Medicare / Healthcare?

[Jon0960]

So I've been looking on the government immigration site but couldn't find anything about medicare and when you need to get it as a spouse getting sponsored. I'm going to be marrying my fiance in September (me as Canadian, her as US citizen), and sending the application of sponsorship directly after.

I'm wondering if she is able to visit for 6 months while its processing without having medicare or healthcare in Canada. If she doesn't is she able to apply as soon as she gets permanent residency?

Thanks.

 

[phaeo]

The tourist visa doesn't require you to show proof of healthcare, but it also won't make her eligible to get access to healthcare in Canada. Once you become a PR, you are eligible for healthcare, but how soon you can use it varies from province to province, so it entirely depends on where you go. In Nova Scotia, where I live, you can apply as soon as you move to the province, but you can't use it until you've been living here at least 3 months. So your best bet is to find out what the wait time for your province is, and then your wife can buy herself some temporary health insurance to cover that period.

 

[Hurlabrick]

+1 to what Phaeo said.

Link here to Canada medical insurance with links to the official provincial sites:

https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Medical_Insurance-Canada

 

[Jon0960]

Thank you guys

 

[canuck78]

Really depends on the province. Some provinces give coverage before PR.

 

[wsidd]

If you're in Alberta, then you can add her as a spouse to your alberta health if her intent is to stay in AB. I'm looking into it for my spouse, and you can follow the saga on my thread if interested: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/entry-documents-for-american.648585/

 

[Mitch55555]

I didn't know this. I'm in Ontario and it says it is a 3 month waiting period. So do you need to show proof that you've been in Ontario for 3 months?

 

[canuck78]

I didn't know this. I'm in Ontario and it says it is a 3 month waiting period. So do you need to show proof that you've been in Ontario for 3 months?

The 3 month period would start when they have landed in Ontario since they are doing Outland sponsorship. You should pay for emergency coverage until then. They should only apply if they are permanently settling in Canada. You need to remain in Ontario for the first 5 out of 6 months and 6 months out of the year. Would encourage you to read the ohip website.

There are residency obligation to keep your OHIP. Even though you have a valid ohip card you can not qualify for coverage if you haven’t met the ohip residency requirements.