BC Inlanders thread

[sophieee]

The BC Health Minister has said the bureaucrates are wrong. Whether or not he will follow thru on this and make sure they start doing things right is another story. But it is a nice admission for him to make at least.

He replied to the article? Do you have the source?

 

[kafka khaos]

He replied to the article? Do you have the source?

No, its in the original article at them bottom:

"In the meantime, as a result of Go Public’s inquires, B.C.’s health minister said there is some flexibility, so it appears Bustes can expect coverage after all.

“The services of British Columbia hospitals would be there, and we would worry about the details later,” said Terry Lake.

“If there is a problem involved with bureaucracy, we will be very compassionate and work with them. And if they can demonstrate that the process is happening, then we will extend coverage.”
"

 

[Ponga]

IMHO, the real crux of the problem, is that BC MSP (or even Health Insurance BC) isn't aware that a spousal sponsorship application is three, separate parts (sponsor's application, assessment of relationship, applicant's application). However, these are all part of the same application!

How can a locomotive, pulling two cars, move without the other two cars moving too!

 

[sophieee]

No, its in the original article at them bottom:

"In the meantime, as a result of Go Public's inquires, B.C.'s health minister said there is some flexibility, so it appears Bustes can expect coverage after all.

“The services of British Columbia hospitals would be there, and we would worry about the details later,” said Terry Lake.

“If there is a problem involved with bureaucracy, we will be very compassionate and work with them. And if they can demonstrate that the process is happening, then we will extend coverage.”
"

I see... So they will be flexible if someone goes to CBC, get enough attention and become uncomfortable to ignore. Great.

 

[kafka khaos]

I see... So they will be flexible if someone goes to CBC, get enough attention and become uncomfortable to ignore. Great.

Yeah. Actually, if you read it really carefully its full of weasle words ("worry about details later" , "if there is a problem"), so who knows if this couple would actually get coverage.

Politics seems to be all about getting the story out of the media, not actually solving the problem.

 

[faH]

Clearly, the staff at HIBC have a directive to insist on seeing the words "In Process" from CIC in a document in order to accept an application despite language to the contrary in the ACT and REGULATIONS. After some discussion I was able to point out to a staff person that the letter from CPC-Vegreville documenting application transfer to CPC-Missasagua included the words "in Process". However, as this letter was not dated he has pushed it up to his supervisor. Hopefully, we will get coverage, or a written decision such that an appeal can be formally undertaken with the Ministry. The disconnect between the BC Medicare Protection Act, the Regulations and the policy implementation with the actual process and communication undertaken by CIC makes this a completely dysfunctional process where the Province is not meeting the intended objectives of its legislation.

 

[Ponga]

Clearly, the staff at HIBC have a directive to insist on seeing the words "In Process" from CIC in a document in order to accept an application despite language to the contrary in the ACT and REGULATIONS. After some discussion I was able to point out to a staff person that the letter from CPC-Vegreville documenting application transfer to CPC-Missasagua included the words "in Process". However, as this letter was not dated he has pushed it up to his supervisor. Hopefully, we will get coverage, or a written decision such that an appeal can be formally undertaken with the Ministry. The disconnect between the BC Medicare Protection Act, the Regulations and the policy implementation with the actual process and communication undertaken by CIC makes this a completely dysfunctional process where the Province is not meeting the intended objectives of its legislation.

I used my copy of that same letter as part of my argument. Even though the application does NOT need to be in-process, I stated that since this letter now shows a UCI number for the applicant, that in and of itself indicates that the applicant's portion of this `puzzle' has in fact commenced processing! How could a UCI number be assigned if the `process' hasn't begun?

 

[faH]

Finally, after three months of letters and phone calls MSP approval given. In addition to a strong case one needs to keep the pressure on until they give in. They finally agreed, should have had health coverage three months after date of reception as indicated on AOR, etc.

 

[sophieee]

Finally, after three months of letters and phone calls MSP approval given. In addition to a strong case one needs to keep the pressure on until they give in. They finally agreed, should have had health coverage three months after date of reception as indicated on AOR, etc.

