OUTLAND SPOUSAL (PREGNANT) - RAMQ/OHIP

[Gugi123]

HI!

I am a Canadian Citizen with OHIP. My wife is a temporary resident after being authorized entry into Canada for 2 years in June 2013 under the IEC (International Exchange Canada) program. She essentially has an open work permit type 20 until June 2015.

We submitted an OUTLAND spousal application indicating no intention of residing in Quebec because we wanted to move to Ottawa, Ontario since we both work there. We have resided in Gatineau, Quebec since June 2013. We recently found out we're pregnant and want to know what's better/faster health coverage for the pregnant wife??

Here's some background:

We have not received the AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) from CIC.
We don't have CSQ.
She applied and received a SIN card.
She has an unpaid employment agreement with an Ontario employer for 80 working days, essentially 4 months.
She has private insurance, but doesn't cover pregnancy related costs.

She has been referred to see an obstetrician, and get blood tests and an ultrasound. We have no idea what to expect in terms of costs, but are hoping that we are eligible for healthcare. Please give us some advice. What are the next steps and timelines associated to become eligible?

Thank you!!

 

[Edgehead78]

She is indeed eligible for RAMQ as a foreign worker.
See here: http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrants-foreign-workers-students/health-insurance/Pages/eligibility.aspx

The thing is, there is a 3 months waiting time between the registration and the actual reception of the card. Luckily for you, the medicals regarding pregnancy are covered during the waiting period. Take note that only few services are covered during the waiting period.
See here: http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrants-foreign-workers-students/health-insurance/Pages/healthcare-covered.aspx

After the 3 months, she will be covered for all medicals she requires for pregnancy and delivery by using her card.

I don't know about OHIP, maybe someone from Ontario can answer.

 

[Gugi123]

She is indeed eligible for RAMQ as a foreign worker. The thing is, there is a 3 months waiting time between the registration and the actual reception of the card. This means you have to pay your usage of medical services during those months.
You can find more information here. After the 3 months, she will be covered for all medicals she requires for pregnancy and delivery.

I don't know about OHIP, maybe someone from Ontario can answer.

Are you sure she's eligible for RAMQ as a foreign worker even though her employment is in Ontario and not Quebec? Furthermore, are you sure that having an open and not a closed work permit or an employment agreement for more than 6 months isn't an issue?

Isn't she eligible from day one? During the waiting period, aren't pregnancy related costs covered under RAMQ?
Also, won't any costs during the 3 month period be reimbursed if paid or covered on the spot with the level given from RAMQ?

Doesn't she need a CSQ to be eligible? Which form needs to be filled out - this is so confusing for us because we have no idea what to expect

 

[Edgehead78]

Are you sure she's eligible for RAMQ as a foreign worker even though her employment is in Ontario and not Quebec? Furthermore, are you sure that having an open and not a closed work permit or an employment agreement for more than 6 months isn't an issue?

Isn't she eligible from day one? During the waiting period, aren't pregnancy related costs covered under RAMQ?
Also, won't any costs during the 3 month period be reimbursed if paid or covered on the spot with the level given from RAMQ?

Doesn't she need a CSQ to be eligible? Which form needs to be filled out - this is so confusing for us because we have no idea what to expect

Where is she living? Ontario or Québec? The residential address is the one they are looking at.
I edited while you were replying. Pregnancy is covered during the waiting period. She is not covered for the rest and its not refundable from what I understand.
To register, you have to call them or show up at a CLSC to authenticate.
Here is the requirement to register as a foreign worker:
Foreign nationals in Québec as temporary workers

the original of an employment authorization issued by the Canadian immigration authorities allowing them to work in Québec for more than 6 months. The authorization must indicate the employer's name and the place of employment.

More info here: http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrants-foreign-workers-students/health-insurance/Pages/registration.aspx

 

[Awesomeg]

HI!

I am a Canadian Citizen with OHIP. My wife is a temporary resident after being authorized entry into Canada for 2 years in June 2013 under the IEC (International Exchange Canada) program. She essentially has an open work permit type 20 until June 2015.

We submitted an OUTLAND spousal application indicating no intention of residing in Quebec because we wanted to move to Ottawa, Ontario since we both work there. We have resided in Gatineau, Quebec since June 2013. We recently found out we're pregnant and want to know what's better/faster health coverage for the pregnant wife??

Here's some background:

We have not received the AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) from CIC.
We don't have CSQ.
She applied and received a SIN card.
She has an unpaid employment agreement with an Ontario employer for 80 working days, essentially 4 months.
She has private insurance, but doesn't cover pregnancy related costs.

