Will my wife get medical coverage etc when she arrives?

[bobshynoswife]

Okay I see your point. But I still think its unfair.To cover the child and not cover the mother..but we agree to disagree.

I agree with you too! I think it's unfair, but that's the way the system is, and I don't think people should be encouraged to abuse the system because they don't like the rules.

I think every province should have health care coverage from day one. I was stunned to find out that other provinces do not work like Alberta.

 

[canindian]

I think there are more than a few issues at play here. The first is separation/reunification of families, the second is the debate on provincial health care systems and the third is how immigrants (sponsored spouses or skilled workers) are perceived by the Canadian tax payer.

It is hugely important for families to be together. The spousal immigration process is stressful, long and unpredictable. And settling down at the end of the process is a rewarding and deserved experience. Moving to the sponsored persons province to start a life together is wonderful! The sponsoring Canadian needs to be responsible to ensure that healthcare is available to their partner and respectful enough of other tax payers not to burden the system.

Whether some provinces have wait times and others don't is really immaterial. You should only be concerned about the one that you reside in permanently and where you pay taxes. To visit another province, where you have no permanent address to claim their health care benefits leaves a bad taste for many tax payers. Especially when it is calculated in this way.

Canada is a multi-cultural melting pot, and generally a very welcoming country to immigrants, new and settled. But Canadians do expect people to pay their own way and not burden or take advantage of the system, especially during these hard economic times. I think that this would be considered doing just that.

The responsible thing to do is take responsiblity for your situation, live where you planned and make the arrangements to cover the health costs through insurance for the birth of your Canadian baby.

I'm not trying to offend anyone so please don't take it as such. God knows, I am in a situation where my partner won't have health care when he arrives....but we will have medical insurance incase of emergencies.

 

[bobshynoswife]

The responsible thing to do is take responsiblity for your situation, live where you planned and make the arrangements to cover the health costs through insurance for the birth of your Canadian baby.

I'm not trying to offend anyone so please don't take it as such. God knows, I am in a situation where my partner won't have health care when he arrives....but we will have medical insurance incase of emergencies.

I agree with you, however there is no insurance company that would issue a policy that would cover the costs of childbirth, let alone to a pregnant woman. A pregnant woman is guaranteed to use considerable heath care resources, and therefore cannot be insured.

 

[Lifer]

Some people are incorrectly assuming that I am a resident of BC. I was in fact born and raised in BC, but I gave up my residence, health care, driver's license, etc a year and a half ago when I moved to Thailand. I gave away or sold everything I owned in Canada. I do not 'reside... and pay taxes' anywhere.
I have been using my parents' mailing address as a place to have my mail sent to, and my parents do live in BC, but I don't think that makes any difference.

I think the relevant thing is intent - do I INTEND to live in Alberta, or would I be going there only for the purpose of having immediate access to health care without a 3-month wait? And from what I understand, if you move directly from another country to Alberta you get instant coverage - the 3 month waiting period is only if you move from a different province within Canada.

Now that I think of it, I wonder - would I myself be immediately covered if we went to BC? Or would I have to wait 3 months as well?

If PR status is granted, we have only so long to actually arrive in Canada... will that period of time be extended to give my wife time to give birth in Thailand?

 

[toby]

so reading with interest, does this mean that if she is not covered in the ontario area, she and her husband can travel to manitoba or alberta a week before she is expecting to give birth and thus won't have to pay a cent? Heard it can be up to 10, 000 CAD without coverage. It would make sense if they have relatives over there that she can bunk by for a week prior to delivery? just wondering if she can beat the system.

The "system" you are trying to beat is other Canadian taxpayers who fund health care with their taxes -- paid over the years. To arrive with an imminent health-care bill, asking how to hoodwink others into paying the bill for you, is a bit indelicate.

 

[canindian]

Some people are incorrectly assuming that I am a resident of BC. I was in fact born and raised in BC, but I gave up my residence, health care, driver's license, etc a year and a half ago when I moved to Thailand. I gave away or sold everything I owned in Canada. I do not 'reside... and pay taxes' anywhere.
I have been using my parents' mailing address as a place to have my mail sent to, and my parents do live in BC, but I don't think that makes any difference.

I think the relevant thing is intent - do I INTEND to live in Alberta, or would I be going there only for the purpose of having immediate access to health care without a 3-month wait? And from what I understand, if you move directly from another country to Alberta you get instant coverage - the 3 month waiting period is only if you move from a different province within Canada.

Now that I think of it, I wonder - would I myself be immediately covered if we went to BC? Or would I have to wait 3 months as well?

If PR status is granted, we have only so long to actually arrive in Canada... will that period of time be extended to give my wife time to give birth in Thailand?

Lifer, I think that this needs a phonecall to CIC to clarify the situation. I'm sure that no one wants to provide any incorrect information that could affect your landing.

Good luck to you.

 

[Lifer]

The "system" you are trying to beat is other Canadian taxpayers who fund health care with their taxes -- paid over the years. To arrive with an imminent health-care bill, asking how to hoodwink others into paying the bill for you, is a bit indelicate.

