153 days per year?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

This is totally off topic and doesn't apply to me specifically.

Yesterday my dad told me about friends of theirs who moved to the states a few years back (the couple are both dual citizens) who still maintain residency here just so they can continue to qualify for OHIP. I thought he was wrong at first, but after looking into it I found the following rules on the OHIP site.

- you make your primary place of residence in Ontario; and generally speaking,

- you are in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date you

establish residence in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6

months of residence); and

- you are in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period

It kills me that we've all been worried about how we lose our Healthcare as soon as we move to the US and we get interim care to fill the gap before we're married, but these folks just maintain a summer cottage and their entitled to full OHIP.

These people spend 100% of the rest of their time in the US and the only reason they do it is to get Healthcare...I dunno, maybe I'm in a crabby mood this morning. It's not that they don't follow the rules, but they bend them as much as they can.

[Ontarkie 14,193]

I have heard of a few ppl who do this.

[sly_wolf 199]

I would never take such a risk. If ever caught they could have to pay back all costs. There are always people who try to scam the system.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

They are still violating the law - their primary residence is NOT in Ontario. If OHIP finds out they will lose their coverage and be required to pay back any costs provided.

When I was working for the Member of Parliament in Canada we had a man come into our office who was a dual citizen and had made his primary home in Florida. He would travel to Canada for any medical treatment and maintained a post box address in Canada. He would spend a two months each summer visiting with family in Ontario. I don't remember the circumstances that led to OHIP finding out but he stormed into our office, furious, because he had just been told that he was no longer covered by OHIP since his primary residence was not in Ontario and he was being investigated for fraud. We had to refer him to the MPP's office since OHIP is provincial, but he was swearing up a storm that he was going to fight this - that he had been living in Florida for 10 years now and OHIP had covered him all that time (yeah, just digging himself in deeper ) and he was a Canadian and they owed it to him.

So, while it appears they are getting away with it right now, it is only because OHIP is not aware of the truth of their circumstances. A summer cottage in Canada is NOT a primary residence so they are violating the law.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Seems so counterintuitive to me. I mean, I know that healthcare is not cheap, but it can't be that unaffordable to obtain medical insurance in Florida for the year. Would it not be cheaper than to fly back to get healthcare treatments and also maintain a cottage?

I mean I guess if would keep the cottage either way, then fine. But what happens when they need to see a Doctor for a sore throat or other basic needs that come up while they are in the US? What if they were injured in a car crash and needed emergency medical care? Does OHIP even cover that? Don't Canadians still need travel medical insurance? Even if an accident would be reimbursed by OHIP, I'm sure they'd investigate the situation and then in the end it will come back to bite them.

Sure, OHIP is the easy way out because it's technically "free" (i say technically, because i know Canadians pay taxes), but in my opinion, you get what you pay for!

Not worth the risk if you ask me. But as they say, ignorance is bliss.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I would have no qualms at all making an anonymous call into any Provincial healthcare system if I knew anyone was breaking the rules! A few yrs back BC said they would paying closer to situations like this as it was costing them many Millions of $$$$$ a yr

[Udella&Wiz 325]

All good points, Flames, I may consider what you said.

Not that I want to be mean to them, but they're taking away from people who really need the funds and care...they moved away from Canada a few years ago at least, like I said. and they quite definitely are residents of the state they are in.

[sly_wolf 199]

All good points, Flames, I may consider what you said.

Not that I want to be mean to them, but they're taking away from people who really need the funds and care...they moved away from Canada a few years ago at least, like I said. and they quite definitely are residents of the state they are in.

Perhaps they are unaware of the risks and if made aware they may change what they are doing now.

[zyggy 9]

I guess they don't know that if they maintain a residence in Canada and accept Provincial Medicare (OHIP in Ontario), they would be considered a deemed resident by CRA and be required to pay taxes in BOTH the US and Canada...

[sly_wolf 199]

I guess they don't know that if they maintain a residence in Canada and accept Provincial Medicare (OHIP in Ontario), they would be considered a deemed resident by CRA and be required to pay taxes in BOTH the US and Canada...

Yes, I was thinking of that too and taxes should scare the hell out of anyone

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Perhaps they are unaware of the risks and if made aware they may change what they are doing now.

Maybe - they're a couple in their late 60's - I'm pretty sure they know exactly what they're doing (and by that I mean bending the rules)

Edited September 26, 2011 by Udella&Wiz

[sly_wolf 199]

Maybe - they're a couple in their late 60's - I'm pretty sure they know exactly what they're doing (and by that I mean bending the rules)

Perhaps they dont realize the consequences. Then someone should tell them unless they like to gamble.

[hikergirl 277]

That's just wrong. It's not like they're even playing the snowbird thing of 6 months up 6 months down.

I hope they do get caught.