Quick answer
Visitors pay full price for care in Canada, and hospitals charge non-residents much more than residents. Published 2026 rates include about $3,750 a day for a ward bed at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, $4,100 a day on an acute medical ward at Sunnybrook in Toronto, and over $1,200 for a single emergency visit at Queensway Carleton in Ottawa. Doctors' fees, scans and tests come on top.
Real hospital rates for visitors (2026)
| Hospital | Service (non-residents of Canada) | Published rate |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Memorial Hospital, Cambridge ON (2026–27) | Ward bed, acute care, per day | $3,750 |
| Cambridge Memorial Hospital | Intensive care, per day | $5,750 |
| Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Toronto | Acute medical ward, per day | $4,100 |
| Sunnybrook | ICU (medical), per day | $6,400 |
| Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa (from April 1, 2026) | Emergency visit, each | $1,242 |
| Queensway Carleton | CT scan | $2,739 |
| Hôpital Montfort, Ottawa | Ward, per day / ICU per day | $2,854 / $7,830 |
Hospital fees only. Physician fees are billed separately. Rates change; check the hospital's current schedule.
What a "small" emergency can add up to
Take a parent visiting from abroad who has chest pain and spends three days on a ward in Cambridge. The hospital bed alone is 3 × $3,750 = $11,250, before cardiologist fees, an ER physician, blood work, an echocardiogram or a CT scan. Add a day in intensive care and you're near $17,000 in hospital charges alone. A fall that needs surgery, or a stroke, can pass $50,000 or even $100,000.
That's why IRCC requires at least $100,000 of coverage for Super Visa parents. For anyone over 70 or with health conditions, many families choose more.
Why visitors pay more
Provincial plans like OHIP pay hospitals for residents. Visitors aren't covered, so hospitals charge them directly, usually at two to three times the resident rate. Some hospitals ask for a deposit or payment before non-urgent care. With insurance, a call to the insurer's assistance line often means the insurer deals with the hospital directly.
How to protect your family
- Buy visitors to Canada insurance (or Super Visa insurance) before arrival, so there's no waiting period
- Cover stable pre-existing conditions if your parent has any medical history — that's where most claims come from
- Save the insurer's 24/7 assistance number in your parent's phone, and call it before going for treatment when you can
- Keep every receipt — see our emergency and claims guide
Sources
- Cambridge Memorial Hospital — Billing information 2026–2027
- Sunnybrook — Billing for patients without OHIP
- Queensway Carleton Hospital — Fees for patients without Canadian health insurance (April 1, 2026)
- Hôpital Montfort — Visiting and hospitalization expenses
We check these pages regularly, but government rules change. Always confirm on canada.ca before you apply. Pankaj Bhatia is a licensed insurance advisor, not an immigration consultant or lawyer.
Common questions
How much is an ER visit in Canada without insurance?
For a non-resident it's often over $700 for the hospital fee alone. Queensway Carleton in Ottawa lists $1,242 per emergency visit from April 2026, and Montfort lists $754.30 plus a $175 physician fee. Tests and scans are extra.
How much does a hospital stay cost for a visitor in Ontario?
Published 2026 non-resident ward rates run roughly $2,800 to $4,100 per day, and ICU about $5,700 to $7,800 per day, before doctors' fees.
Does OHIP cover visiting parents?
No. Visitors, including Super Visa parents, aren't covered by OHIP or any provincial plan.
Is $100,000 of coverage enough?
It meets the Super Visa rule and covers most emergencies. For older parents or those with heart or other conditions, $150,000 to $200,000 gives more room for a long admission.
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