She has been referred to see an obstetrician, and get blood tests and an ultrasound. We have no idea what to expect in terms of costs, but are hoping that we are eligible for healthcare. Please give us some advice. What are the next steps and timelines associated to become eligible?

Thank you!!

She should be covered by OHIP, I understand that in Ontario the Harris government approved OHIP to foreign works upon arrival, But not sure. You can ask at the OHIP office when you submit your application. You can take a look for eligibility for UI benefits also, but I am not sure how many hours will be required, maybe she has not enough time accumulated in the last year. But that is something that she can take a look, and if she still working she need to check her hours to make sure she gets the hours for Maternity leave. Good luck

 

[Gugi123]

Where is she living? Ontario or Québec? The residential address is the one they are looking at.
I edited while you were replying. Pregnancy is covered during the waiting period. She is not covered for the rest and its not refundable from what I understand.
To register, you have to call them or show up at a CLSC to authenticate.
Here is the requirement to register as a foreign worker:
Foreign nationals in Québec as temporary workers

the original of an employment authorization issued by the Canadian immigration authorities allowing them to work in Québec for more than 6 months. The authorization must indicate the employer's name and the place of employment.

More info here:

Living in Quebec, but work in Ontario.
You can register by calling eh?
The thing is she has an open work permit, which doesn't show the employer's name and place of employment.

Here's what I found from the first link you sent:

The following are temporary residents of Québec within the meaning of section 5.0.1 of the Act:

(1) foreign nationals whose main purpose for being in Québec is to work, who hold an office or employment for a period of more than 6 months and who hold an employment authorization valid for a period of more than 6 months issued by Canadian immigration authorities and indicating the employer's name and the place of employment, except Canadian International Development Agency scholars, unless they are receiving only a scholarship supplement from the Agency. This paragraph does not apply to persons who may engage or continue in employment without an employment authorization under sections 18 and 19 of the Immigration Regulations, 1978 (SOR/78-172);

I think this section is our case:

(2) persons who have been authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to apply for landing while in Canada and who have been granted entry by Canadian immigration authorities and hold a Québec selection certificate;

However, according to 15. A person applying for registration shall also provide the following documents:
(3) in the case of a person not holding Canadian citizenship, one of the following documents:
(iii) the original of the Québec selection certificate, as well as the original of the document issued by Canadian immigration authorities demonstrating that this person is authorized to apply in Canada for landing;

How does my wife get a CSQ. IS there a specific one or all they all the same? How long does it take to get the CSQ?

 

[Gugi123]

She should be covered by OHIP, I understand that in Ontario the Harris government approved OHIP to foreign works upon arrival, But not sure. You can ask at the OHIP office when you submit your application. You can take a look for eligibility for UI benefits also, but I am not sure how many hours will be required, maybe she has not enough time accumulated in the last year. But that is something that she can take a look, and if she still working she need to check her hours to make sure she gets the hours for Maternity leave. Good luck

For OHIP, I think this is what you are referring to:

you are a foreign worker who holds a valid work permit or other document issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) permitting you to work in Canada, and you also have a formal agreement in place to work full-time for an employer situated in Ontario which sets out the employer's name, your occupation, and confirmation that you will be working for no less than six consecutive months;

However, my wife's agreement is for less than 6 months. And it's an unpaid internship, so i'm not sure if it constitues 'work' even though she is working unpaid, full-time hours.

For OHIP, the following is noted:

you have submitted an application for permanent residence in Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada has confirmed that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence in Canada ;

but, since there is a 3 month waiting period, which does not include pregnancy related costs, I think RAMQ may be better. But a question is if we ever move from Quebec to Ontario, say in month 3 or after her getting the AOR, will she still have to wait 3 months when moving between provincials to get OHIP or will the RAMQ coverage continue until she gets OHIP?


In regards to UI, because she isn't being paid, and isn't paying into EI, but earning hours...i think it's considered volunteer and not work - i'm not sure about this.

 

[Edgehead78]

Living in Quebec, but work in Ontario.
You can register by calling eh?
The thing is she has an open work permit, which doesn't show the employer's name and place of employment.

