Permanent resident of Canada; pensioner from the US with health, hospitalization, dental, and Rx prescription coverage. How do I best use my US Rx?

[Copingwithlife]

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.

It’s a simple google

Canadian pharmacists cannot fill US prescriptions

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...nual-2012/claims-submission/oop-prescriptions


Out-of-country prescriptions

Prescriptions issued in another country (including the U.S.A.) cannot be dispensed by a B.C. pharmacist. This is prohibited by the Canada Food and Drugs Act.

Anyone, whether or not a Canadian resident, who holds a prescription written by an out-of-country practitioner may have the prescription dispensed by a B.C. pharmacist only if the prescription has been either

Rewritten, on the practitioner’s own prescription pad, by a practitioner licensed to prescribe in a Canadian jurisdiction; or
Co-signed by a Canadian practitioner.

 

[Scorpio13]

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.

Thank you! Maybe I got lucky. My spouse/sponsor’s family physician is still in practice in Toronto Centre. We contacted him, are sending US records, and getting set up as new patients. He even files clams for private insurance, if needed. I feel like I am extremely blessed!

I also just picked up a 90-day supply on all Rx to bring along next week. I am curious if there is a different form for prescriptions other than the bsf186. Or do all, including any controlled substances, get itemized in the same way as winter coats and stemware?

Thanks!

 

[Scorpio13]

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.

LOL ! Yes, auto-correct failed me there, and I didn’t catch the error until you mentioned it. Residency is the correct word in case I confused a reader.