• Logout

Manitoba

Provincial disease groups

It is usually possible to get a great deal of assistance and guidance by contacting the not-for-profit organization associated with your condition. Here is a list of the major groups in Manitoba.

• Canadian Cancer Society
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• Asthma Society of Canada
• Heart and Stroke Foundation
• Canadian Mental Health Association

HEALTH SERVICES

Manitoba Health

Manitobans have public health insurance through Manitoba Health. You and your minor dependants are eligible for Manitoba Health if you:

• are Canadian or are a permanent resident in Canada
• maintain a permanent residence in Manitoba
• reside in Manitoba for at least six months out of the calendar year

Here’s where to register for Manitoba Health:

Registration and Client Services
Manitoba Health
300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 3M9
Phone: (204) 786-7101
Fax: (204) 783-2171
Toll free: 1-800-392-1207
TDD/TTY: (204) 774-8618
TDD/TTY Relay Service outside Winnipeg: 711 or 1-800-855-0511

Manitoba Health covers the following, provided the services are medically necessary:

• doctors and nursing
• surgery and anaesthesia
• imaging and lab work, when performed in an approved facility
• basic hospital accommodation and operating facilities
• medication administered in hospital
• occupational, speech and physiotherapy while in hospital
• dietetic counselling in hospital
• routine eye exams every two years for people under 19 or over 65
• 12 chiropractic visits per year
• dental services when hospitalization is required
• personal home care, based on assessed need
• ambulance costs between hospitals

Manitoba Health provides partial coverage for these services:

• prescription drugs, subject to a deductible
• eyeglasses for seniors - Eyeglasses Program
• hearing aids for children - Hearing Aid Program
• breast prosthesis for women who have had a mastectomy - Breast Prosthesis Program
• orthopedic shoes for children - Orthopedic Shoes Program
• prosthetic eyes and infant contact lenses - Prosthetic Eye Program
• prosthetic and orthotic services - Prosthetic and Orthotic Program
• telecommunications for the Deaf or speech-impaired - Telecommunications Program

Manitoba Health does not cover:

• health exams required for insurance, driver’s licence or other third party requests
• treatments that are covered by the Worker’s Compensation Board or another Canadian public health insurance plan
• any services that are not deemed medically necessary
• preparation of documents for a legal court proceeding
• ambulance costs from your home to the hospital
• private nursing
• private or semi-private hospital rooms
• charges for hospital room “luxuries,” such as television
• allied health services provided outside a hospital
• telephone advice
• alternative health services
• eye exams for people between 19 and 65

Check the Manitoba Health FAQ for more information.

Pharmacare

Pharmacare is a safety net designed to protect families in Manitoba against extremely high drug costs. Here’s how it works:

1. Your family is assigned a yearly deductible based on the net income you and your spouse report on your income tax return. You can use the Pharmacare Deductible Estimator to calculate your deductible. If you have dependants, your net family income is reduced for the purposes of calculating the deductible.
2. You are responsible for your family’s prescription drug costs up to the amount of the deductible, each year. You can cover these costs with private or employee health insurance.
3. Once your annual drug bill exceeds the amount of the deductible, Pharmacare kicks in and covers all remaining costs in that year. Manitoba pharmacists can bill Pharmacare directly, so there is no out-of-pocket expense to you.

Pharmacare is aimed at preventing catastrophic drug costs, so the deductible is quite high. For instance, a family of four with a combined income of $70,000 would have a deductible of approximately $2,800. For this reason, it often still makes sense to enroll in a private or employee drug plan.

All Manitobans who qualify for Manitoba Health also qualify for Pharmacare. In order to receive Pharmacare, Manitoba Health does need your income tax information. If you give them permission to access your records at Revenue Canada, they will automatically update your enrollment each year. If you prefer not to do that, you will need to re-apply each year with a copy of your Notice of Assessment. Learn more about Pharmacare.

To apply for Pharmacare, use this form (requires Adobe Reader) and mail or fax it to:

Provincial Drug Programs
300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 3M9
Fax: (204) 786-6634

Manitoba Health coverage outside Canada

Manitoba Health will cover emergency doctor’s bills and hospital costs incurred outside Canada as long as you have resided in Manitoba for at least six months out of the last calendar year. However, Manitoba Health will only cover up to the same amount as the services would cost in Manitoba. In most cases, the actual costs will be much more than this. For this reason, you are strongly advised to purchase private travel insurance even for short international trips.

If you are leaving Manitoba for an extended length of time, but planning to return, you must contact Manitoba Health to obtain a “term certificate” authorizing your coverage while you are away. To stay covered, you must reside in Manitoba at least six months out of the calendar year. Exceptions are students and people traveling for a work contract.