Indeed... but I'm a young man, with many taxpaying years ahead of me, that I intend to spend in Canada. It's not my fault that I've only been able to pay taxes for a few years so far.

If I were to move my family to Canada, pay taxes for 10 years, have a baby, then pay taxes another 25 years, there would be no question that we'd be entitled to full health care coverage.
Hell, change 'ten years' to 'three months' and there would still be no question.

But if I move my family to Canada, IMMEDIATELY have a baby, and then pay taxes for 35 years, am I trying to 'hoodwink others into paying the bill for me'?
The only differences are in the order things get done, and in the possibility that, regardless of intent, I may not be able to pay taxes in Canada after the baby is born (I could die, get a disease, etc).



I believe that following the spirit of a law is more important than following the letter of a law, if you know what I mean - but there is a conflict.
The intent (spirit) of our CANADIAN health care system is to provide ALL Canadians with free medical care. I strongly believe that includes myself, my wife, and our children, and I believe Canada would agree (once PR is granted).
However, the intent of the ALBERTAN system is to have a provincial system that benefits the people of Alberta. I have not paid taxes in Alberta, and likely would not reside there for long if I chose to go there at all. By having my baby in Alberta, then paying taxes in BC, I would effectively be taking money from Alberta and giving it to BC. That doesn't seem right.

And of course, if I were concerned only with the letter of the law, I'd land, have the baby in Alberta, and be done with it =p

 

[mmhughes]

After living overseas for 4.5 years, I finally came home and to my surprise even I have to wait three months before my OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance) kicks in. And I'm a Canadian citizen who had an expired OHIP card. Sucks, eh? So what I had to do was get private travel insurance for three months. I went with TIC Travel Insurance and it cost me $126 for a cover limit of $50,000 which is the recommended amount. You can call from Canada/US 1-800-995-1662. Worldwide 800-842-08420 or check out their website www.travelinsurance.ca

If the free numbers don't work you can call 416-340-0049.

And whatever you do, don't try to beat the system because they will get ya eventually...bad karma as well;-)

Also, you never know what can happen to you health-wise so it's better safe than sorry.

 

[mmhughes]

PS - I forgot to mention that I am also working full time and paying taxes. Frustrating but you can't do anything about it but wait the three months starting from the date you and your family land.

 

[mmhughes]

I should have read everyone's posts first. Sorry about yet another post. This 3 month wait is only for new people coming into Canada and those CANADIANS who have lived outside of Canada for more than a year. See this website for more info http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/

If you are moving from one province to another this does not apply to you. So for instance if you are moving from Quebec to Ontario your Quebec Health Care Card will be valid in Ontario and you have a month to obtain a direct exchange for a OHIP card.

 

[BeShoo]

To be exact: "New residents or persons re-establishing residence in B.C. are eligible for coverage after completing a waiting period that normally consists of the balance of the month of arrival plus two months."

In Quebec: "some healthcare services are available free of charge to persons waiting for their coverage to take effect, such as services:
...
related to pregnancy, child birth or termination of pregnancy"

I'd look into the rules in whichever province you are going to.

 

[Lifer]

To be exact: "New residents or persons re-establishing residence in B.C. are eligible for coverage after completing a waiting period that normally consists of the balance of the month of arrival plus two months."

In Quebec: "some healthcare services are available free of charge to persons waiting for their coverage to take effect, such as services:
...
related to pregnancy, child birth or termination of pregnancy"

I'd look into the rules in whichever province you are going to.

Excellent! I'll look into that... wait, that was in Quebec? Quebec's goofy =p But you never know, BC could have the same thing =]

 

[elkan]

I haven't read through the other comments, but I am an Ontario resident and went to school out in Manitoba for two years. I did not change over my healthcare. On a visit to the hospital, they did ask for my Ontario health card. They called to verify that it was valid, and that was fine I was covered. For a doctor's visit one time, I had forgotten my health card in Ontario after holidays, and I was billed for the visit.

And yes, even as a Canadian Citizen moving from another province, you need to provide proof that you have resided in Ontario for three months. My brother in law has been living here for 5 years and he's from NFL, but he had no proof with him that he had been living in Ontario as his bills for utilities were all under his roommates name. He eventually showed proof of employment and that was suffice.

Just my two cents for what it's worth.

 

[can_usa_97]

Note, I found this on the MSP (British Columbia Healthcare info website). Specifically the underlined part - but did not want to cut the original context.

What do I do if I want to appeal the wait period for provincial health care coverage that new and returning residents are required to complete?

Please write a letter with relevant details, including the medical circumstances that are prompting your request and any financial considerations. Include a letter or note from a physician or hospital indicating what the diagnosis is and when it was made, outlining the treatment plan for the wait period, and stating the patient’s prognosis. Send to:

Director
Medical Services Operations and Policy
Ministry of Health Services
3-1 1515 Blanshard St
Victoria BC V8W 3C8
Fax: 250 952-3133


Please note that waivers of the wait period are only approved in the most extenuating circumstances. Routine pre-natal care and the routine birth of a baby do not generally qualify a person for a waiver.