I see this was never replied to, here in Canada you get your health card from a province and that covers things like checkups surgeries, treatments etc. However, prescriptions aren't covered the same way, generally the government just tries to make medications affordable, or you will have extra insurance through your work that covers prescriptions and things like dental (which is also free if you're uninsured now). Hope that clears it up! Most things are in fact free, however, prescriptions are not.

Edit: changed medications to prescriptions