If you are a student, you need to submit a letter from your educational institution that confirms your enrollment and how long it will take to complete your course of study. Important: You need to reapply for a new term certificate each year, before you leave to study.

If you are leaving on a short-term work contract, apply for a term certificate with a copy of your contract.

More about out-of-country medical coverage

Insured Benefits Branch
300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3M9
For more information call: (204) 786-7101
Toll free: 1-800-392-1207
FAX: (204) 783-2171
TTY/TDD: (204) 774-8618
TDD/TTY Relay Service outside Winnipeg: 711 or 1-800-855-0511

Out-of-province referrals

Manitoba Health will subsidize your travel costs if it is necessary to refer you to an out-of-province doctor or hospital for medical treatment. The program only covers the direct travel cost of your flight, train or bus fare. You must be referred by your doctor and the trip must be approved by Manitoba Health in advance.

More about out-of-province medical referrals.

Allied health professionals

Manitoba Health covers costs for most allied health professionals as long as those services are supplied while you are admitted to a hospital. Once you are out of the hospital, those costs become your own. Examples of covered services include:

• occupational therapy
• speech and language therapy
• audiology
• psychology and psychiatry
• dietary counselling

Chiropodists, podiatrists and acupuncturists are not covered by Manitoba Health. Manitoba Health covers one eye exam every two years for Manitobans under 19 or over 65. You may also claim up to 12 chiropractor visits per year. Dental procedures are only covered if they require hospitalization.

Locate a...

• audiologist
• chiropractor – Click “Find a chiropractor”
• dentist
• dietitian
• massage therapist
• midwife
• occupational therapist — Also contact the Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists at (204) 957-1214
• optometrist
• physiotherapist
• podiatrist
• psychologist

Cancer care

Cancer care in Manitoba is the responsibility of CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB), a government agency charged with cancer prevention, detection, care, research and education. CCMB operates a number of clinics and cancer centres across the province, including mobile units to bring cancer screening to remote areas. If you are diagnosed with cancer in Manitoba, all your care will be coordinated through CCMB.

CCMB offers ongoing screening clinics for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer. Visit CancerCare Manitoba.

Cancer patients with high drug costs can receive aid through Pharmacare. Manitoba women who have had a mastectomy can receive assistance with the costs of breast prosthesis through the Breast Prosthesis Program.

CCMB’s web pages have a wealth of cancer information and resources for Manitobans. Another source is the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society.

You can contact CCMB Patient & Family Support Services at (204) 787-2109 or Toll Free at 1-866-561-1026.

Flu shot

See our Flu Vaccination Guide for information about seasonal flu vaccine availability by province or territory.

Mental health care

Most mental health services are delivered in Manitoba through the Regional Health Authorities (RHA), which act under the direction of Manitoba Health and the Mental Health Act. The RHAs offer a number of different services, including:

• crisis intervention
• addiction services
• telephone hotlines
• community counselling and casework
• public education and prevention
• community living programs
• vocational and employment support
• acute treatment in hospitals

If you need help with a mental health crisis, call your RHA’s crisis line. Not sure which RHA covers your area? For non-crisis inquiries into RHA mental health services, contact your RHA.

There are several mental health services which are provided across the province by Manitoba Health.

• Selkirk Mental Health Centre is a residential psychiatric facility for individuals with needs that cannot be met in the community.
• The Office of the Chief Provincial Psychiatrist administers the mental health system in Manitoba.
• The Provincial Special Needs Program ((204) 945-4514) combines services from Health, Justice and Family Services to provide support to those who pose some risk to the community.

For more information on Manitoba’s mental health system, visit the Mental Health and Addictions page on the Manitoba Health website.

Manitoba Health
Mental Health and Addictions Branch
300 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB
R3B 3M9
Phone: (204) 786-7101

Palliative care

If you are receiving palliative care in a hospital or a personal care home, the cost of your medications is fully covered by Pharmacare, with no deductible. If you and your doctor agree that you should receive palliative care at home, you may still apply to have your medication supplied free. Your doctor or Regional Health Authority (RHA) will have application forms for the Palliative Care Drug Access Program. If your application is approved, you will be registered with the program and may obtain your drugs at any pharmacy in Manitoba.

In-home palliative care is supplied by your RHA’s Home Care Program, based on assessed needs. Learn more about the Manitoba Home Health Care Program.

For more information about palliative care in Manitoba, contact your local palliative care coordinator.

Wait times

The Manitoba Health Wait Time Information site provides estimated wait times for some diagnostic services, surgical services and radiation therapy. Wait times are based on the next available appointment slot for diagnostic services, and on procedures completed monthly for surgical and radiation services. If you need emergency care, you will not be subject to these wait times.