Here's what I found from the first link you sent:

The following are temporary residents of Québec within the meaning of section 5.0.1 of the Act:

(1) foreign nationals whose main purpose for being in Québec is to work, who hold an office or employment for a period of more than 6 months and who hold an employment authorization valid for a period of more than 6 months issued by Canadian immigration authorities and indicating the employer's name and the place of employment, except Canadian International Development Agency scholars, unless they are receiving only a scholarship supplement from the Agency. This paragraph does not apply to persons who may engage or continue in employment without an employment authorization under sections 18 and 19 of the Immigration Regulations, 1978 (SOR/78-172);

I think this section is our case:

(2) persons who have been authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to apply for landing while in Canada and who have been granted entry by Canadian immigration authorities and hold a Québec selection certificate;

However, according to 15. A person applying for registration shall also provide the following documents:
(3) in the case of a person not holding Canadian citizenship, one of the following documents:
(iii) the original of the Québec selection certificate, as well as the original of the document issued by Canadian immigration authorities demonstrating that this person is authorized to apply in Canada for landing;

How does my wife get a CSQ. IS there a specific one or all they all the same? How long does it take to get the CSQ?

Your case is pretty complicated and the more I read, the more I think she will not be eligible to register for RAMQ. Here is what I got from the MICC (immigration Québec)website:
Currently, temporary workers must have a work permit of more than six months in order to have access to the health insurance plan. Temporary workers are subject to a maximum three-month waiting period before being able to benefit from the plan. They must therefore register with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec as soon as they arrive so as not to delay their eligibility.

You usually apply for CSQ after you received your sponsorship approval or when the employer is processing the immigration of the employee in the case of temporary worker.
You have to fill the forms, pay the fee and include SA letter and proof of residence (public service bill) if you use the family sponsorship way. The process takes usually less than a month.
I think your best bet would be to call directly the RAMQ, submit your case and they will be able to tell you if she is eligible or not.
Contact info: http://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/contact-us/citizens/Pages/contact-us.aspx

 

[Gugi123]

Your case is pretty complicated and the more I read, the more I think she will not be eligible to register for RAMQ. Here is what I got from the MICC (immigration Québec)website:
Currently, temporary workers must have a work permit of more than six months in order to have access to the health insurance plan. Temporary workers are subject to a maximum three-month waiting period before being able to benefit from the plan. They must therefore register with the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec as soon as they arrive so as not to delay their eligibility.

You usually apply for CSQ after you received your sponsorship approval or when the employer is processing the immigration of the employee in the case of temporary worker.
You have to fill the forms, pay the fee and include SA letter and proof of residence (public service bill) if you use the family sponsorship way. The process takes usually less than a month.
I think your best bet would be to call directly the RAMQ, submit your case and they will be able to tell you if she is eligible or not.
Contact info:

For RAMQ, you have to have a closed work permit, but for ontario, an open work permit seems to be okay if you have a written contract of work of more than 6 months with details.

The issue with us is we are living in Gatineau, but wanted to move close to work in Ottawa so we submitted our outland application noting our intention not to reside in Quebec before we knew we were pregnant so we aren't expecting the MICC or CSQ paperwork. We now know we're pregnant, and haven't received the AOR, so one option is to change our intention to live in ontario back to living in quebec to get CSQ application from cic. not sure if that's a good or bad idea or if it will stall the paperwork.

i read the processing time is very long for gatineau residents...

 

[Edgehead78]

For RAMQ, you have to have a closed work permit, but for ontario, an open work permit seems to be okay if you have a written contract of work of more than 6 months with details.

The issue with us is we are living in Gatineau, but wanted to move close to work in Ottawa so we submitted our outland application noting our intention not to reside in Quebec before we knew we were pregnant so we aren't expecting the MICC or CSQ paperwork. We now know we're pregnant, and haven't received the AOR, so one option is to change our intention to live in ontario back to living in quebec to get CSQ application from cic. not sure if that's a good or bad idea or if it will stall the paperwork.

i read the processing time is very long for gatineau residents...

Its not your actual location that is making the waiting time but what visa office will process your application. The assigned visa office depends on which country she comes from.
The sponsorship approval takes about a month. The CSQ takes another month. Then, in about 2 months, you have in hand the CSQ to apply for RAMQ no matter what time the immigration process is taking.
Still the problem is she have an open work permit, I don't know if only with CSQ she can apply.

 

[Gugi123]

Its not your actual location that is making the waiting time but what visa office will process your application. The assigned visa office depends on which country she comes from.
The sponsorship approval takes about a month. The CSQ takes another month. Then, in about 2 months, you have in hand the CSQ to apply for RAMQ no matter what time the immigration process is taking.
Still the problem is she have an open work permit, I don't know if only with CSQ she can apply.

she's from australia. we already submitted an outland application this month - 12 march 2014 it was received. hopeully we'll get AOR in a few weeks to get healthcare. the thing is under what basis do i apply for csq if i said i won't be intending to reside in quebec for my cic paperwork - but now we're reconsidering because my wife is pregnant and we can't afford out of pocket costs.