Health Coverage for Canadian Citizen Living Abroad

Hi,

My brother and I were born in Ontario and lived there most of our lives. We decided to move back to Europe to be closer to our family and enjoy the nice weather. It is been about 5-6 years since we left, my brother has visited Canada again about 3 years ago, while I have been more actively visiting as my job takes me there at least once a year.

My brother is having health issues that local hospitals and doctors don't seem to be able to treat him correctly and is causing him more pain and suffering that he can handle.

My thoughts is that maybe he can be better treated in Canada since we know a few specialists from other friends who live there, and they have been getting better treatment that my brother is getting at the moment.

We are deciding about returning to Ontario to continue his therapy, accepting that we might have to pay for most costs during the 3 months waiting period, hopefully some of his personal insurance in Europe can cover some costs.

My questions are, if he returns to Ontario:

1. Will OHIP accept to cover him after 3 months
2. Cover him immediately if they see he has health issue
3. Deny him any coverage as he has lived abroad for too long?

Any help or information is appreciated, I am already talking to the doctors to see what we can do but would like to get as much information from others you might have similar experiences.

Thank you.

From what I have heard and what I know, considering your brother has been out of the country for such long periods of time, if you try to re-instate his OHIP, it's going to take them awhile.

The waiting period is usually only 3 months if you previously warned OHIP, telling them you will be leaving for any amount of time. If you didn't warn them, I heard it's more like 5 or 6 months before they consider re-instating your coverage. Remember, you really have to have a permanent residence in Canada and be present there in order to receive these benefits.

Also, depending on what kind of medical problem your brother has, OHIP might not and probably will not cover all treatment or medications. You should really get supplemental(private)health insurance until OHIP is re-instated.

Thanks for the information. We were not aware at the moment we left we had to warn OHIP we will be leaving for so long.

One thing I am told will help us, is that while we did live outside Ontario for this long, for first few years while we were deciding where to live permanetly, we still declared income taxes to Canada as we still have open bank accounts there and still pay some taxes yearly for the income we receive from these accounts. Not sure how this will impact their decision.

I guess only real way to found out is for me to 1st travel back to Ontario, visit the OHIP offices and discuss with them what we can do.

Also I just found out from our local insurance agent, that the European private insurance my brother has, covers a significant amount of the expenses we will need to pay in Ontario, which does help alot, but there is a limit to how long they are willing to cover his therapy abroad.

Okay -well the only thing I would say about the european private insurance.you have to be VERY careful. I had Canadian insurance while living in the United States and it would take up to 6 months to get stuff cleared. Also, a good percentage of the time, I ended up paying because US doctors or hospitals were hounding me for their money.

The agent I called at my insurance company said that certain things would be no problem, but then I would end up having a problem. Also, may insurance companies need you to clear procedures or tests with them first to get the okay before you are allowed to go and get it done or they might not cover it.

I know it is a lot of money and it's total crap, but you seriously might want to get insurance in Canada. They will be a lot easier to deal with. Dealing with insurance companies outside of the country you are getting medical attention is can be brutal.

But yeah, go to ohip, see what they are willing to do. When you find out, inform us. I would like to know how it turns out.

I don't know if you've gotten the info you need by now, but from my own experience, I had never lived in Ontario and had been out of Canada for years when I went back in 2001 and moved to Ontario. OHIP covered me immediately after the 3 month waiting period without restrictions.

Hope you can come up with a good solution.

Hello,

I talked to OHIP over the phone and they said they would cover my brother after 3 months, or sooner but they needed him there to approve the waver of the 3 months.

Alas, my brother diseased progressed faster than we hoped and at this moment he is in local hospital and can't travel. We are hoping for speedy recovery but cancer is not easy thing to recover from and doctors say nothing much they can do for him now, but we are hopeful to give him a chance to go to Canada and see the specialist there.

Thanks to everyone for their feedback on this question.

I hope your brother recovers well enough to travel back home soon.