questions on health care, health insurance, applying for health card

[Keithcjk]

Hi

1) would like to find out which has better health benefit - vancouver, calgary or toronto?
How do they differ. Is it possible that one city would cover for dental but another city doesnt?

2) I have a PR. I intend to go over to canada to settle in Jun 12, can I apply for the healthcard if I am not in canada?
If can, how do I do that?

3) how much do I have to pay for health insurance per month for the 3 cities?
is there a website that I can refer for the 3 cities

4) if i see a doctor and the doctor refer me to a specialist, do I have to pay for the specialist? What about medication that the specialist prescribed, do I have to pay?

5) if I have a cold and go to see the GP, I know consultation is free, but do I have to pay for medication?

6) if the specialist send me for x-ray, scan and so forth, do I need to pay?

7) I know that I need to pay for taxes, what is the percentage? is it based on income level? is there a website i can refer to for the 3 cities?

Thanks for the help

Thanks

 

[Leon]

1. They pretty much have the same coverage. To get dental, either buy supplementary insurance or get a job where it is included.

2. No, you must reside in the province to be eligible for healthcare. Further more, you must reside in the province at least 183 days out of every year or you lose it.

3. BC has a fee of $60.50 per month for a single person, more for families, see http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/premium.html Ontario charges a tax based on your income, see http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/tax/healthpremium/rates.html Alberta is free.

4. GP is free, specialist is free, medication is not free. However, if you have supplementary insurance, see 1., then it will cover a large chunk of your medication cost.

5. Again, GP is free, medication is not free unless they hand you some samples from their free sample drawer.

6. X-ray is free, lab tests are free, hospital is free except if you want TV but ambulance you must pay for.

7. Punch in your yearly income in this tax calculator: http://lsminsurance.ca/calculators/canada/income-tax and you will see how much tax you pay in each province.

Add to that.. Alberta has first day coverage for health care while in BC and Ontario, you must wait 3 months before you get health care.

Also, BC and Ontario charge provincial sales tax on everything you buy. Alberta does not.

 

[Keithcjk]

Hi Leon,

Thanks very much for all help.

It seems that Alberta is better since they do not charge sales tax and healthcare is free and also on the first day, healthcare is taken care of.
But can I say that all provinces in canada do not subsidize medication?

1) pertaining to question 2 - can the 183 days be cumulative like the 730 days for the PR or I have to be there for one whole stretch of 183 days?

2)If it can be cumulative, will they reimbursed me for medical bills incurred when I travel back to my hometown during those breaks in the 183 days?

3) Does it include medication? (i believe it will not)

4) I went into the lsminsurance.ca website. Eg my yearly income is $50000, do I put the $50000 into the 'taxable income $' field?
when i did that, the RRSP amt indicates $9000.
So does it mean that I have to pay $9000 per year for tax?

5) the tax is paid monthly or yearly?

6) is it deducted from my monthly salary if paid monthly?

7) alberta has a higher cost of living or vancouver?

8) Do you live in vancouver?

Thanks

 

[Leon]

I don't know of any province that subsidizes medication. Maybe if you are destitute.

1. It can be cumulative but whichever province you settle in, you should contact the health care about the specifics of leaving. I am not sure if it is per calendar year for all of them or basically 183 days every 12 month period. Say you wanted to leave for the last 6 months of one year and the first 6 months of the next, I don't know if you would keep your coverage in some provinces and not in others. In some provinces, you may also be allowed to leave for longer if you explain your situation to them before you leave.

2. They will not cover you in other countries, only in Canada.

3. No, generally not but if you have supplemental insurance, it will include medications or partly but supplemental insurance you have to pay for. It is often provided by employers but you usually have to pay some portion of it yourself.

4. Yes, if that is what it says. There are also other deductions like CPP (Canada Pension Plan) which is 4.95% and EI (Employment insurance) which is 1.83%.

5. and 6. The tax is deducted from your pay check. Every year you file taxes and they will figure out if you get money back or must pay extra.

7. Vancouver has more expensive housing and provincial sales tax. Looking at http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Canada&country2=Canada&city1=Calgary&city2=Vancouver I'd say Calgary is a lot less expensive than Vancouver.