The title gives the gist of this opening of a new thread. I will be landing next month as a PR and will have synched my prescriptions by an override approved by Optum Rx for a 90-day supply of medications. I understand that new arrivals are allowed 90-day supplies when we arrive. I will collect these from a US pharmacy, probably the morning of my land border crossing to "settle". So I'll be fine for 90 days. But then what? By then, I should have a new physician who can continue prescribing. I want to use my US coverage as a pensioner because it is very good. I am keenly aware that I am VERY blessed with the health insurance that I have for life through my former school district, where I was Assistant Superintendent. Can I access this coverage at a pharmacy in Canada?
Permanent resident of Canada; pensioner from the US with health, hospitalization, dental, and Rx prescription coverage. How do I best use my US Rx?
- Thread starter Scorpio13
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You can return to the US to get more. You can pick up some groceries and gas on your way back like many Canadians.
How did you get PR as a pensioner? It can take years to get a family doctor in Canada
Maybe I misused the word “pensioner” and should say I’m an educator with retirement benefits. My Canadian spouse, who is repatriating at the same time I am presenting my CoPR to CBSA, submitted a Spousal Sponsorship for Permanent Recurency application under Family Class. I am pleased to say the process took only seven months, not the anticipated thirteen months estimated on the IRCC website.
Your coverage is for the US so assume you can only access it when in the US. If you want to see if any coverage extends outside of the US, this is a conversation you need to have directly with your insurer.
Yes, you will need to find a new physician in Canada who can issue a prescription which you can fill in Canada.
Most of this question is really a series of questions for your US health insurance provider - will they pay bills for medicines prescribed by a foreign doctor or not? From Canadian pharmacies (don't see why not, but don't know)? Note that you'd mostly be paying out of pocket and getting reimbursement.
You may run into issues with 'out of network' doctors and providers that in some situations may mean you need to go to USA.
As for the Rx itself: go and see a pharmacist in Canada on arrival, preferably not one of the big chain ones (although they can vary quite a lot, some of the big chain ones are ok, some of the smaller pharmacies are great, some are not, some primarily work on specific niches). And then ask the pharmacist how long they will honour the US prescription, and could they possibly re-up?
And note, this could depend on the specific medicines and Rx - particularly rare/expensive may be more of a problem, and some that are considered narcotics (for obvious reasons), and some other specific scheduled ones (eg that are mostly or only done for severe chronic conditions/in hospitals, because they may be paid for by provincial plans in Canada).
Oh - and some things are over the counter in Canada that arent' in the USA and vice versa. I have heard that some things can be limited for US customers because they're scarce at times here (because much cheaper and US customers tend to buy them up).
It's possible some pharmacists at border regions will be more flexible or used to this. Don't know.
I have an acquaintance who gets coverage through work in the USA (and commutes basically). Biggest gap is basically for some specialized consutlations that are typically not covered by provincial programs, because the US plan requires those consultations to be 'in network.' But I've no idea if this is the type of thing you'd encounter, will just depend on your plan. Overall their US insurer doesn't mind because basically the provincial plan covers the vast majority of actual medical expenses, it's a bargain for the insurer. That doesn't mean they're flexible about their rules, though.
Your suggestion is what I have at the top of my “Most Likely” column. It was further down in the “Preference” column. However, I do have concerns about importing beyond the first 90-day period. Does driving make this different from commercial travel? Thanks for the added “get gas” recommendation. We drove to visit my in-laws in the Maritimes this past Thanksgiving and crossed at Calais-St Stephens. The US gas station was within view of CBSA booths and popular with drivers with New Brunswick licence plates
Recurency - if it is a real word - was meant to be Residence.
Your reply is full of great information. Thank you so much! I contacted my Rx insurer about synching refills and was told I could not use my Rx coverage at Canadian pharmacies. I need to talk with someone else and ask the question differently — filling a claim myself for reimbursement rather than using coverage directly through the pharmacy. It makes much more sense for the insurance company to reimburse me for the Canadian costs rather than pay a much higher price to a US pharmacy!
I take to heart each of your statements and will re-read each. You've helped point me in the right direction for several journeys through the maze of “settlement”.
If you will, please indulge me in a response from another person on my question. This reply struck me as hyperbole (paraphrased) - “You may have to wait several years to get a family physician.” Is this in line with your own reference point?
Again, thank you!
Not hyperbole. There is a shortage of family physicians in Canada. You may get lucky and find one sooner. While you wait, you would need to use a walk in clinic to get a prescription.
What province are you moving to? In Ontario, one in four people don’t have family doctors. Most people I know don’t have one. Waiting lists for most doctors are closed and you can wait years to get in with a family doctor. So be prepared to use walk in clinics. Does your partner have a family doctor? If so, you may be able to “piggy-back” and get on with your partner’s doctor. Some allow it.
I don't have much to add to what others said. I didn't have to wait so long, about six months, but I'm not particularly happy with my doctor either - seen him once, which, well, at least I'm healthy, but I've been to clinics more than I've seen him b/c not available on weekends.
It can vary a lot based on location I understand, my family also got onto a family doctor, but I guess we got lucky. That said we've overall not had much to complain about - but to see some specialists has been long waits.
I had to google what hyperbole means.. It took me 7 years you to get a family doctor in Vancouver. So good luck to you with your move to Canada and finding a doctor.