(Ottawa) About 10 million people across the country risk losing their employer-provided telemedicine services if the federal government goes ahead and puts the brakes on the privatization of virtual health care. Quebec is denouncing this new “unacceptable” encroachment on its areas of jurisdiction. Ottawa was supposed to clarify its intentions in June, but the provinces and the insurance industry are still waiting.
What there is to know
Ottawa has advised provinces that they will have to pay for virtual health care.
Ten million Canadians could lose the telemedicine services offered by their employer, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada.
Quebec believes that this would have a negative impact on access to health care for thousands of Quebecers.
“Virtual health services provided by employers are complementary to services offered by the public network. The changes being considered by the federal government would have a negative impact on access to care for hundreds of thousands of Quebecers,” said Audrey Noiseux, press attaché to Health Minister Christian Dubé.
These are all people who could put even more pressure on the health system for minor problems, unless the Quebec government agrees to foot the bill.
The federal government should support the health care system by doing its fair share of funding rather than adding constraints.
Audrey Noiseux, press attaché to Minister Christian Dubé
Quebec and Ottawa agreed in March on an annual increase of $900 million in health transfers, without conditions. This is six times less than what François Legault’s government was demanding.
The Press obtained a letter sent earlier this year by the federal government’s deputy health minister, Stephen Lucas, to his provincial and territorial counterparts in which he reiterated Ottawa’s intention to end fees charged for virtual health care.
“The federal position is that patients should not pay out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary care when those services would normally have been covered if provided in person by a physician,” he wrote.
Ottawa believes that this virtual care should be covered in Quebec by the Régie de l’assurance maladie, whether it is provided by other health professionals such as nurse practitioners or by a telemedicine service located in another province. There is no question of patients paying out of pocket, otherwise federal health transfers will be reduced by an equivalent amount.
Millions of people affected
However, this new interpretation of the Canada Health Act The proposed April 2026 law could have unintended consequences, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Canada warn. It could “inadvertently eliminate access to employer-paid care for an estimated 10 million Canadians,” the two organizations argue in a letter released earlier this month. They say Ottawa should exclude virtual health services that are partly paid for by employers in its new interpretation of the law.
“The potential loss of access to employer-paid virtual care would have a significant impact on Canadian employers, employees and our economy,” they note.
Companies such as TELUS Health, Dialogue, Maple and Tia Health offer virtual consultation services for a fee. TELUS Health services are offered in Quebec as part of group insurance plans administered by Desjardins and Beneva, while Dialogue services are offered to Sun Life Financial clients.
“It is important to know that Dialogue was founded on the Canadian principle that people should never have to pay for health care,” its medical director, Dr.r Marc Robin.
We therefore believe that the federal government should continue to allow and encourage employers to invest in the physical and mental health of their employees and their families, especially in the current context of the health care accessibility crisis.
The Dr Marc Robin, medical director of Dialogue
The Benefits Alliance, which represents benefits brokers and advisors, wrote to federal Health Minister Mark Holland to argue that this type of service is “highly valued” by both employers and employees and helps reduce “pressure” on the health-care system.
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Canada’s Minister of Health, Mark Holland
In fact, beneficiaries “can have quick access (often after hours)” without having to travel to walk-in clinics or their doctor.
Minister Holland’s letter, which aims to modernize the interpretation of the Canada Health Act is still awaited. His press secretary, Christopher Aoun, was unable to say Friday when it would be sent to the provinces and territories. He said the minister had noted concerns about virtual health care offered by employers.