Shopping for Vistor medical insurance

[Kess]

So my husband and I are planning to have him come stay with me after our PR app is submitted but before it has been finalized since we are getting sick and tired of waiting forever (plus I make enough to support him for a few month vacation). Just as background, my husband is a US citizen.

I've been looking through all the posts regarding other people who have done or are planning the same. I'm clear on having a copy of the PR app with us, etc. My question is on having proof of medical insurance for my husband. I've already tried with my employer and they will not add him to my medical plan until he has a BC Card Card (3 months after landing). We started searching for insurance policies last night and wanted to find out what other people have used.

I found Blue Cross, for example, offered 6 months to visitors with prescription coverage, wheres emergency medical alone ($25,000-$50,000) coverage through my bank (Royal Bank) or Manulife was about half the cost for 6 months. All of these plans will allow you to purchase within 30days of entering Canada.

Any suggestions? It's a long drive from California to BC and I want to make sure we've covered all our bases.

 

[minna]

I think it's probably a good idea to arrange to have this insurance to show at the border.

I know I will do so -- it's an even longer drive from Florida to Vancouver......

Other than that, I'm just starting to looking into insurance for my partner. I have read several times that it is often better to get a plan from a canadian company, than a foreign/american one, because they will be better at dealing with the canadian health system - but don't know how true that is (maybe i have read that on websites of canadian companies that want to direct business away from BCBS, for instance...). It seems, from some brief web searches, that you generally pay by the day - so it might get quite pricey for those of us who want our partners to wait out the PR process.

 

[plumosa]

I used Kanetix.ca for my health insurance. Of course it was only major medical and I never had a claim against it so I don't know how well it works for that. But it worked great for being the lowest cost I could find to show proof to the border!

 

[djboinsk]

Hubby has been here for 6 months. Do you know if he can get Blue Cross now?

 

[Kess]

Hubby has been here for 6 months. Do you know if he can get Blue Cross now?

Here's the link for Blue Cross (see option for Visitor to Canada) https://www.pbchbs.com/travelweb/. It says you are not elligible if the coverage is not purchased within 30 days of arrival in Canada.

 

[Dayanara]

I never even thought of this, so glad this was posted. Thanks for the advice!

 

[AllisonVSC]

I bought Blue Cross. It was about $700 for 6 months of coverage. No prescription coverage and no pre-existing condition coverage, but it did include illness, emergency and accidental injury coverage. I didn't ever use it, but I was sure that I was going to slip and fall in the snow so I'm glad I got it and that it was affordable.

 

[jillandmat]

I use travelguard with AIG -- they are good 150 000 no deductable me plus my two kids for 4 months is around $600

 

[Kess]

Yeah a quote through Blue Cross for 6 months was about $600 but it seemed to include a bit more. We're looking at the plan through Manulife, $25,000 emergency medical coverage for 6 months roughly $350 and $390 for $50,000.

 

[HoneyBird]

this is a great topic. i am happy someone asked. i am writing down the insurance names and i am gonna do some research.

one question though, i thought you just need it for 3 months upon arrival in canada, but some people here took it for 6 months. ?

and do you have to buy it before you cross the border to Canada to present to immigration or can you buy it upon arrival in Canada?

 

[minna]

the amount of time you might need insurance will depend on what province you are moving to.

I posted about it possibly costing more because my partner will be coming up to 'visit' while his PR is in process- and hopefully to wait out his PR process in Vancouver with me. He won't be eligible for MSP (BC's health plan) until around three months after he lands as a PR (in BC you wait the remainder of the month of your arrival plus two full months).

I believe Kess was posting about the same thing - waiting out the PR process in Canada.

 

[HoneyBird]

Thank you! I just need three months then, but the second question, do you have to get it before you leave your homeland to present to immigration upon arrival or can you buy the insurance when you arrive in canada and is it mandatory?

 

[plumosa]

I went and found my insurance policy. From Kanetix it is $10,000 coverage with a $100 deductible good for 6 months. The cost was $218.88. I bought it while in Canada but didn't mention that I was already here and just put the start date a little bit in the future. Since its online there's no office to go to so they don't check up on where your IP address is when you purchase it


But if you are just looking for proof to get a visitor's record I would purchase before you arrive so you have something to show the officer.

 

[HoneyBird]

I went and found my insurance policy. From Kanetix it is $10,000 coverage with a $100 deductible good for 6 months. The cost was $218.88. I bought it while in Canada but didn't mention that I was already here and just put the start date a little bit in the future. Since its online there's no office to go to so they don't check up on where your IP address is when you purchase it


But if you are just looking for proof to get a visitor's record I would purchase before you arrive so you have something to show the officer.

Thank you!

 

[kelKel]

My boyfriend has been here since 2008. He has had 2 seperate work permits. His work permit expired and now has visitor status. We just purchased 8 months medical coverage no deductible. The coverage covers all medical, perscriptions, ambulance, doctors..ect. It was from manulife and cost just a little over 700. I think it was a pretty good deal.