See the article on wait times on this website for helpful advice and information on how to receive faster service for surgical procedures, certain diagnostic tests (such as an MRI) and appointments with a specialist doctor.

Workplace injuries

If you are injured on the job in Manitoba, you may be compensated for lost wages and/or retrained for a different job by the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) of Manitoba.

It is important to remember to report your injury to your employer immediately, seek medical help and notify WCB as soon as it becomes apparent that you will miss time at work because of the injury. Use this contact information to notify WCB of your injury after you have seen a doctor and been advised to take time off work. Also, be sure to follow all of your doctor’s instructions. Failure to follow doctor’s orders could make you ineligible for compensation. Find out more about WCB claims and benefits.

The Worker’s Compensation Board of Manitoba
333 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4W3
Phone: (204) 954-4100
Toll-free: 1-800-362-3340
Fax: (204) 954-4999
Toll-free fax: 1-877-872-3804
E-mail: wcb@wcb.mb.ca

Telephone support

Health Links puts you on the line with a registered nurse who will answer your questions, listen to your symptoms and recommend a course of action 24 hours a day.

(204) 788-8200 in Winnipeg
1-888-315-9257 toll-free elsewhere in the province

MBTelehealth is a program run by the Winnipeg health authority which is open to all residents of Manitoba. Instead of travelling to see a doctor or specialist, you can go to one of the 41 MBTelehealth locations across the province and have your appointment via videoconference. The doctor will be able to see you, visually examine you and discuss your condition. More about MBTelehealth

MBTelehealth Network
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Room 772, Seventh Floor
John Buhler Research Centre
715 McDermot Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3E 3P4

Phone: (204) 975-7714
Toll-free: 1-866-667-9891 (Manitoba only)
Fax: (204) 975-7787

DISABILITY SUPPORT

Assistive devices

Manitobans with a disability can get assistance with the cost of many assistive devices through Manitoba Health. Manitoba Health’s Special Programs provide assistance with the cost of:

• breast prosthesis for women who have had a mastectomy - Breast Prosthesis Program
• eyeglasses for seniors - Eyeglasses Program
• hearing aids for children - Hearing Aid Program
• orthopedic shoes for children - Orthopedic Shoes Program
• prosthetic eyes and infant contact lenses - Prosthetic Eye Program
• prosthetic and orthotic services - Prosthetic and Orthotic Program
• telecommunications for the Deaf or speech-impaired - Telecommunications Program

There is usually a deductible and a coverage limit that you will have to cover out of your pocket, through private insurance or an employee plan.

Manitobans can get wheelchairs through the Manitoba Wheelchair Services Program. For more information, contact the program at:

Manitoba Wheelchair Services
Society for Manitobans with Disabilities
1111 Winnipeg Avenue
Winnipeg MB
R3E 0S2

Phone: (204) 975–3250
Toll-free: 1–800–836–5551

If you are getting care through the Manitoba Home Care Program, you may be supplied with necessary assistive devices based on your needs as assessed by a case worker. To find out what your Regional Health Authority (RHA) offers, contact your local office.

If you have been disabled by a specific disease, you may be able to obtain assistive devices from an organization associated with the disease. Devices may be given for free, loaned or sold at low prices depending on the organization and your level of need. Check our Community Support Group database to find a national organization associated with your condition.

The Canadian Red Cross no longer operates its equipment loan service in Manitoba, but equipment may still be available at some depots. Find the Red Cross depot in your area.

Employment support

Manitobans with physical, sensory or mental disabilities can get help finding employment through the marketAbilities Program of Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs. The marketAbilities Program offers:

• Employment counselling to assess your skills and preferences and suggest appropriate jobs
• Preparation for seeking employment, including help with resumes and interviewing
• Skills training, based on assessed need
• Job support, including assistive devices needed for work, building modifications, job coaching and transportation

To be eligible for the marketAbilities Program you must include proof of a qualifying disability diagnosed or assessed by an appropriate professional, be 16 or older and be legally entitled to work in Manitoba.

Contact the marketAbilities Program

Financial support for people with disabilities

Additional income assistance is available from Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs for people with disabilities who are eligible for assistance through the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) program. There are many criteria that can affect your eligibility for this assistance, but, in general, you must be over 16, have a low household income, have a verified disability and make efforts to find work.

EIA provides prescription drug, dental and eye care benefits as well as support for special diets, medical transportation and assistance with child care and school supplies. Find out more about EIA support for people with disabilities.

Families of a child with a disability can access special services.

