Leaving job - what to do about health insurance?

Hi all,

I have been living in the US for a little over two years. I am leaving my job on October 19th to return to Canada, but plan to do some traveling before I head home.

From what I understand, it will take a few months for medicare to kick in and may need to be a Canadian resident before I apply for Blue Cross.

I have heard that I can get travel insurance which will cover me when I am traveling and when I am home in Canada. Since I will presumably have no other insurance (and am not necessarily a resident of either the US or Canada), what would you suggest I sign up for?

Thanks!

On the basis that you currently live in Canada & do have a provincial health card

Before you consider or sign up or do anything on private health insurance - read the info below & open the OHIP (Ontaio ministry health care) link

"For OHIP (if you continue to have ties with Ontario, Canada), it may be possible to have continued coverage while you’re out of the country for a lot longer 6 months - in fact up to 212 days"

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/p ... ravel.aspx

If you are not in Ontario but some other province, check with the provincial health care in your province"

I think the poster misspoke, and meant to say living in US, and is leaving is job in US.

Unless, he made arrangemts before leaving NO province considers this person still eligible.

However, only 2 provinces (ON and NB) do not grant IMMEDIATE coverage to Cdn citizens returning from overseas (the 3-month waiting perios is supposed to apply only to inter-provincial migration, with the understading that the province or previous residence covers for those months - ON and NB under the Canada Health Act -- could be sued under this if yoru time in US has made you litigious ).

So, unlwess you are moving to ON or NB, you will get coverage as soon as you establish an address.

Blue cross travel medical insuarance applies only to those who maintain their existing Cdn health pan, so does not apply in your case.

If you are not going to immediately be covered, and feel at risk, you may simply want to use COBRA to continue your work coverage while you wait/travel, etc. Its is costly, but is guaranteed, and tax deductible on your US tax return.

Thanks for the response, agnelson.

Indeed, you're right - I did mean to say that I live in the US and, ironically, the two provinces I will be going to will either be ON or CA.

Even if I leave the US and get insurance/travel insurance, will I be eligible for coverage in Canada? Is there a period where I will be deemed a non-resident in both countries?

How quickly will blue cross kick in?

Thanks!