Medical insurance for Canadians working in the U.S.

[john4]

Hello,

I recently found this site and learned a lot due to great information that you guys are posting. I have red many sticky posts but none of them it seems covers my problem. I decided to post a message in order for some of you, more experienced people, to assist me in finding the possible solution.

I am a Canadian citizen and a US green-card holder. I presently live in Miami Florida. I moved from Canada in 2000 due to my doctoral studies and when I received my Ph.D. I accepted 2 year position at the University. Due to present economic crisis, this University cannot pay my medical insurance. Since I am a Canadian citizen, I wonder is there any regulation by which I can be covered or possibly being able to reapply for my Canadian Medical Card. Throughout my study years I did not need my Canadian Medical Card since, as a student, I had a basic student medical insurance provided by my University. The present position that I have is more for gaining University experience rather than being able to get a full University salary. By the way, the present University where I work now does not cover any medical insurance for me.
I have tried to cover all possible facts and if I missed something please ask.
I am looking forward to your response as a collective wisdom.

[Reba]

Nope, if you are no longer a resident of Canada, you are not eligible for Canadian provincial healthcare insurance.

Did they not offer COBRA when they discontinued your health insurance at the university?

Have you tried the insurance co. where you have any other insurance (life, home, car)? They quite often have health insurance, or health savings accounts at the least.

[axolotl]

Canadian medicare is not available to you anymore since you no longer live in Canada. Also, Canadian medicare will only cover you up to a certain amount, which is usually pretty small. A typical ER visit to a hospital in the States will be about $3,000 USD. You're lucky if you get $50-100 of that back from provincial health care. You cannot live in the US and rely on provincial health care, it's just not possible.

I'm surprised they didn't offer COBRA to you, that's odd. Your only option at this point is to go for private health insurance through a company like Aetna or Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Your monthly payments are going to be pretty high and the coverage is not going to be anywhere near as good as what you used to have through your employer. Also, if there are any gaps in coverage the new insurance plan may not cover you for pre-existing conditions.

[john4]

I agree with Reba.If you are not Canadian green card holder then how you can get medical insurance in Canada.

Hi,


well, I was Canadian green card holder but when I received the Canadian citizenship this card was discontinued for obvious reasons.

[Steven]

Since I am a Canadian citizen, I wonder is there any regulation by which I can be covered or possibly being able to reapply for my Canadian Medical Card.

You have to be resident in Canada to get it, even if you moved your tax home back to Canada that's more of a Federal thing and you need to be resident in a Province. The provinces are pretty tight on residency for healthcare reasons, it's usually at least three months or more per year and you would end up paying Canadian income taxes.

[john4]

Thank you all! Although, I will have to find another way somehow to cover myself, I know at least what I cannot do at this point.