Canadian Health Care

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Hi,

I don't know if this topic has been discussed or not...if it has can you show me where I can find info on it?

Question...as a Canadian, if I were to move to the US(marry a USC), and begin a new life there, and I still hold citizenship in Canada, am I entitled to health care back home? Do you have to be out of the country for a certain # of months before they "cut you off"?

Thanks

[Galateia 1]

Hi,

I don't know if this topic has been discussed or not...if it has can you show me where I can find info on it?

Question...as a Canadian, if I were to move to the US(marry a USC), and begin a new life there, and I still hold citizenship in Canada, am I entitled to health care back home? Do you have to be out of the country for a certain # of months before they "cut you off"?

Thanks

I believe you have to come back, declare yourself a resident of canada again with proof, and possibly there is a 6 month timeframe of being back in the country before you can use the health system but that's off the top of my head yanked from misty memory.

I do have a friend whose brother returned from an extended working stay in Poland and didn't let OHIP know he was back, and even though he'd been back in the country for months he had to pay for his hospitalization because he hadn't re-authorized his health coverage. So I can confirm there is a re-authentication process involved.

[KandD 1]

I used to work with a lady who was Canadian living in the US married to a USC. When she needed an operation she would go back to Canada to have it done. Dont know if there is a time limit.

[sly_wolf 199]

As far as I know, once you officially move to the US you will no longer be entitled to Canadian Healthcare.

Steve

[Cassie 8]

Once you move to the US, you give up your rights to use Canadian healthcare without having to pay. I had to visit the ER over the 2006 Christmas holidays and I had to pay a certain amount before even being admitted, and was billed for the rest after getting back home. 'T'isn't cheap!

Each province has their own rules r/t length of time you have to be a resident in order to qualify for coverage.

For example, here is Nova Scotia's rules:

To be eligible for Nova Scotia Medical Service Insurance (MSI) benefits you must be:

* a Canadian Citizen or “Permanent Resident” (Landed Immigrant)

* a resident who makes his/her permanent home in Nova Scotia and is present in the province 183 days every calendar year.

* You must be registered with MSI to be eligible for benefits.

If you leave Nova Scotia to establish permanent residence outside of Canada your MSI coverage is valid until the day you leave Canada.

If you are a returning Canadian Citizen or a returning "Permanent Resident" moving permanently to Nova Scotia from outside Canada, MSI will provide first day coverage.

[Sprailenes 47]

You're not paying the taxes so you're not entitled.

[Flames9_RN 358]

You're not paying the taxes so you're not entitled.

Exactly!! And if ya move back to canada, the coverage doesnt always start up right away-varies from province to province. Was an article last year in 1 of the BC papers, sating how it was costing the BC governemt millions of $$$$ each yr in providing healthcare services to people that were not entitled to it!! And how they were stepping up to collect the money (collection agencies).

[Krikit 1,164]

In Ontario, the snowbirds are back within six months or they lose their coverage.

[Reba 2]

Snowbirds are not taking up permenant residency in the US, they are only here for the allowed 6 months in most cases. (or less) It is illegal to continue to use Canadian health care services if one is no longer a resident of Canada. If you are found to be using Canadian healthcare services illegally, they can and will charge you for those services, and potentially toss you in jail if they're in a mean mood that day.

In Ontario, by law, you are required to notify Health Ontario http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public...ip/ohip_mn.html when you leave the province/country. If you move back to Ontario, it'll be 3 months before your OHIP is re-instated.

[Krikit 1,164]

Snowbirds are not taking up permenant residency in the US, they are only here for the allowed 6 months in most cases. (or less) It is illegal to continue to use Canadian health care services if one is no longer a resident of Canada.

Not all snowbirds head to the US. The point was that snowbirds (wherever they have gone in the world) have to be back within six months or they lose their medical coverage.

[rhymeswithcandi 0]

CDAgirl, pretty much everything said so far is correct. I'm assuming from your avitar that you're from Ontario and the deal there is that if you are outside of Ontario for more than 6 months, you lose your OHIP coverage - that is, if you've notified Ontario of your move.

Technically however, if you have a mailing address (residence) in Canada your HealthCard is still valid until you officially give up your residence (notify the Ministry of Health that you are no longer a resident). My cousin, who's lived in the US for 8 months, had a new healthcard sent to her mother's house as that was her last address...

An acquaintance of mine was outside of Canada for 8-9 months of the year working as a researcher but still had a permanent residence in Toronto and paid taxes in Canada. Her healthcard remained valid.

Once you officially give up your residence in Ontario you can still return and re-apply for a healthcard with all of the required identification (Photo ID and proof of address) just like when you renew your healthcard - I know several people who've done this. It's not that difficult.

But if you give up your Healthcard, you have to pay for any medical treatments in Ontario (for example if you were to go back for a visit and wished to see your old family doctor)

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Hello,

Thanks for all the responses.

Yes, I am in Ontario, and don't plan on leaving in the immediate future.

But I'd like to know the facts.

I kinda of figured that when you leave, you give up Canadian health care....just didn't know how long you had to be out before you weren't eligible.

Thanks again