Another random question (health insurance - Alberta)

[Cvstos]

I'm moving from the US to Alberta. According to folks here, I got the PPR, and thus I am now waiting on the COPR. I know each province has slightly different rules regarding this, so... How long do I have to wait to be eligible for coverage under the Alberta Health Services? I hear in Ontario it's a whopping three months. (Which is crazy. It's one thing for people from other provinces, as they can get SOME coverage, but immigrants only have travel EMERGENCY care at best.)

The AHS website is... vague.

Individuals coming to Alberta on visas or permits from Citizenship and Immigration Canada may be eligible for AHCIP coverage, depending on the type of immigration document they have, the length of time on the document and their commitment to reside in Alberta for 12 consecutive months.

If you are moving or returning to Alberta from outside Canada, you might be eligible for coverage on the date of your arrival. You must register within 3 months of arrival. Newcomers to Canada are required to present a copy of their Canada entry document along with their other supporting documents.

(Emphasis mine.)

Maybe. Might. What are the real rules here?

Thanks!

 

[JRPW]

Hi.

The wife and I moved back to Canada (Alberta) from Japan in December 2013 before the wife received her COPR. She was given a one year visitor record when we landed at Calgary Airport after we provided proof that we had a PR application in process. A week after we landed, I applied for Alberta Health coverage. There were no issues. We have been covered since our arrival in Alberta. However, the wife is only covered for the duration of her visitor record. Once she receives her PR card, I will go and get that changed.

 

[mikeymyke]

Alberta is awesome, you get coverage immediately if you come from outside Canada.

 

[Cvstos]

Hi.

The wife and I moved back to Canada (Alberta) from Japan in December 2013 before the wife received her COPR. She was given a one year visitor record when we landed at Calgary Airport after we provided proof that we had a PR application in process. A week after we landed, I applied for Alberta Health coverage. There were no issues. We have been covered since our arrival in Alberta. However, the wife is only covered for the duration of her visitor record. Once she receives her PR card, I will go and get that changed.

That's a thing? I could get AHS coverage now? I thought you had to be landed.

 

[JRPW]

No, you don't need to be landed. You need to show proof that you are in Canada legally. Correct. The visitor record is a piece of paper that the wife received stating what the wife cannot do while in Canada - Cannot work, go to school, etc. It also stated when the wife had to leave Canada. The visitor record that the wife received was enough to get AHS coverage.

 

[Cvstos]

No, you don't need to be landed. You need to show proof that you are in Canada legally. Correct. The visitor record is a piece of paper that the wife received stating what the wife cannot do while in Canada - Cannot work, go to school, etc. It also stated when the wife had to leave Canada. The visitor record that the wife received was enough to get AHS coverage.

Wish I had known that six months ago. Would've saved us a ton of money and hassle... Damn. Oh well, too late now.

 

[Cvstos]

No, you don't need to be landed. You need to show proof that you are in Canada legally. Correct. The visitor record is a piece of paper that the wife received stating what the wife cannot do while in Canada - Cannot work, go to school, etc. It also stated when the wife had to leave Canada. The visitor record that the wife received was enough to get AHS coverage.

ALso, I applied OUTLAND, not INLAND. Does this have an effect?

 

[little_apple]

ALso, I applied OUTLAND, not INLAND. Does this have an effect?

I applied outland but was inland. When my work permit expired I lost my Alberta coverage. But I had a visitor record afterwards and changed Alberta Health Care from my own coverage to coverage under my Canadian spouse. No problem at all

 

[JRPW]

ALso, I applied OUTLAND, not INLAND. Does this have an effect?

No, doesn't have an effect. We also applied outland. As the above poster wrote, you need to be under your sponsor's coverage and be legally in Canada.