Another added expense while preparing for the immigration medical

[carslo 0]

I just wanted to let others know that I have another expense to add to the ever growing list.

I am preparing for my medical here in Vancouver. On the list from the office there, it states that you need to have a note from your dr regarding any chronic medical issues and the medication that you take for it. I have viral induced asthma (sometimes when I get a cold I start this awful coughing), when necessary I take an enhaled steriod for a few weeks and I am back to normal. So off I went to the doctor yesterday to get this written on a perscription pad. After I explained this to my dr and she read what the immigration drs instructions stated, she wrote it all down for me. Then she said, "I have to charge you for an office visit, as MSP doesn't cover immigration matters. I won't charge you the $20.00 for writing the note - only $65.00 for the visit." I said "I hope you will take a cheque?" she laughed and said "only if you are not leaving the country tomorrow." So just another expense to add.

Maybe my dr is a sticklier for the rules, but she had always been a great dr. I am certainly not cross with her for charging me.

I hope others do not encounter this, but now we can all be prepared.

Janet

Edited May 12, 2009 by carslo

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Hummm.. That's strange. I've had asthma for 19 years and they just recorded it and asked for nothing more.... but its never been very chronic. When I had to get a note from my doctor about the Garadisil shots she charged me $5! And $5 made me grumpy

[beans 7]

Weird. My doctor has looked over all my immigration stuff and essentially just did whatever I asked..lol Good man.

[minnew 4]

Me too, just went to him yesterday and asked him for a letter, he didn't say a word about charging me. He said the letter would be ready by next week! When I went to get the immunization records they didn't charge me because I had just been in for the Tdap. But yeah $350 in Vancouver for a medical really SUCKS.

[JillA 2]

I guess it just depends on your doctor.... mine gave me a copy of my entire medical record file free of charge. I'd been going there over 10 years.

[SapphireDreams 71]

That's strange. My Dr. said that if there was anything I needed for my immigration medical to just let her know and she would take care of it.

Maybe it's a provincial thing. She probably can't bill the government for something like that.

I know most Dr.'s charge for notes, around $10, and I'm okay with that.

[carslo 0]

So glad others have not had this added expense. On the plus side, I have been doing some baby quilts to pass the waiting time and one of my co-workers was interested in purchasing one. I quoted her $ 65.00 even before I booked the appointment. So the expense was offset by the selling of a quilt. Funny thing was the quilt was made totally from odds and ends I had

Janet

[Udella&Wiz 325]

wHO KNEW QUILTING COULD PAY FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES!

Oops on the caps - my Dr wrote a nice note indicating how long I'd been a patient, what my current conditions and or medications were for them. I believe he charged me $20-$25 for the letter - can't exactly remember. But it was his standard charge for a Dr's note - same as if he was writing one for workers comp or something

I think it's bull ####### that you're paying for a visit- it's not like she's giving you the medical for immigration, she's writing you a letter

[ashenflowers 5]

hmm... I don't have a family doctor. Is that going to cause an issue? From my knowledge, I have no ongoing medical conditions to be concerned about, and don't take any regular medication (except birth control, if that counts )

[carslo 0]

B/C and vitamins do not count as medication.

Janet

[Michael+Tracie 0]

This is one area that I've been really lucky with. My Dr. had immigrated to the US then met and married a USC before finally moving back to Canada. So he's been through the US system himself, and his wife went through the Canadian system.

He's so familiar with everything, it's been a breeze getting my titer test and Td immunization. He seems more than willing to help with anything he can...but he still insists that I'm being "stolen away" by an American and really she should be coming here...

Although he's been really good, I must admit that the lab where I got the titer test done charged me $25 when I went in for my MMR testing because it was for immigration and not covered. If my childhood immunization records weren't a mess, I wouldn't have had that expense either.

I guess in the big picture, I don't mind paying out the little fees. In comparison to the big ones, they almost seem inconsequential. And I keep reminding myself that it's all for a good cause: Finally being together with my future-wife

[ladygothic 0]

I just wanted to let others know that I have another expense to add to the ever growing list.

I am preparing for my medical here in Vancouver. On the list from the office there, it states that you need to have a note from your dr regarding any chronic medical issues and the medication that you take for it. I have viral induced asthma (sometimes when I get a cold I start this awful coughing), when necessary I take an enhaled steriod for a few weeks and I am back to normal. So off I went to the doctor yesterday to get this written on a perscription pad. After I explained this to my dr and she read what the immigration drs instructions stated, she wrote it all down for me. Then she said, "I have to charge you for an office visit, as MSP doesn't cover immigration matters. I won't charge you the $20.00 for writing the note - only $65.00 for the visit." I said "I hope you will take a cheque?" she laughed and said "only if you are not leaving the country tomorrow." So just another expense to add.

Maybe my dr is a sticklier for the rules, but she had always been a great dr. I am certainly not cross with her for charging me.

I hope others do not encounter this, but now we can all be prepared.

Janet

I'm learning what medical info was required. Your post and some replies, so helps me. I spoke to my specialist 2 weeks ago and he said my family dr will help me figure out what shots I need, if OHIP will cover any and help me know ahead of time if I need any.

It's a huge vaccination list but the closer I look at it, it's not so bad I've had many of those childhood diseases. Though my childhood medical record is not available. My specialist said not to worry, any simple blood test will show I've either had a shot for it or had it as a child and my body shows natural anti-bodies, if I can't show childhood - 19yrs old medical record history. They can blood test find.

I'd love to show ahead of time the cost and wait!

Your post gave me a reminder heads up to get a routine family DR letter on travelling. I am so doing all my specialist and GP tests here before I go, and for that medical. My Dr fee if a letter is $14 it'll be worth the peace of mind ahead planning.

Edited May 20, 2009 by ladygothic

[carslo 0]

I am glad that mine and other's postings have helped. I have learned so much from fellow VJ's, that I try and share anything new or important.

Good luck with your journey!

Janet