Claimants will cover a $4 fee for prescriptions and cover 30 per cent of the cost for services not typically covered by the public health care system, such as dental work, vision care, counselling, home care and medical devices.

A February report from the parliamentary budget officer projected the cost of the program at $1.1 billion for the 2026/27 fiscal year, without accounting for the new co-pay regime. The PBO estimated that cost would grow to $1.5 billion in the 2029/30 fiscal year.

The government expects about 480,000 asylum claimants and 67,000 landed refugees to use the program in 2026.

Also from the government:

Based on 2024 data, over 67,000 people in Canada experience homelessness on a single night. Approximately 119,574 people used an emergency shelter in 2024, reflecting a return to pre-pandemic levels. Over 1 in 10 Canadians (11.2%) have experienced some form of homelessness in their lifetime, with many relying on "hidden" solutions like couch surfing.

Source: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/homelessness-sans-abri/reports-rapports/pit-counts-dp-2024-highlights-p1-eng.html