Congrats, that's a really great news, I'm so happy for you!
I'm still waiting for their answer, they said that I can expect it between June 10 and 19 (21-28 work days). We will see...

 

[Ponga]

Finally, after three months of letters and phone calls MSP approval given. In addition to a strong case one needs to keep the pressure on until they give in. They finally agreed, should have had health coverage three months after date of reception as indicated on AOR, etc.

Congrats! It really shouldn't have been that difficult, but...you made it!

 

[sophieee]

Okay, we got the letter, it says:

Dear *Sponsor*:

Thank you for your recent correspondence. Unfortunately we are unable to continue processing your spouse's eligibility with information pertaining to the sponsorship stage of the application. To continue processing, please provide photocopies of the following to help MSP determine eligibility:
- any letters sent by CIC that states the date the Permanent Residence application was received and the processing has begun
- pages 1 and 2 from the CIC e-Client Application Status web site that states the date the Permanent Residence application was received and the date processing has begun.
Note: We cannot accept information pertaining only to the status of the Sponsorship application.
Thank you.
Health Insurance BC

Only letter I received was the AOR, we sent it, and I also sent every print out from e-cas. We will call them tomorrow, but I can't send any more. And as I learned, for others from 2013 the e-cas says not only that "We received your application to sponsor ...", but also "We started processing your application on...". For me, there is just the receiving...

 

[sophieee]

If you have any thought, how should we argue on this, please share with me!
FaH, can you see the "started processing" line in your e-cas?
Thanks

 

[faH]

If you have any thought, how should we argue on this, please share with me!
FaH, can you see the "started processing" line in your e-cas?
Thanks

On e-cas it only says "started processing" for the sponsor. However, we had the letter of transfer from Vegreville to Mississauga and that included the wording "in process". They did not like that the transfer letter was not dated. With the documentation we had I sent in a detailed letter referencing the Act and Regulations to make our case. I also made a few calls to the department that assesses eligibility and asked for a supervisor to review the documentation. I later spoke to a woman who very quickly made the decision to accept the AOR receipt date. Maybe she was the supervisor.

I received the same form letter as you twice! I would have insisted on a more specific response to my letter in writing had they continued to deny coverage. My next step would have been to call both my MLA and the Ministers office. It is difficult to appeal with just the form letter they send out which does not really address the underlying question and issues.

 

[Ponga]

On e-cas it only says "started processing" for the sponsor. However, we had the letter of transfer from Vegreville to Mississauga and that included the wording "in process". They did not like that the transfer letter was not dated. With the documentation we had I sent in a detailed letter referencing the Act and Regulations to make our case. I also made a few calls to the department that assesses eligibility and asked for a supervisor to review the documentation. I later spoke to a woman who very quickly made the decision to accept the AOR receipt date. Maybe she was the supervisor.

I received the same form letter as you twice! I would have insisted on a more specific response to my letter in writing had they continued to deny coverage. My next step would have been to call both my MLA and the Ministers office. It is difficult to appeal with just the form letter they send out which does not really address the underlying question and issues.

I did the same thing, which helped me convince them that they were wrong!

The fact that the transfer letter had the applicant's UCI number was another plus...because I said "How could CIC have assigned a UCI number for the applicant, if they had not commenced the `processing' of the applicant"? They couldn't argue that point!

 

[sophieee]

I don't have a transfer letter, and e-cas doesn't show processing neither the sponsor nor the applicant. So, I think I’m in a worse situation than you…

Anyway, my husband called them in the morning, the first lady said that I will be eligible only when I'm waiting for my PR card, and after a very short argue she transferred us for her supervisor. The next lady argued more, my husband read her out what's on their website, the lady argued that, than after the third time my husband read out their website and said this on YOUR website, this is how YOU describe eligibility the second lady also said she will transfer us her supervisor. The third person (surprise!) wasn't available, we could leave a message, and they promised a call back in two working days.