OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 13, 2026 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, tabled the 2024-2025 Canada Health Act Annual Report in Parliament. Developed by the Government of Canada in collaboration with provincial and territorial (PT) governments, the Report provides information on the federal administration of the Canada Health Act (CHA) and the extent to which PT health care insurance plans have fulfilled its requirements.

Upholding the Act is critical to protecting Canadian health care and the values that sustain it. The federal government has taken a collaborative approach with all PTs to ensure all Canadians continue to have equitable access to medically necessary care based on their medical needs, not their ability to pay.

The Government of Canada remains committed to the principles of the CHA, which are linked to federal payments to PTs under the Canada Health Transfer (CHT). If a PT permits patient charges for medically necessary services, a mandatory dollar-for-dollar deduction must be taken from the jurisdiction's CHT. PTs that face these deductions can be reimbursed through the CHA Reimbursement Policy if they work with Health Canada on a plan to eliminate patient charges and their underlying causes, and then implement that plan within two years of the deduction having been taken.

In 2025-26, PTs will receive $54.7 billion through the CHT, an increase of 5% over the 2024-25 transfer of $52.1 billion. By 2026-27, the CHT is set to grow by an additional 5% to over $57 billion.

Today's report covers deductions from fiscal year 2024-25 and reimbursements for prior years. Over $62.2 million in deductions and $51.9 million in reimbursements were made to PT CHT payments. These federal actions reinforce the principle aim of the CHA, which is not to levy penalties, but to ensure patients do not pay for medically necessary services already paid for by their taxes.

The Government of Canada upholds the principles of the CHA while working closely with all PTs to ensure Canadians have access to the care they need.

Quotes

"The Canada Health Act is a foundation for Canada's publicly funded health care system. This annual report highlights the collective work of governments in upholding the principles of the Act, ensuring that all Canadians have access to medically necessary care based on their needs, not their ability or willingness to pay. It also highlights the renewed collaboration between our government and the Provinces and Territories."

The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health

Quick facts:

• The Canada Health Act (CHA) is Canada's federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance. It defines the national principles that must be reflected in PT health care insurance plans in order to be eligible for their full federal cash contribution under the Canada Health Transfer (CHT).
• The CHT is the largest funding transfer to PTs to support Canada's health care system. It provides long-term predictable funding for health care, and supports the principles of the CHA, which are public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility.
• The CHA Annual Report 2024-2025 includes CHT deductions taken in March 2025 for patient charges that occurred during the 2022-23 fiscal year, and reimbursements issued to PTs based on their reimbursement plans which aim to eliminate patient charges.

Associated Links

• Canada Health Act
• Canada Health Act Annual Report 2024-2025
• Canada Health Transfer
• Working together to improve health care for Canadians

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)