Canadian Medicare

[sly_wolf 199]

Under a K3 visa scenario, can anyone tell me at what point I could expect to lose medicare coverage in Canada. I would be interested to know what the experiance has been for other Canadians in this regard.

Sly

[MissStacey 1]

I already have Medical Coverage in the US through Mel, so when I go back to the US I will phone Alberta Health Care and cancel my account. I cancelled my Blue Cross here a while back.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You no longer are eligible for Provincial health benefits when you move permanently to the US. If your residential address changes to an American address, you should not apply for any Canadian benefits after that time as it is considered illegal - only those physically resident in the Province are allowed to receive health benefits. (Snowbirds are not physically resident in the US - they are visitors and maintain a permanent Canadian residence and all of their other ties which they utilize regularly.)

Edited January 15, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Flames9_RN 358]

Was an article I read online about how it was costing the BC government millions of $$$$ a yr with people coming to Canada for medical attention and not paying, was interesting. Yep, when you move, ur no longer covered. When u fil out ur Cdn taxes for the previous yr, it asks what date you CEASED to be a Cdn resident, which for most is the day you crossed the border and activated ur visa. Are they going to hunt you down and take away ur favorite coffee mug, probably not, maybe just a bill

[neiks 19]

Check with your province to see how long you will be covered after you cease to be a resident of Canada. For example Manitoba will cover me for 3 months after I cease being a resident of Canada. Get all your check-ups up to date and as much prescriptions stock piled as you can if you have drug coverage.

[Reba 2]

I notified OHIP that I'd be moving to the US permanently, but before I left I ended up having surgery in Toronto and a 5 day hospital stay. What would have cost me several thousands of dollars in the US, cost me $11 per day to rent the TV in Toronto.

I know several people who have left Canada and still use their provincial health cards when they go back to visit. Its illegal, and IMO, downright rude to do so.

Its also a tie to Canada that USCIS could look at and deny your status in the US if they wanted to be really persnickety. Which they can be sometimes, so just cancel it when you move.

[Cassie 8]

I had to go to the hospital while I was home over Christmas -- we paid $400CDN upfront, and were billed another $400 later on. A bit of a sticker shock, but still cheaper than going to the ER here in Tulsa! Fortunately, our insurance will cover some of it, better than none at all.

I chose to wait to get my arm checked out and x-rayed after I got home!

[misa 2]

*bump*

So should I wait to get LPR status (conditional or otherwise) and then inform OHIP that I am no longer resident in Ontario?

[CutienPurg 0]

my husband called OHIP a couple weeks ago and asked about this very topic. The person he spoke to at OHIP said you would be covered for emergency treatment in the US up to 7 months or until you obtain PR status in the US.

My argument was you should be covered until you obtain CR/LPR status since you arent considered as having abandoned your residency in Canada until the US says you're legally allowed to do so. If your AOS or CR-1 were to be denied , you would have no choice but to return to Canada, so technically I would think you'd be considered a visitor until that time.

A PHP requires you to be a resident of the province UNLESS you're going to be out of Canada temporarily......

the temporary absences are;

study

work

missionary work

vacation/other

......and its the "other" that has me wondering

NOW......OHIP says "Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care may continue your eligibility for Ontario health (OHIP) coverage when you are absent from Ontario for more than 212 days in a 12 month period, as long as you plan to return and make your permanent and principal home in Ontario."

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public...hip/longer.html

[misa 2]

Thanks for the info! I'm under my husband's health care plan but maybe I'll inform OHIP after I get my conditional GC, just in case...