Question about Alberta health care

[amro375]

Hi forum members,

I have one dillema that I want to clear with help of some of the seniors on this forum.
My situation is as this:
I have temporary work permit. I arrived first and get Alberta health care number. After several months my wife come to canada, she has also work permit and I add her on my health care coverage. In the meantime she went into surgery, we did not pay anything as we had coverage. My wife went to my country of origin so couple of months.
Now I remember when I was adding her on the health care coverage that there was like a prerequisite that she needs to stay more than 6 months in Canada in order to be eligible.
She left canada after 4 months staying.
I don't want to get any problems with the Government. My understanding is that as follows:

For example she come in Canada on July 1 and left November 1. As long as she come before 1 May 2015 she is ok, because from 1 July 2014 - 1 July 2015 she needs to stay 6 months. Is this right?

Should I bother about this?

Is it very important to make those 6 months in 1 year since she entered in Canada?

Should I worry that if she did not enter Canada on time we might get bill from the government?

Do they check this things?

thanks

 

[Leon]

I know of a case from BC where a woman was billed for her health care because she did not stay for 6 months. If you are worried about it, talk to AB health now before it is too late. If they say it's fine, then it's fine. If they say she should come back and stay 2 months, then she should.

I do not know how likely it is that you get caught but getting health care without having the intention of staying 6 months a year and not notifying that you have left the country can be considered health care fraud and can get you in more trouble than just having to pay the bill for the surgery.

 

[amro375]

Thanks Leon for the answer.

Well we were actually planing on her to leave Canada just after 4 months.
But circumstances back home changed and she had to go to take temporary care of my parents.
Now we hope they will get well soon but I just wanted to know my options anyway.

So you should think that I should call Alberta health care service and explain to them everything upfront?

 

[Leon]

So you should think that I should call Alberta health care service and explain to them everything upfront?

If you want to avoid bringing your wife back to stay the extra two months, you need to tell them and ask if it is a problem. That way, you can react now and either they say it is ok which is fine or they say it is not ok which means you will have to bring her back.

If you do not ask them and get caught, you will be paying the bill.