Community Service Delivery
119 - 114 Garry Street
Winnipeg MB
R3C 4V4

Phone: (204) 945-1634
E-mail: csd@gov.mb.ca

Home care and assisted living

Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs (MFSCA) offers the following services to Manitobans with a mental disability:

• Residential services provide care and assistance in your home, or a community group home setting
• Day services provide vocational, social and personal development opportunities in the community at structured workshops
• Support services provide respite for caregivers and crisis intervention
• MFSCA licences agencies and individuals who operate residential care facilities, ensuring standards of care and accommodation are met

For more information on Community Living disABILITY Services (CLDS) (formerly the Supported Living Program), visit the web page and follow the link for your area.

Assisted living for seniors

Once it is no longer possible for seniors to stay in their homes, there is a wide variety of residential options. Age & Opportunity is a not-for-profit agency that publishes a comprehensive guide to residential care in Winnipeg.

Seniors’ assisted living in Winnipeg (requires Adobe Reader)

There is a guide to assisted living in rural and northern Manitoba on the Manitoba Health website. Rural and Northern assisted living for seniors.

If you are a low-income senior, MFSCA may assist with home renovations that make it possible for you to stay in your home rather than move to residential care. Check the Home Adaptations for Seniors’ Independence Program.

Manitoba Housing - Housing Programs
280 Broadway
Main Floor
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 0R8

Phone: (204) 945-5566 (in Winnipeg)
Toll-free: 1-866-689-5566

Respite services

If you are caring for someone who is ill or has a disability, you may be able to get respite help through a Manitoba Family Services and Consumer Affairs program, depending on the nature of the disability.

The Manitoba Home Care Program offers respite services, including longer term respite in which you are housed temporarily in a residential care facility. You can find out more from your Regional Health Authority. There are fees for this service.

Caregivers for children with a disability should contact Children’s disABILITY Services (formerly Children's Special Services) by going to this page and following the links at the bottom to navigate to your region.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Medical records

Your personal health information is protected in Manitoba by the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). The Manitoba Ombudsman takes complaints and investigates the behaviour of health professionals who fall under the Act.

In general, a doctor may not share your medical information without your approval, and even then only information relevant to the request should be shared. Your doctor must allow you to see your records within 30 days of your request, and may only charge a reasonable fee for copies. Parents of minor children may access their child’s records, and executors of wills may access the records of a deceased person. Otherwise, only people who have been appointed as guardians or substitute decision-makers under another law can gain access to your medical records.

Questions or complaints about access to medical records should be directed to the office of the Manitoba Ombudsman .

Winnipeg
750 - 500 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 3X1

Phone: (204) 982-9130
Toll-free: 1-800-665-0531
Fax: (204) 942-7803

Brandon
Scotia Towers
202-1011 Rosser Avenue
Brandon, MB
R7A 0L5

Phone: (204) 571-5151
Toll-free: 1-888-543-8230
Fax: (204) 571-5157

Power of Attorney and other legal relationships

Please note: The information provided here is provided for information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

Manitoba recognizes several different kinds of Power of Attorney relationships. The person granting the Power of Attorney in Manitoba is called the “donor,” the person so empowered is called the “attorney.” It is always best to have a lawyer assist in drawing up the Power of Attorney agreement.

The main types of Power of Attorney relationships are:

• Power of Attorney – Specific Power
• Power of Attorney – General Power
• Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
• Springing Power of Attorney
• Committeeship
• Private Committeeship
• Public Trustee

The Power of Attorney relationship empowers an individual or committee to make decisions about the donor’s business or financial affairs, but it does not include power over personal decisions such as health care and place of residence. In order to transfer these powers to another person, you must create a health care directive which appoints a “proxy.” In Manitoba, there is no required form; a health care directive need only be in writing and signed and dated by both donor and proxy.

Health care directives can also describe your wishes concerning your care. For instance, if you do not wish to be resuscitated in the event of cardiac failure, you can set that out in your health care directive and health professionals are bound by law to obey, provided they know about the directive.

If you have questions about Power of Attorney agreements, contact:
The Public Trustee
Suite 500 - 155 Carlton Street
Winnipeg MB
R3C 5R9

Phone: (204) 945-2700
Fax: (204) 948-2251
E-mail: publictrustee@gov.mb.ca

OR

The Public Trustee
340 - 9th Street
Brandon MB
R7A 6C2

Phone: (204) 726-7025
Fax: (204) 726-7037

Regulatory and administrative bodies

Manitoba Health is the public health insurer in Manitoba, under the auspices of the Manitoba Ministry of Health.

Community health care is delivered in Manitoba by the Regional Health Authorities.

Doctors are licenced and regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. Nurses are regulated by the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.

Concerns about access to medical information or confidentiality should be addressed to Ombudsman Manitoba.