Pregnant spouse - few clarifications needed ?

[sarimraza]

Dear All and especially Scilla - thanks for all ur help regarding above topic .. just few clarifications are needed . . .

1. I understand that if i land in Toronto i have to wait for 3 months for OHIP - Do i have to sit and wait physically in Toronto, or can i apply for OHIP and leave the state or country and later come and pick up the card from mailing address ?

I understand that out of 12 months in a year i have to be present in that state for 6 months to keep card active.

2. I understand that no travel insurance will cover maternity costs. . .

3. Would there be any insurance that i can get after landing in canada that will cover maternity cost ? -- but again - i think the charges would be equivalent to the cost of paying for it directly - so no benefit in that ?

4. If we land in Alberta and apply for OHIP how soon do we get the card ? after getting it if we leave alberta immediately and go to toronto, card will be valid for 3 months - if we have baby in toronto then is there a chance alberta can send us a medical bill later on in future ? since we did not stay there for 6 months ?

5. Does this mean that my only options are

a. to land in alberta have kid there and stay there for 6 months . . .
b. to land in toronto 4-5 months before due date- so i can get OHIP card before the date
c. to just land in toronto and pay for costs out of pocket ?

Thanks

 

[steaky]

OHIP is for Ontario. Alberta has its own health insurance program.

If you land in Alberta, you apply for Albertan Healthcare. You would be best to stay in Alberta at least 6 months in a calendar year if you want free healthcare.

 

[Leon]

1. According to law in Ontario, you must stay in Ontario 5 months in your first 6 to be eligible so you can not just arrive, register and leave again. You must actually be living in ON while you wait.

2./3. You might be able to find insurance that will cover unexpected maternal emergencies but because insurances operate on risks, they will not insure you for something that is bound to happen, for example routine maternity checks and delivery.

4. In AB, there is AB health, not OHIP. If you land there and prove that you live there, you get your health card right away. If you leave AB immedately and go to Toronto, theoretically this card will cover you while you wait for OHIP but you run the risk that AB will go after you for expenses because you did not stay for 6 months. Not to mention the morality of expecting the AB taxpayer to pay for your health care when you are not planning to stay in AB. So maybe it is not 100% but it is possible that AB will send you a bill for your medical costs.

5. Sounds about right but it is not only AB that offers first day coverage, most provinces offer it except ON, BC, NB and QC.

 

[sarimraza]

Dear Leon thanks for ur reply . . .

I just want to clear two points

1. If we land in Calgury, how long does it take to get AB health card ? and if we give address of some hotel, is this evidence enough that we are staying in Calgury.

Is it confirmed that this AB health card will work in Toronto ?

2. Once in Toronto if we apply for OHIP, after 3 months when we get it, will OHIP then work for us immediately ?
Meaning as soon as we get it after 3 months we can use it for our health expenses ?
I understand that when we get OHIP, then AB health will automatically expire ?

Thanks

 

[Leon]

1. A hotel address will not work for Alberta Health. You will need to show that you have utility bills or bank statements in your name being mailed to an AB address. Your health care is instant but it may take you a couple of days getting the housing arranged and getting something mailed to you to prove your residency.

Your AB health card will work in Toronto but because you are not actually eligible for AB health because you are not making your home in AB 6 months a year, you are in fact trying to scam the system and if you get caught, you can be back charged for all services you have received paid through AB health during the 3 months. Keep in mind that if you get caught, it may be a lot more expensive than paying yourself from the beginning because hospitals and doctors may have different prices for self-paying persons than they have for what they bill health care. If health care pays for you and you have to pay it back, you will be liable for what they paid for you, not what you would have paid if you had been an uninsured self paying individual.

See here the eligibility rules of AB:

An eligible resident of Alberta is a person who is:

Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta;
Committed to being physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days in a 12 month period (NOTE: Periods of temporary absence will be counted as being physically present in Alberta. If you are planning to be away for more than six months, contact our office.);
Not claiming residency or obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another province, territory or country;
Any other person deemed by the regulations to be a resident not including a tourist, transient or visitor to Alberta.

2. If you move to Toronto and register for OHIP, you will get it in 3 months, that is right.