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Will My Province Pay for Hip or Knee Surgery Abroad? OHIP, MSP, Alberta and RAMQ Rules (2026)
Provincial health plans pay for elective treatment outside Canada only with written prior approval, applied for by your doctor, and only when the treatment is not available in Canada or, in some provinces, when a delay would cause death or irreversible harm. A hip or knee replacement is available in every province, and Alberta states that a waitlist alone is not a valid reason, so patients who go abroad to avoid a wait usually pay themselves. The hospital bill may still count towards the federal medical expense tax credit.
Key facts
- Ontario (OHIP): written prior approval needed; criteria are that the service is not performed in Ontario, or a delay would result in death or medically significant irreversible tissue damage.
- British Columbia (MSP): prior approval by MSP, applied for by a B.C. specialist, when appropriate care is not available in Canada or a delay would result in medically significant irreversible consequences.
- Alberta: prior approval required for all elective care abroad; 'waitlists in Canada … are not in and of themselves valid reasons'.
- Québec (RAMQ): the hospital per-diem it pays abroad (up to CA$100 a day) is for emergencies and sudden illness, not planned care.
- No province pays travel or accommodation. The CRA's general rule is that eligible medical expenses are not restricted to those paid in Canada.
Checked 14 October 2026
Province by province
| Province | Elective care abroad | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (OHIP) | Only with written prior approval from the Ministry of Health, applied for by your Ontario doctor with a specialist's confirmation | The service must not be performed in Ontario, or a delay must risk death or medically significant irreversible tissue damage. Without prior approval, you pay all costs |
| British Columbia (MSP) | Only with prior approval by MSP, applied for by a B.C. specialist involved in your care | Appropriate care is not available in Canada, or a delay will result in medically significant, irreversible consequences. Travel and accommodation not covered |
| Alberta (AHCIP) | Prior approval by the Out-of-Country Health Services Committee, applied for by an Alberta physician; patients cannot self-refer | Services must be unavailable in Canada and all Canadian options exhausted. Waitlists alone are not a valid reason |
| Québec (RAMQ) | Pays doctors' fees at Québec rates; the hospital per-diem (CA$50 outpatient, up to CA$100 a day inpatient) applies to emergencies and sudden illness | For planned care abroad, the hospital amounts are not paid |
Other provinces and territories follow the same principle of prior approval for care not available in Canada; check with your own plan before you book. The rules are summarised from each government's website, read on 14 October 2026.
The tax credit
The federal medical expense tax credit (lines 33099 and 33199 of your return) can include costs paid outside Canada. In the CRA's words, "as a general rule, … eligible medical expenses are not restricted to those paid in Canada or for medical services provided in Canada." You claim eligible expenses above the lesser of 3% of your net income or a fixed amount ($2,834 in the CRA's current guide). Provinces have their own credits on top.
Travel and accommodation are different: they count only under conditions, including that substantially equivalent medical services are not available near where you live. Keep every invoice and receipt, and ask a tax professional before you rely on the credit.
What this means in practice
If you are going abroad because of the wait, plan to pay yourself. At our partner hospital in Poland a knee replacement costs from €8,620 (about CA$13,800) and a hip replacement from €6,940 (about CA$11,110); you pay the hospital directly, and OrthoVoyage adds no fee to your invoice. Your invoice and medical records come in English, which you need for a tax claim.
Buy travel insurance for the trip, but check the policy: planned treatment abroad is often excluded. See Canada to Poland.
OrthoVoyage is a medical travel concierge, not a hospital, and does not give medical, legal or tax advice. Provincial rules change; confirm with your plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does OHIP cover knee replacement surgery outside Canada?
Only with written prior approval from Ontario's Ministry of Health, applied for by your Ontario doctor, when the service is not performed in Ontario or a delay would result in death or medically significant irreversible tissue damage. Without prior approval you pay all costs.
Will Alberta pay for my hip replacement abroad because the wait is too long?
Alberta's Out-of-Country Health Services Committee states that waitlists in Canada are not on their own a valid reason to approve funding. Services must be unavailable in Canada.
Does RAMQ reimburse surgery abroad?
RAMQ reimburses doctors' fees at Québec rates. The hospital amounts it pays abroad (CA$50 outpatient, up to CA$100 a day in hospital) are for emergencies and sudden illness; for planned care they are not paid.
Can I claim medical expenses paid in another country?
The CRA's general rule is that eligible medical expenses are not restricted to those paid in Canada. Travel and accommodation have extra conditions. Ask a tax professional.
Sources
- Out-of-country OHIP covered services for physicians — Government of Ontario
- OHIP coverage while outside Canada — Government of Ontario
- Medical Services Outside of Canada — Government of British Columbia
- Out-of-country health services funding eligibility and appeals — Government of Alberta
- Out-of-country health services application process — Government of Alberta
- Is healthcare received outside Canada covered? — Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec
- Income Tax Folio S1-F1-C1, Medical Expense Tax Credit — Canada Revenue Agency
- RC4065 Medical Expenses — Canada Revenue Agency
This article is for information only and is not medical advice. Always discuss treatment options with your GP or a specialist.
Related pages
Hip and Knee Replacement Abroad from Canada: Poland, Costs and What Your Province Covers (2026)
Hip and Knee Replacement Wait Times in Canada by Province (2026)
Private Hip and Knee Replacement Cost in Canada vs Poland (2026)
Orthopaedic Surgery Prices in Poland: Full Price List in Euros and Pounds (2026)