Will wife still get to keep OHIP if we POE but she doesn't move yet

[mike777 0]

Hi,

Curious, if my wife POE's but she doesn't physically move to the states at that point, is she still eligible for OHIP?

Or do they automatically tap into the government databases and see shes PR of the US and say, goodbye your no longer covered...?

I was reading my wifes letter that was in her packet and it says, "until she returns to the US after activation, shes still a non-resident." But is that just for the US, and does OHIP consider that enough to shut the door on her...

thanks

I only ask because we'd like to POE soon and not move yet (she'll still physically and on paper be in Ontario) but if it's going to be a problem, we won't until we actually move.

[sdw 10]

I was wondering this myself.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

If she is still residing in Canada and has not completed her relocation to the US then she should still be covered by OHIP. Once she physically moves out of Ontario to take up residence in the US, however, she is no longer eligible for OHIP benefits.

[mike777 0]

I see, so then she could POE - and even return to the US (say we go over to do shopping or prep my/our new house that I'm still waiting for...), but as long as she physically doesn't move to the US yet, shes still covered...

How can they tell by that? What checks and measures do they use.

[Kimbear 53]

from what my understanding is based on my moving in and out of ontario / quebec a couple times in the last year. ohip will cover you for up to 3 months after moving. most provincial health cards are like that. i asked this in january when i had to renew my ontario one after arriving here from quebec in november. the clerk told me it ends the 1st day fo the third month usually.

[mike777 0]

Ah ok. So it sounds like we're clear to POE.

There's just that excitement about making it official, you know? For instance in the grand scheme of things, I know my wifes a perm resident now, but technically shes not until we cross the bridge and get stamped. And it's like, we waited all this time, and don't want to wait longer lol. Long story, we're waiting on a house I have an offer in on and we're not going to be living at my parents (my current address)...no no no. Plus I want her to have her green card and SSN sooner, rather than later.

So if I can delay health expenses on my behalf through my employer to pay for my wife the longer,...the better. Health insurance companies are generally lame though and it takes months anyways.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You should check and see what your health plans states for enrollment periods. Generally you are only allowed to change your plan once a year during the annual renewal period or within 30 days of a life-changing event such as marriage, birth of a child ,etc. You might want to check on when you are allowed to add her to your US plan, and if she is going to be moving to the US prior to that time, then you really should look into purchasing some sort of supplemental health insurance for when she enters the US to when you can add her.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Kathryn41

[redmen99 1]

You should check and see what your health plans states for enrollment periods. Generally you are only allowed to change your plan once a year during the annual renewal period or within 30 days of a life-changing event such as marriage, birth of a child ,etc. You might want to check on when you are allowed to add her to your US plan, and if she is going to be moving to the US prior to that time, then you really should look into purchasing some sort of supplemental health insurance for when she enters the US to when you can add her.

I checked with my employer about this since my open enrollment for this year was at the end of October. I didn't want to pay for him to be covered if he wasn't here. So they told me that becoming a resident was a Change of Life and that I can add him when he gets his SS# and greencard.

[Pauley 2]

I checked with my employer about this since my open enrollment for this year was at the end of October. I didn't want to pay for him to be covered if he wasn't here. So they told me that becoming a resident was a Change of Life and that I can add him when he gets his SS# and greencard.

I was told the same thing by my employer -- specifically, the loss of coverage from OHIP counts as "no longer covered by a government-sponsored health plan" and a Qualifying Event for purposes of early enrollment in benefits under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Your employer/insurance provider may wish to see documentation from OHIP that the spouse is no longer resident and thus no longer covered, and in my case at least, I would get retroactive coverage to that drop date.

[trailmix 77]

from what my understanding is based on my moving in and out of ontario / quebec a couple times in the last year. ohip will cover you for up to 3 months after moving. most provincial health cards are like that. i asked this in january when i had to renew my ontario one after arriving here from quebec in november. the clerk told me it ends the 1st day fo the third month usually.

In general this only applies when moving from province to province - not to a different country.

Don't know about Ontario but Alberta will cover you for up to 3 months when you move out of the country BUT you have to pay for that.

Mike - there is no way for them to check - it is done on the honesty system if that is what you are really asking.

The only way they would know is if your wife, when filing her Canadian tax return for 2010 has a different 'left Canada' date than the date she cancelled her health care.