Canadian Medical to US Medical Transition

[biglos 0]

I have a couple medical ailments (asthma/diabetes) that I need medications for, anyone have any advice on making the transition after getting your visa and making the move to the US?

Any info would be appreciated! Merry Christmas everyone!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

It was fairly simple for me. First, I brought a couple months supply of each medication I was taking in case I had problems securing a doctor here in the US. After my husband added me to his health insurance however, it was fairy easy to track down a good physician for me. I showed her the Canadian medicines I was taking and she prescribed what she felt was the American equivalent after I explained to her what everything was for. If you're worried about it, maybe you should get your Canadian doctor to write a note explaining what each medication is for to help your new American doctor prescribe something that's the most suitable? Just a thought. Good luck and merry Christmas!

[La Souris 19]

Hugglebuggles' suggestion is good. You may also want to see if you are already covered by your spouse's insurance and find and meet a doctor during one of your visits. You can also stop by a drugstore and they can see if the same drugs are available there (I did this for my birth control pills and the exact same brand is available there, so I only need to find a doctor to get a prescription...).

Good luck

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Also, arrange with your family doctor and endocrinologist to get copies of your medical records, including test results, over the last few years. It will help your new doctor come up to speed on your conditions and treatments. Be sure to bring enough medication and testing supplies to last you at least 3 months as it isn't always easy to get an appointment right away with new doctors. Bring copies of your prescriptions - even though they aren't valid in the US they will help your new doctors continue you on the same medication.

If you are being added to your spouses' medical insurance you will need to provide proof that you have been covered with medical insurance in Canada to avoid being hit with a pre-existing clause. The new health bill will do away with this restrictions but until it is law - and maybe for a time after - it will still be in place. Pre-existing conditions are usually exempted from medical insurance coverage for a year unless you are changing from one medical insurance coverage to another - thus bringing proof of coverage in Canada. Evidence of provincial health coverage works and if you have additional coverage through your employer have them write a letter on letter head stating when your coverage started and when it ends. If you have a time without coverage then purchase a type of 'bridging' coverage to cover you from when you leave Canada (or your current coverage ends) and you are added to your spouses' plan - usually effective on the date of marriage.

Make sure your spouse verifies with his/her health insurer when you can be added - there are usually only two times changes can be made to coverage in a US plan - at an annual open enrollment time and at a life changing event time - ie marriage, birth of a child, etc. There is a limited window of opportunity, though - in many case two weeks to 30 days in which you must make these additions so be sure you don't miss the date! You can't afford to be without health insurance coverage if you have a medical condition because the costs would be astronomical. Hope this helps!

(I also have diabetes).

Edited December 25, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Hugglebuggles 60]

That's interesting Kathryn. I was fully expecting a little big of a struggle to secure health insurance here in the US due to my history of asthma, but I was never asked about any pre-existing medical conditions. Perhaps this is an issue that varies by supplier? Or maybe since I disclosed I was from Canada and was covered under OHIP in the past they regarded it as enough evidence.

Also consider that even if the medication you are taking in Canada is available in the US, you may not be able to get that particular brand through your health provider. For example, the birth control pills I have been on for several years are from an American based pharmaceutical company but Kaiser Permanente, my medical supplier, does not have it on their list of approved medications. They can only prescribe certain brands and therefore I am limited to what they have and can supply me. I could get medications from a third party, but since it wouldn't be covered under my insurance I would need to pay full price.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

When I submitted my first claim to my husband's health plan for a medical check up to get a renewal of my insulin prescription, the claim was denied due to having a pre-existing condition. That is when I found out that if I submitted proof of coverage up until the time my coverage on my husband's plan started then they would allow it. My health coverage under my Canadian employer actually covered me for 7 weeks after my arrival since I had 5 weeks combined vacation and overtime due to me, plus an additional 2 weeks coverage after my final paycheck, so I actually had overlapping coverage for several weeks. I sent them the letter from my employment insurance along with the information about OHIP (since that provided the base coverage). My claim was re-adjudicated and allowed. When my husband's company changed health insurance providers I again had to submit proof of coverage immediately prior to the new coverage to the new provider in order to have my diabetes medical costs included. The two health providers concerned were Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Wow, so they allowed him to add you to his health insurance and then denied you coverage after you tried to use it for a routine medical check? Am I reading that right? I can't believe they can get away with something like that.

[biglos 0]

Thank for all the wonderful advice! Any health insurance companies that anyone suggests that is good for an asthmatic/diabetic?