Pregnancy Cost _ Health Card

[shaIr]

Hello,
I am new to this forum and hoping to get some solution,

We are Canadian Citzen used to be residence of Ontraio, now living out side Canada, our OHIP card is expired and currently I am pregnant and due end of July.

Planning to give birth in Canada, what can be the solution to get OHIP/Alberta Health coverage - Can someone advice on following:

1. If I visit Toronto for 15 days in March, apply for health card and leave the country, then come back in June, Can I still get my OHIP card get renewed

2. What can be the options and cost of Midwife if we contact them (I have read on internet that they cost much less then doctors)

3. Can we go to Alberta and get health card immediately or do we have to wait for sometime.

Your reply on above will be highly appreciated.
With many thanks

 

[scylla]

I'll help you with one.

#1 won't work. You actually need to return and physically live here for three months to qualify for OHIP again.

 

[Leon]

To find out if you are still covered, you should read this page: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/longer_absences.aspx and/or contact OHIP and find out. If you have lost your coverage, you will have to do the 3 month waiting period again.

I can not tell you how much a midwife costs. I have heard 3000 somewhere and for a hospital birth 5 to 10. Here is a story of a couple who paid 22k: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/04/20/ontario-ohip-waiting.html

If you have been outside Canada long enough that Alberta or another province with immediate coverage could consider your move as international, you would get first day health coverage but keep in mind that it is not safe to do that unless you plan to stay in that province for at least 6 months. The reason is that the provinces tend to list the eligibility requirements for their health care with the requirement to live in that province for at least 6 months a year. If you drop in just to have your baby and then leave again, they might come to the conclusion that you were not eligible for their health care after all and bill you retroactively. This happened to a woman in BC who had done the 3 month waiting period there, had her baby after that and left BC after staying there for 4-5 months total. They are now billing her for what they had covered for her and that turned out not to be a 5-10,000 bill but a whopping 43,000. Apparently they have different prices depending on if you pay or the healthcare pays and because the healthcare paid that amount, that is what they are charging her now.

 

[shaIr]

Thanks for reply,

One more question, where can I get information for midwives, and do they accept normal cases during 33rd week of pregnancy?

Regards

 

[Leon]

You can try looking for a midwife here: http://www.ontariomidwives.ca/

 

[shekhawatmx]

u can move to Alberta and insurance will start from day one if u move out of canada but make sure you stay there for 6 months otherwise they may ask u pay back entire medical cost.

 

[darbi]

regarding midwives, most probably no one will take you at this late stage.
just walk into the hospital you are planning to deliver in and tell them you do not have a midwife, and i am sure they will assist with prenatal checkups and delivery. you might not get the same dr. that did your prenatal checkups, which really does not matter