a question about pregnancy costs/insurance

[Mapleson]

I always bring this up, but if you are considering having a child together, is there any reason not to get married (Marriage is for as long as you are in love, a child is forever)? That would bring your application timetable ahead by 10 months.

You don't need to tell CIC when you are pregnant, only if you have the child before getting your PR status.

EDIT: You should declare your pregnancy when landing, if applicable.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

thanks for all the answers here (and some additional info on health services ), so I guess what this boils down to is either I get some kind of a private health care plan (which is different than medical insurance, correct?) which would cover, say, doctor costs ? (because even when one has a midwife, there are scans and tests that need to be done a few times during the pregnancy, which the midwife does not do, right?).

and one more thing - the medicals for PR, do I need to wait until they ask for them, or can I do an upfront examination? If I do it just before we submit I am giving myself some time before they expire (and if they expire before they reach a decision, one needs to retake them anyway, yes?), and am also going through all the x-rays etc before I get pregnant, whiich seems like the best option so far. If it turns out that I give birth after I got my PR (so I do landing pregnant), as a PR am I eligible for OHIP just like that (= do I need to have a job, I might not work with the baby around for a few months, nor would I get a job in advanced pregnancy). What I mean is, if I get PR before I give birth, could I give birth in a hospital?

And, the OHIP also states, that one is eligible after submitting an application for PR, though I'm not sure I understand what the CIC initial approval means. Does it mean that I could apply for OHIP after sponsor approval? (we are applying outland, common law, my visa office has their average processing time of 11 months).

 

[Majromax]

thanks for all the answers here (and some additional info on health services ), so I guess what this boils down to is either I get some kind of a private health care plan (which is different than medical insurance, correct?) which would cover, say, doctor costs ? (because even when one has a midwife, there are scans and tests that need to be done a few times during the pregnancy, which the midwife does not do, right?).

Please do check your OHIP eligibility. I saw in your post history that you are a postdoc at UoT, and if you have longer than six months remaining on your appointment that should leave you eligible for OHIP on your work permit.

and one more thing - the medicals for PR, do I need to wait until they ask for them, or can I do an upfront examination? If I do it just before we submit I am giving myself some time before they expire (and if they expire before they reach a decision, one needs to retake them anyway, yes?), and am also going through all the x-rays etc before I get pregnant, whiich seems like the best option so far.

Outland applications are supposed to be submitted with an upfront examination. Inland applications are supposed to wait, but many have an upfront medical done anyway.

The possible issue with timing of PR and a baby is that for applicants who are concerned about the radiation exposure, the chest x-ray is delayed but is still required for processing the full application. This would obviously delay processing your application, such that landing-while-pregnant would not be possible.

as a PR am I eligible for OHIP just like that

You would be eligible, but OHIP still has a three-month waiting period for full coverage.

And, the OHIP also states, that one is eligible after submitting an application for PR, though I'm not sure I understand what the CIC initial approval means. Does it mean that I could apply for OHIP after sponsor approval? (we are applying outland, common law, my visa office has their average processing time of 11 months).

This applies mostly to inland applications, where CIC does sponsorship approval alongside "immigrant selection." That combination is "stage 1 approval," and it is the part that takes ~15 months currently.

This does not apply as written to Outland applications. However, the visa office does separate the selection decision from the final decision internally, and some users here have been able to argue that their waiting period should begin with that selection. This invariably requires the user to apply for OHIP, get rejected, then appeal, as only upon that appeal does OHIP check up with CIC as to when exactly the selection decision was made. (CIC does not tell you the applicant when or whether this decision was made, but it might show up buried in GMCS notes maybe.)

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Please do check your OHIP eligibility. I saw in your post history that you are a postdoc at UoT, and if you have longer than six months remaining on your appointment that should leave you eligible for OHIP on your work permit.

I only have time until sept 30th, but I will be applying for an extension tomorrow (for another year), so I guess this means I could apply for OHIP after I get the new permit? (the problem I see is that I am not paid my a canadian employer, I am funded from an european grant).

Outland applications are supposed to be submitted with an upfront examination. Inland applications are supposed to wait, but many have an upfront medical done anyway.

that's good to know, thanks!

he possible issue with timing of PR and a baby is that for applicants who are concerned about the radiation exposure, the chest x-ray is delayed but is still required for processing the full application. This would obviously delay processing your application, such that landing-while-pregnant would not be possible.

so basically it's better to wait until we apply with any baby trying, and then if the application is processed quicker than delivery, I land while pregnant, if not, I have to notify CIC, but does that delay the application?

This does not apply as written to Outland applications. However, the visa office does separate the selection decision from the final decision internally, and some users here have been able to argue that their waiting period should begin with that selection. This invariably requires the user to apply for OHIP, get rejected, then appeal, as only upon that appeal does OHIP check up with CIC as to when exactly the selection decision was made. (CIC does not tell you the applicant when or whether this decision was made, but it might show up buried in GMCS notes maybe.)

I see, thanks! this seems complicated, I guess I'll just try to apply for the OHIP after my permit extension (hopefully successful!)

 

[Majromax]

I only have time until sept 30th, but I will be applying for an extension tomorrow (for another year), so I guess this means I could apply for OHIP after I get the new permit? (the problem I see is that I am not paid my a canadian employer, I am funded from an european grant).

Is the grant managed by the UofT? Do you have a Canadian social insurance number? UofT has many postdocs, and the office there should have some direct experience in handling cases such as yours, so they may have more up-to-date and practical advice than you can get here.

so basically it's better to wait until we apply with any baby trying, and then if the application is processed quicker than delivery, I land while pregnant, if not, I have to notify CIC, but does that delay the application?

You can't complete the medical while pregnant because of radiation concerns with the chest X-ray. It's that, and not the mere state of being pregnant, which delays the application.

If everything works out OHIP-wise, then the ideal thing to do would be to try for the baby soon, file for PR as scheduled, and complete the chest X-ray after your delivery. That will probably occur while your application is still in the queue given ordinary processing times, and you will have OHIP coverage under your work permit. You'll likely need to arrange a small amount of maternity leave for the delivery and recuperation, but on the other hand your situation is not at all uncommon for doctoral students and postdocs.

 

[Rob_TO]

As I mentioned in a previous post, simply having a work permit often doesn't qualify you for OHIP. The rules state you also require a full time job offer:
You are a foreign worker who holds a valid work permit or other document issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) permitting you to work in Canada, and you also have a formal agreement in place to work full-time for an employer situated in Ontario which sets out the employer's name, your occupation, and confirmation that you will be working for no less than six consecutive months;

But for OHIP eligibility as was mentioned it's best to check with the group that is handling your OWP (so would be the school in this case) as they should know the ins and outs of everything.

Also need to note your medical is only valid for 1 year. So usually you are supposed to do the medical as the last step before submitting your outland app, so the medical stays valid during the entire processing time. If a medical is done too early, there's a good chance the 12 months expiry will come up during processing. When this happens CIC can choose to simply extend the medical another 12 months, OR they will ask for a brand new medical exam. Unfortunately there is no way to pressure CIC to do one way or the other, it's entirely their choice. And as was mentioned if they ask for a new exam and you're pregnant, you will basically need to wait until the baby is delivered before completing medical and getting PR approved.

You have so many factors in play and open questions in terms of timing everything in terms of pregnancy and the PR app, it's really hard to say exactly what will unfold in your case.