Please note that, as of 4-Mar-10, the Canadian government's federal budget caused changes to eligible covered conditions for a PHSP. Please click here for details.

Covered conditions

Premiums for health care plans:

  • Premiums paid to any non-government medical or hospital care plan.

Professional services:

Any service performed by a qualified medical practitioner†, including but not limited to the following:

Acupuncturist Neurologist Osteopath Psychiatrist
Chiropodist Obstetrician Orthopedist Psychologist
Chiropractor Oculist Pediatrician Registered dietician
Dentist Opthalmologist Physician Registered nurse
Dermatologist Optician Physiotherapist Speech therapist
Gynecologist Optometrist Plastic surgeon Surgeon
Naturopath Orthodontist Podiatrist Massage therapist

Dental services:

Dental X-rays Extractions Oral surgery
Dental repair & replacement Fillings Orthodontics
Examinations Gum treatment  

Laboratory examinations and tests:

Blood tests Spinal fluid tests X-ray
Cardiographs Stool examinations MRI/CAT scan
Metabolism tests Urine analysis  

Prescribed medical treatments:

Blood transfusion Insulin treatments
Bone marrow / organ transplant Pre- and post-natal treatments
Injections Psychotherapy
Nursing (registered nurse) Diathermy
Hydrotherapy Art therapy

Medicines:

  • All prescription drugs
  • Oxygen
  • Tapes or tablets (for sugar content tests by diabetics, if prescribed)
  • Vitamin B12 (for pernicious anemia)
  • Liver Extract (by injection for pernicious anemia)
  • OTC drugs when prescribed by a dentist, medical or naturopathic doctor, and recorded and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist

Other materials and apparatus, which don't require a prescription:

  • External breast prosthesis
  • Any device designed to assist walking where the individual has mobility impairment
  • Contact lenses/eye glasses
  • Devices designed to assist a person to use bathtubs, showers, or toilets
  • Devices designed to enable individuals with mobility impairment to operate a vehicle
  • Electronic or computerized environmental control systems for individuals with severe and prolonged mobility restrictions
  • Electronic speech synthesizers for most individuals
  • Extremity pumps or elastic support hose to reduce lymph edema swelling
  • Heat monitors or pace makers
  • Hospital beds, if required in home
  • Inductive coupling osteogenesis stimulator
  • Infusion pumps for diabetics, including peripherals
  • Monitors attached to babies identified as being prone to sudden infant death syndrome
  • Optical scanners or similar devices for a blind individual to enable him/her to read print
  • Orthopedic shoes or boots
  • Oxygen tent
  • Power operated guided chair installation for stairways
  • Power operated guided lifts and transportation equipment designed to allow access to buildings, vehicles, or to allow wheelchair access to a vehicle
  • Synthetic speech systems, Braille printers, and large print-on-screen devices that enable blind persons to utilize computers
  • Swelling syringes
  • Television closed-captioning decoders
  • Wigs if required as a result of disease, accident, or medical treatment

Other expenditures:

  • Ambulance charges
  • Prescription birth control pills
  • Rehabilitative therapy, lip reading and sign language training
  • Specially trained animals to assist blind, deaf, or severely impaired persons, including the cost of their care and maintenance
  • Transportation costs (to hospital, clinic or doctor's office to obtain services not otherwise available)

Materials and apparatus which are prescribed by a recognized medical practitioner:

  • Any device to aid the hearing of a deaf person including bone conduction telephone receivers, extra loud audible signals and devices to permit volume adjustment of telephone equipment above normal levels
  • Artificial eye
  • Artificial kidney machine, including installation, operating costs
  • Blood sugar level measuring devices for diabetics
  • Brace for a limb
  • Catheters, catheter trays, tubing, and diapers, disposable briefs required by incontinent persons
  • Colostomy pads
  • Crutches
  • Hernia truss
  • Laryngeal speaking aid
  • Spinal brace
  • Wheelchair
  • External breast prosthesis

What's not covered

  • Air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, or air cleaners
  • Special foods or beverages are not a deductible expense for tax purposes. However, if said food or beverages are taken to alleviate or treat an illness and not nutritional, they may be allowed.‡
  • Health programs offered by resort hotels, health clubs / Athletic therapy
  • Non-prescription birth control devices
  • Over the counter drugs, vitamins etc. except as prescribed above
  • Medical expenses for which you are reimbursed or are entitled to be reimbursed from other plans
  • Illegal operations or drugs
  • Scales for the weighing of food
  • Wigs, except where an individual has suffered hair loss due to disease, treatment or accident
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss
  • Maternity clothes
  • Antiseptic diaper service
  • Payments to a municipality where a municipality has employed a doctor to provide services within the community

* Eligible expenses pursuant to IT-519R2. (This list, while comprehensive, may not be complete and is subject to change.)

† A qualified medical practitioner means a person who is authorized to practice in accordance to the laws of the province and certified according to the practitioner's governing body.

‡ A letter must accompany such claims from a medical doctor.