Federal health coverage for rejected asylum claimants topped $275M over last decade

OTTAWA — The Immigration Department says Canada spent more than $275 million on health coverage over the past decade for asylum seekers whose claims were rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

The data was released in response to an order paper question submitted by Alberta Conservative MP Burton Bailey.

The government’s response tracks use of the Interim Federal Health Program — which covers health care costs for refugee claimants — between the 2016/17 and 2024/25 fiscal years.

The data shows consistent year-over-year growth in program costs related to rejected IRB applications — from about $10 million in 2016/17 to over $53 million in 2024/25.

The program was used by almost 132,000 people whose claims were rejected by the IRB over that timeframe, with about 19,000 people using the program annually between 2021/22 and 2024/25.

The response notes the data covers everyone with a rejected asylum claim, even those going through the appeal process.

“The fact is non-citizens whose asylum claims have been rejected have no reason to be in this country and should not benefit from better health care than Canadians,” Bailey asked during question period Thursday.

“When will the prime minister admit he’s lost control of immigration and stop letting scammers treat Canadians as a walk-in clinic?”

Immigration Minister Lena Diab responded by saying that asylum claims have been trending downwards in the last two years and legislation like Bill C-12 will further reduce the number of claims.

Bill C-12 proposes to bar people who first came to Canada more than a year ago from filing refugee claims with the Immigrant and Refugee Board, Canada’s main asylum review body.

“That program that that member speaks about represents 0.2 per cent of the total health spending for Canada. I think they better get their facts straight and stop fearmongering off of the backs of people that are vulnerable and that need to be protected,” Diab said.

The Interim Federal Health Program is meant to provide coverage for refugees and protected persons until they qualify for provincial or territorial health insurance or they leave Canada.

The program covers basic medical care like hospital visits in addition to prescription drugs. It also covers supplementary services that aren’t typically paid for in the public system, such as dental work, vision care and counselling services.

Starting May 1, the government is imposing a 30 per cent co-pay for program users receiving supplemental health coverage, such as eye and vision care, plus a $4 fee for filling eligible drug prescriptions.

The government originally announced the co-pay in the November federal budget as part of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s plan to cut departmental costs by 15 per cent over the next three years.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2026.