The Government of Nova Scotia introduced N.S. Reg. 80/2023, a set of regulations that redefine health services coverage for foreign workers, international students, and armed forces families in the province. This regulation replaces several outdated regulations in an attempt to better address current needs and align with contemporary policies.

The enactment by way of Order in Council 2023-133 led to the repeal of several prior regulations, including N.S. Reg. 67/1978, which governed hospital and medical services for individuals on student visas; Order in Council 79-1073; and N.S. Reg. 92/1998, which covered services for international students employed as teaching or research assistants. This repeal is part of a broader initiative to modernize and enhance the effectiveness of health service provisions for these groups.

The new regulations, officially known as the “Health Services for Foreign Workers, International Students, and Armed Forces Families Regulations,” establish revised coverage and eligibility criteria under the Health Services and Insurance Act of Nova Scotia. Key definitions within these regulations include:

• • • Dependants: Individuals under 19 years of age who are financially supported by an adult.
    • Eligible Foreign Workers: Residents with valid work permits, employment contracts, diplomatic passports, or those employed by specific organizations like the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.
    • International Students: Residents holding a valid study permit.
    • Residents: As defined by the Hospital Insurance Regulations.
    • Spouses: Individuals in a marriage or a continuous cohabiting relationship lasting at least one year.
      

Under these new regulations, foreign workers, their spouses, dependants, and armed forces families are entitled to immediate health services coverage upon becoming residents of Nova Scotia. In contrast, international students and their families are eligible for coverage starting from the first day of the thirteenth month of their residency, provided they do not already qualify as foreign workers.

Eligibility for coverage terminates if the relevant permits, employment contracts, or diplomatic statuses expire or are not renewed or extended.

N.S. Reg. 80/2023 represents an update to the province’s health service regulations, aiming to provide more inclusive and timely coverage for foreign workers, international students, and armed forces families. 

Source: Nova Scotia 80/2023 May 19, 2023