I'm Canadian, my pregnant wife is American - do I have to pay for birth in CA?

[brokentelephone]

My wife is American and we're thinking of moving to Canada (we live in the UK now). Anyhow, I am Canadian so am wondering: do we need to pay privately for a birth in Canada? She'd like to apply for Canadian citizenship, but I read the process involves a medical checkup with mandatory chest x-ray and we're not comfortable subjecting the unborn kid to x-ray (obviously very little risk, but why bother?).

Any idea if I have to pay for birth in Canada? Can she start application for spousal visa, and defer the medical test, but still get free childbirth?

Thanks v much

 

[Leon]

You have to sponsor your wife for PR before she can get citizenship. She will need medicals and a chest x-ray. The chest x-ray can be done with an apron or you can defer it until the baby is born. She can not get her PR without having done the medicals first.

If you move back to Canada now, some provinces will not even consider giving your wife health care until she already has her PR + she has spent at least 90 days in their province after she got her PR so you will not get child birth covered in these provinces. Forget going to Ontario or BC.

One of the most liberal provinces when it comes to covering people is AB so if you move to AB, as a returning Canadian from overseas, you would get AB health first day and it is possible that they would cover your wife as well. When you enter Canada, you should ask for a visitor record for her based on that you want to sponsor her for PR. To AB, she might be seen as your dependent and as she has a visitor record which may allow her to stay in Canada for a year, she may fall under their definition of person who lives in AB for more than 6 months a year and may be eligible even if you have not applied to sponsor her yet. However, you should discuss this with AB health first to make sure before you move. If you must sponsor her to get coverage, you can sponsor inland without having done the medicals first. They will ask for them later. If you sponsor outland, you must include the medicals when you apply.

You will find AB health care here: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-care-insurance-plan.html

 

[amikety]

Just to add, if you go to Alberta, when you enter into Canada - make sure to get a Visitor's Record for your wife. The registries seem to need it to give healthcare. You'll also need your marriage certificate.

I'm American, a 'visitor' in AB, and I have healthcare. My husband just added me as a dependant to his healthcare.

 

[brokentelephone]

Thanks so much for the replies.

Do I have to take up residence in Alberta? Or just arrive there and register with the health service? I'm from Vancouver and have no plans to live in AB!

Thanks

 

[Leon]

Thanks so much for the replies.

Do I have to take up residence in Alberta? Or just arrive there and register with the health service? I'm from Vancouver and have no plans to live in AB!

Thanks

If you do go to AB and register for AB health, you should stay for at least 6 months because otherwise they could say that you were never eligible for AB health in the first place and back charge you for what they have paid for you.

 

[amikety]

Thanks so much for the replies.

Do I have to take up residence in Alberta? Or just arrive there and register with the health service? I'm from Vancouver and have no plans to live in AB!

Thanks

You must also have proof of residence in AB to enroll in healthcare.

 

[vechappell]

Im from the UK and hubby is Canadian.

You have to pay for any health care given until you are eligible for health care in your province.

In Quebec you have to apply and it takes 3 months if you're from out of Canada but if you're pregnant you are covered. Again here in Quebec you need proof that you're allowed to live there and that immigration have accepted you in principal.

I don't know about your province, it maybe worth calling your health care and ask how it works.

I have just been allowed to apply for health care here I have only spent around $3,000 so far in tests and drs fees the total for me would have been around $20,000.

I know it can range from $10,000+ depending on the type of birth, where you are etc.

Good luck.