Not eligible for provincial health care, options?

I'm looking into moving my tax home to the US from BC and this means that if I re-establish residency in BC, there will be a 2-3 month waiting period before I'm covered under the MSP. During this time, BC Health recommends private insurance.

So I have two questions: what are some recommendations for private medical insurance in Canada? (mainly so I have an idea of the cost- 25/male with no health issues) Hypothetically, what happens if I get sick and have to leave my job in the US which means no more health insurance coverage - I assume this means no insurance company will want to cover me. Would I be screwed upon returning to Canada?

Thanks, I really have no idea about this stuff.

By US law known as COBRA, your former emplyer MUST offer you continued coverage (more expensive of course) under your old plan.

This would be the nest way to ensure coverage while waiting for BC-Med to kick in.

Or move to another province first, and then move to BC.

If for any reason you decide to come back to Canada, you can purchase a Visitors to Canada plan, which can cover you for any unexpected and unforeseen illness, sickness or accident while you wait to be covered by GHIP again.

Alternatively, you can purchase expatriate insurance, which will have more comprehensive coverage, but its cost will be higher.

You must take into consideration that if you have a pre-existing medical condition, you might not be able to get coverage for that condition. Exclusions and limitations may apply depending on the policy you are getting.

If you know you are coming back to Canada, shop around for insurance before heading north. Companies such as Ingle International, a broker representing all major Canadian insurance companies, can do the shopping around for you. You can call them at 800-360-3234 or visit the website ingletravel.com