Living in the USA: Should I keep my CDN health insurance?

[turbokitty]

I am in the USA on an L1 visa and live down here full time. I have a home in Canada that I rent out. I will be working in the USA exclusively and will have no Canadian income for at least a few years. When I visit Canada, I will be covered under my US-paid travel insurance.
I don't think I'm even eligible to keep my CDN health insurance as I won't be in Canada more than a couple of weeks a year, but I could keep it I'm sure as I own a home there: my "primary residence" in name only.
Is there a point in trying to keep my health insurance in Canada or should I just wave it off?
Wouldn't I be able to reclaim it if I ever move back?
Thanks all!

 

[Rob_TO]

It's not really a choice for you, it's up to the province you are from and if they have a physical residency requirement to maintain your healthcare coverage. Some provinces don't care if you own a home or pay Canadian taxes, if you aren't physically in the province for so many months or make it your primary residence... your healthcare would be cancelled and subject to a waiting period up to 3 months when you return.

Each province is very different so you need to check the appropriate provincial website or call the healthcare office based on your location.

 

[Leon]

If you are not residing in Canada, you are supposed to inform your provincial health care. Most of them will cancel your coverage if you've been living outside the province for 6 months or longer. Some may allow you to stay covered for longer if you are away temporarily for studies or work. In any case, you should inform your health care that you've moved.

Using health care, even if your card is still valid, when you are no longer eligible (because you moved away and didn't inform them), can be seen as fraud and you could end up in the situation of having to pay back expenses they covered for you and worst case you could end up with criminal charges against you.

If you return to Canada for good, you would simply inform your health care that you have returned and you would be covered again, possibly after a waiting period of up to 3 months depending on the province.