Non-resident: Can I still use Health Care services?

My guess is that Canadians living abroad remain entitled to all healthcare services as long as they keep paying their Canadian healthcare insurance/ taxes even while they are living abroad. Then you would just apply for an updated card on your return. I think declaring yourself non-resident is probably a bit too risky?

This is not true. One has to be physically in the province for between 152- 183 days in any 365 day period, depending on province.
Pretending to live in Canada -even paying tax is not suficient.

Wrong guess, I guess.

That's good advice, I was wondering about this issue. I've been returning to Canada on and off so I don't think I should have too much of a problem.

That depends. If you have not been resident in canada your medicare has lapsed. If you have been resident in canada but have been out of the country for more than 183 days in any 365 day period, you are ineligible.

To keep your account active in these situations, you have to (a) tell the province that you will be leaving temporarily BEFORE you actually leave, and (b) they have to agree. Otherwise, your coverage ended the day you left. occasional visits don't keep it active.

That said, Cdn citizens returning from abroad are entitled to immediate covergae the day they move back, except for ON and NB< which insist on the 90-day waiting period (illegally btw, since the 90-day period is untended for inter-provincialmoves, where the prior province must cover the fist 90 days after the move).