health insurance

[danandamy 0]

HI all-

Does anyone know at what point a Canadian will lose their social insurance (notably Health Benefits) if they are immigrating to the US as a permanent resident alien? My spouse does not wish to ever give up Canadian citizenship, but does a Canadian forfeit their health coverage the moment they cross into the US, or is there a sunset clause of some kind?

I am uninsured, and if I wind up in the hospital seriously ill, they will set me up in some sort of state assisted HMO to help cover my costs. As GW Bush said himself, anyone can get health care if they need it- just go to the ER of your local hospital. They have to take you.

But if a Canadian resident alien were to wind up in a hospital bed , without insurance, I am assuming that the folks who signed the Affadavit of support will be held responsible for their bills. I assume that if the Canadian resident alien were to be enrolled in medicaid, or a state run HMO similar to Medicaid, they would then be considered a public ward. The guaranteurs would then be sued for the cost to the public.

Knowing exactly when the Canadian loses the opportunity to go home and see their Canadian doc for free would help to prevent this!!! Or at least I would assume they have, say 6 months to settle in, and find a new job that offers Health insurance. Id like to be sure before we go through with the interview and cross the US border, and I introduce my lovely wife to the high-risk lifestyle of the US middle class!

[carslo 0]

Try posting in the Canada forum. I know if visiting Canda you can get travel health insurance to suppliment your province's health care, but not sure what the process is if you are immigrating to the USA.

Janet