Spouse coming on TRV, does he get insurance benefits?

[Wyz]

I started work about a week ago and will be getting insurance on my 3 month anniversary...my spouse is coming this month on TRV, and my work covers for spouse insurance too. My question is, as a visitor, once I start receiving my benefits, will he be covered under that to? He is a visitor and doesn't have an OHIP card, but is it likely that my work insurance benefits will cover him?

 

[clearly]

It depends on your work. Ours won't unless you have OHIP. Besides, it probably doesn't cover normal medical stuff like hospital does it? Just prescriptions and such.

 

[scylla]

Pretty much all workplace insurance plans require a spouse to be covered by OHIP before they will cover the spouse as well. So it's extremely unlikely your spouse will be covered. Only the insurance company can tell you for sure. If it happens to be Manulife - then I can tell you your spouse won't be covered.

 

[screech339]

Pretty much all workplace insurance plans require a spouse to be covered by OHIP before they will cover the spouse as well. So it's extremely unlikely your spouse will be covered. Only the insurance company can tell you for sure. If it happens to be Manulife - then I can tell you your spouse won't be covered.

Sunlife won't cover spouse either unless on OHIP.

 

[Wyz]

I see...anyone have experience with Great-West life? Thanks.

 

[Rob_TO]

Work insurance benefits won't cover typical emergency services usually covered by OHIP. Work insurance in Ontario is always a secondary payer meaning any potential costs are first recovered from OHIP, and then insurance company pays the rest. So for this reason they won't cover anyone unless they have OHIP first.

And in Ontario, a visitor can NOT get OHIP. You need to get a private insurance coverage. You can search some rates here: https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada

 

[scylla]

I see...anyone have experience with Great-West life? Thanks.

I'd be shocked if Great-West Life would be willing to provide coverage. All of the large insurance companies typically have the same policies. If you want to verify - then you'll need to call them.

 

[Wyz]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll be calling them on Tuesday.