Medical coverage for new immigrants

[hmoosa81]

Dear Experts

I need you guidance in getting information to secure urgent medical coverage for my son. The background of our case is as follows:

Myself, wife and my adult child landed in Canada (Ontario) in 2013 and obtained our PR cards which expire in June 2018. After 15 days of stay, we came back to Dubai and were not able to go back till recent due to a family situation. Meanwhile, we had another child for whom I have received the TRP earlier this month valid for 2 years.
Unfortunately, my adult child who holds the canadian PR is diagnosed with blood cancer 2 weeks back and we have urgently started the treatment. Since this is a dangerous and critical illness, we will not be able to travel for six months which will leave few days for our PR to expire. I want to come to Canada before the PR card expiry and once its safe to travel so that his further treatment which spans over three years is handled in Canada where the health care is superior.
I hear that it takes a long time to get the health card after we come to Canada (some say 3 months and some say 153 days of living + 3 months). Since this treatment is very expensive and we will not be able to buy private insurance due to identified critical illness, is there a way that i can get some state assistance in the open period or get my OHIP cover expedited as the treatment cannot stop.
Is it advisable if I write to OHIP office explaining the situation and requesting assistance, which may not be considered favorably since we are still outside Canada?
Do I run a risk of not getting health cover if I get reported at port of entry for not completing 730 days in the 5 year period ? Although I plan to come and settle in Canada without travelling for 2 years.
Would appreciate your guidance.

 

[scylla]

I'm very sorry to hear about your son.

Your son will need to return to Canada and live in Canada for three months before he will be covered under the provincial health care system. Until then, you will be responsible for paying for his care out of pocket - there is no state assistance available and OHIP coverage cannot be expedited.

If your family is reported at the border for failing to meet the residency obligation, you will still qualify for health care coverage once you have resided in Canada for three months - however you will have to appear at a hearing to argue why you should be allowed to keep your PR status. You want to be able to demonstrate strong H&C reasons for having been unable to return to Canada to win this hearing. Generally speaking, economic reasons (e.g. job) aren't accepted as H&C reasons for failing to meet RO. Assuming you have strong H&C reasons for having failed to meet RO, make sure you bring evidence of this with you when you return to Canada.

 

[Rob_TO]

I hear that it takes a long time to get the health card after we come to Canada (some say 3 months and some say 153 days of living + 3 months). Since this treatment is very expensive and we will not be able to buy private insurance due to identified critical illness, is there a way that i can get some state assistance in the open period or get my OHIP cover expedited as the treatment cannot stop.
Is it advisable if I write to OHIP office explaining the situation and requesting assistance, which may not be considered favorably since we are still outside Canada?

Everyone (PRs and Citizens) are required to go through a 3 month waiting period after extended absence from Ontario, before they are covered for OHIP again. In most cases, there are no exceptions since it will be considered a personal choice to have left Canada in the first place.
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/ohip_waiting_pd.aspx

However as you said, you can always try calling OHIP to ask. You can also trying talking to the OERC (OHIP Eligibility Review Committee) but I think they just deal with eligibility issues, not for waiting period issues.
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/review.aspx

Do I run a risk of not getting health cover if I get reported at port of entry for not completing 730 days in the 5 year period ? Although I plan to come and settle in Canada without travelling for 2 years.
Would appreciate your guidance.

You have been in violation of the Residency Obligation sometime in 2016 (after 3 years living outside Canada). So your family faces risk of being reported for this upon entry to Canada (this can happen even with a valid PR card). If reported, you can still enter Canada, as you will have some time (I think 30-60 days) to decide to appeal or not on H&C basis. If you appeal, you will continue to be PRs (and will get temporary 1-year PR cards) and have all rights of a PR (like healthcare) until your appeal is heard (which can take couple years in some cases).

Note that you can't apply to sponsor your new child for PR, until after you've lived in CAnada 2 straight year (if not reported on entry) or until after you win your appeal (if reported).

