy Centre, we are proud to be a registered provider under Canada's Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) — a federal initiative that provides temporary health coverage to refugees, refugee claimants, and other protected persons who are not yet eligible for provincial health insurance. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality physiotherapy care regardless of immigration status, financial situation, or language spoken. Our team is committed to providing compassionate, trauma-informed rehabilitation in a safe and welcoming environment.
Refugees and newcomers often arrive with complex physical health needs resulting from displacement, difficult living conditions, physical labour, injuries sustained during travel, or limited access to healthcare in their home countries. Physiotherapy plays a vital role in helping individuals restore mobility, manage chronic pain, recover from injury, and rebuild physical function — all of which are essential steps toward successful resettlement and independence. We work closely with physicians, settlement workers, and community health agencies to ensure each patient receives coordinated, holistic care from the moment they arrive at our clinic.
How IFHP Physiotherapy Coverage Works
- Confirm your IFHP eligibility status with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
- Obtain your IFHP benefit card or authorization document before your appointment
- Call or visit us — we will verify your IFHP coverage before your first visit
- Our team submits claims directly to Medavie Blue Cross on your behalf
- Receive a full initial assessment with no out-of-pocket cost if you are fully eligible
- A personalized treatment plan is created based on your specific health needs
- Ongoing sessions are scheduled within your covered entitlements
- We coordinate with your physician, settlement worker, or caseworker as needed
Conditions We Commonly Treat
- Musculoskeletal pain — back, neck, and joint injuries
- Trauma-related physical conditions and tension disorders
- Post-surgical rehabilitation and wound recovery
- Repetitive strain and overuse injuries
- Neurological conditions affecting movement and balance
- Chronic pain and fibromyalgia
- Respiratory conditions and breathing exercises
- Pediatric physiotherapy for refugee children
- Post-partum musculoskeletal recovery
- Arthritis and inflammatory joint conditions
Why Choose Oakville Physiotherapy for IFHP Care?
- Registered IFHP provider — approved by Medavie Blue Cross
- Direct billing to IFHP with no upfront payment required
- Welcoming, culturally sensitive environment for all backgrounds
- Multilingual coordination — we work with interpreters when needed
- Experienced in trauma-informed physiotherapy care
- Collaboration with settlement agencies, social workers, and physicians
- Flexible scheduling to accommodate newcomers' complex routines
- Fully licensed and registered physiotherapy team (regulated by CPO)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) is a Canadian federal government program administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and delivered through Medavie Blue Cross. It provides temporary health coverage — including physiotherapy and other allied health services — to eligible refugees, refugee claimants, and certain other protected persons who do not yet qualify for provincial or territorial health insurance. The IFHP covers a defined set of services depending on your eligibility category, ranging from basic healthcare to supplemental benefits including physiotherapy.
Physiotherapy under the IFHP is generally available to Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs), Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs), refugee claimants (asylum seekers), rejected refugee claimants in certain circumstances, and victims of human trafficking holding a temporary resident permit. Coverage categories differ — some individuals qualify for comprehensive benefits that include supplemental health services such as physiotherapy, while others receive only urgent or essential care. Our team can help you confirm which tier of coverage applies to you based on your IFHP benefit card or authorization letter.
Yes, for IFHP-covered physiotherapy a physician's referral or prescription is typically required before treatment can begin. This referral confirms that physiotherapy is medically necessary and is used when submitting the claim to Medavie Blue Cross. If you do not yet have a family doctor, we can help connect you with community health centres or walk-in clinics in Oakville that serve newcomers and can provide the necessary referral. Please contact us before your first appointment so we can guide you through this process.
Please bring your IFHP benefit card or the authorization document issued by IRCC or Medavie Blue Cross, a valid physician's referral for physiotherapy, and any available identification (passport, PR document, or refugee claimant document). If you have records of prior treatment, imaging results, or medical reports — even from your country of origin — please bring those as well, as they help our physiotherapists design a more effective and appropriate treatment plan from the very first session.
You are absolutely welcome to bring a trusted friend, family member, or community interpreter to your appointments. We also work with professional telephone interpretation services when needed and can coordinate in advance with your settlement agency or caseworker. Our clinical team is trained in culturally sensitive care and will always take the time to ensure you fully understand your diagnosis, treatment plan, and exercises. Clear communication is essential to good care, and we will never proceed if there is any uncertainty about understanding.
IFHP coverage is temporary and ends once you become eligible for provincial health insurance — in Ontario, this is typically after a three-month waiting period following the establishment of residency. Once you are enrolled in OHIP and, if applicable, a provincial social assistance drug and benefits plan (such as Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program), we can continue your care under those programs. If gaps remain, we will discuss affordable self-pay options, sliding-scale arrangements, or help you identify community health resources so your rehabilitation is never interrupted unnecessarily.