Question about health care in Alberta, BC and ON

[abdubab]

Hi,

First, I would just like to say "much thanks" to Leon and Scylla. I've read a lotta posts on this forum and you guys have really helped out pretty much everyone here. You guys are awesome! Having said that, I've a question or two

From reading all those posts about the health care programs, I know that ON and BC have waiting periods before the health care kicks in but AB doesn't. My question is about the minimum period that you've to spend in the province. Please correct me if I'm wrong, for AB the minimum period that a PR card holder/health care card holder must spend in AB is 6 months out of the 12 months after he/she moves to AB and these 6 months of actual residency in Alberta start from Day 1?

For BC, it's 6 months out of the 12 months after he/she moves to AB and (here's where I get a little confused) these 6 months start from day 1 of the waiting period or day 1 of when the health care is actually granted by the ministry? Same question for ON, however I think in ON's case you have to spend 5 months out of the first 6 in the province and then 6 out of 12 in the subsequent 12? Yes, no?

Hope someone can help me out with these queries.

Also, another thing. Is there any insurance out there that covers a pre-existing condition like a pregnancy? I heard that Manulife does cover pregnancy, have e-mailed for confirmation. Has anyone else heard or read the same?

Last, how exactly does the health ministry of the province know whether the resident has actually been a resident of the province or not? I mean, do they do surprise inspections or something? or is it just by the level of activity or lack thereof displayed by the supposed resident?

Thanks guys!

 

[Leon]

Hi,

First, I would just like to say "much thanks" to Leon and Scylla. I've read a lotta posts on this forum and you guys have really helped out pretty much everyone here. You guys are awesome! Having said that, I've a question or two

From reading all those posts about the health care programs, I know that ON and BC have waiting periods before the health care kicks in but AB doesn't. My question is about the minimum period that you've to spend in the province. Please correct me if I'm wrong, for AB the minimum period that a PR card holder/health care card holder must spend in AB is 6 months out of the 12 months after he/she moves to AB and these 6 months of actual residency in Alberta start from Day 1?

For BC, it's 6 months out of the 12 months after he/she moves to AB and (here's where I get a little confused) these 6 months start from day 1 of the waiting period or day 1 of when the health care is actually granted by the ministry? Same question for ON, however I think in ON's case you have to spend 5 months out of the first 6 in the province and then 6 out of 12 in the subsequent 12? Yes, no?

Hope someone can help me out with these queries.

Also, another thing. Is there any insurance out there that covers a pre-existing condition like a pregnancy? I heard that Manulife does cover pregnancy, have e-mailed for confirmation. Has anyone else heard or read the same?

Last, how exactly does the health ministry of the province know whether the resident has actually been a resident of the province or not? I mean, do they do surprise inspections or something? or is it just by the level of activity or lack thereof displayed by the supposed resident?

Thanks guys!

If you have detailed questions about how exactly they calculate how many months from which date you should stay, it would be better for you to ask the health care in each of these provinces.

In AB I know it is a minimum of 183 days in any 12 month period that you should stay in AB. It doesn't have to be consecutive 6 months from the day you arrive.

If you visit the health topic on this forum, there are several threads about this same thing. There are a couple of insurance brokers on there and they have said that there is only one insurance that covers childbirth and that one must be bought before the woman gets pregnant. There is another that covers pregnancy related emergencies but only up until a certain number of weeks.

As for your last question, they have anti-fraud departments looking into finding people who are not residing in the province. Are you planning on trying this? You should realize that health care fraud is a crime in Canada. If you get caught, it may not be as simple as just paying back what they covered for you. There may be more severe consequences than that.

 

[jazibkg]

OP, I think you're confusing maintenance of residency with initial residency required. Initial residency required for ON and BC is 3 months and you're approved for health card within 3 months, but before 3 months you are not entitled to the health services' plans. Other provinces may not have the 3 months initial limit.

The residency requirements you mentioned are for ongoing residents, not the initial requirement for healthcare coverage to be applicable to a newcomer into a province.

 

[Leon]

OP, I think you're confusing maintenance of residency with initial residency required. Initial residency required for ON and BC is 3 months and you're approved for health card within 3 months, but before 3 months you are not entitled to the health services' plans. Other provinces may not have the 3 months initial limit.

The residency requirements you mentioned are for ongoing residents, not the initial requirement for healthcare coverage to be applicable to a newcomer into a province.

Note that it has happened that people's health care has been retroactively cancelled by the provinces. Say for example in BC, it is not enough to stay 3 months, get health care and then possibly lose it later if you don't end up staying 6 months in your first year, rather that they can say that if you didn't commit to staying 6 months a year, you were never really eligible for BC health in the first place and therefore, they can cancel it retroactively and backcharge you for all services they have covered for you at the rate that it cost them.

 

[jazibkg]

Note that it has happened that people's health care has been retroactively cancelled by the provinces. Say for example in BC, it is not enough to stay 3 months, get health care and then possibly lose it later if you don't end up staying 6 months in your first year, rather that they can say that if you didn't commit to staying 6 months a year, you were never really eligible for BC health in the first place and therefore, they can cancel it retroactively and backcharge you for all services they have covered for you at the rate that it cost them.

Interesting point. A lawyer once explained this scenario to me as it all boils down to the 'intention of residence'. You've covered this part rather well.