Everyone though needs to prepare to go through 3-month waiting period before OHIP coverage. Your non-PR child will not have any OHIP coverage for many years so will need a private travel medical plan. And even if you want to try and negotiate with OHIP to get some exemption to the waiting period, this will take lots of time with little to no chance of success, and may find hospitals/doctors will require upfront payments before doing any medical work.

 

[hmoosa81]

Dear scylla and Rob
Thanks for your responses. Is there any other way to get some degree of relief in medical cost during the waiting period for OHIP? Will it make sense if I target to go to another province where the Health Insurance Coverage can be available in a shorter period and which has some good hospitals for Children Healthcare (specially cancer specialty) so that there is no break in treatment. I can then relocate to Toronto in 2-3 months and get the insurance transferred.
The Chemotherapy treatment is very expensive someone indicated that it can cost as much as CAD 10K per day which will not be affordable even for few months.

 

[scylla]

Dear scylla and Rob
Thanks for your responses. Is there any other way to get some degree of relief in medical cost during the waiting period for OHIP? Will it make sense if I target to go to another province where the Health Insurance Coverage can be available in a shorter period and which has some good hospitals for Children Healthcare (specially cancer specialty) so that there is no break in treatment. I can then relocate to Toronto in 2-3 months and get the insurance transferred.
The Chemotherapy treatment is very expensive someone indicated that it can cost as much as CAD 10K per day which will not be affordable even for few months.

If you do this, it will be seen as an abuse of the health care system and the other province will come after you for the full costs of the treatment you received plus penalties. It will end up costing you more than if you had just paid for the treatment yourself.

The problem is that you've already landed - you're not landing for the first time. So I think you're facing a waiting period no matter what you do.

 

[Rob_TO]

Dear scylla and Rob
Thanks for your responses. Is there any other way to get some degree of relief in medical cost during the waiting period for OHIP? Will it make sense if I target to go to another province where the Health Insurance Coverage can be available in a shorter period and which has some good hospitals for Children Healthcare (specially cancer specialty) so that there is no break in treatment. I can then relocate to Toronto in 2-3 months and get the insurance transferred.
The Chemotherapy treatment is very expensive someone indicated that it can cost as much as CAD 10K per day which will not be affordable even for few months.

If you go to a province like Alberta that offers healthcare from day 1, and your entire family commits to living in that province for some time (at least 6 months), then you may be able to get him health coverage immediately.
I'm not sure if a previous landing done 4 years ago, would have any impact on establishing a residence in a new province. You should contact Alberta (or other province) healthcare in advance to ask specifically about your situation.

 

[scylla]

If you go to a province like Alberta that offers healthcare from day 1, and your entire family commits to living in that province for some time (at least 6 months), then you may be able to get him health coverage immediately.
I'm not sure if a previous landing done 4 years ago, would have any impact on establishing a residence in a new province. You should contact Alberta (or other province) healthcare in advance to ask specifically about your situation.

Yes - I think you may be right. Alberta may offer coverage as of day 1 - however they still won't be able to move to Ontario after just 2-3 months. Agreed they would need to remain in Alberta and live there for at least six months - eight months would be safer IMO.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Dear scylla and Rob
Thanks for your responses. Is there any other way to get some degree of relief in medical cost during the waiting period for OHIP? Will it make sense if I target to go to another province where the Health Insurance Coverage can be available in a shorter period and which has some good hospitals for Children Healthcare (specially cancer specialty) so that there is no break in treatment. I can then relocate to Toronto in 2-3 months and get the insurance transferred.
The Chemotherapy treatment is very expensive someone indicated that it can cost as much as CAD 10K per day which will not be affordable even for few months.

Do you actually have any H&C grounds for failing to meet the RO? With a non-PR child entering on a TRP and such a long absence, you have a very good chance of being reported on entry. If reported, without H&C grounds, your PR status will be revoked and you will have to leave Canada.

 

[canuck78]

When did you land in 2013? The date on the PR card is not as important as the date you landed plus 5 years.

 

[canuck78]

Would also be careful because on the Alberta health care website it says something like coverage might start on arrival. Might want to figure out what would delay coverage. The optics of the ituation are not great: not meeting the RO then moving for medical coverage.