Suggestions for private health insurance

[Blue and White Army]

Moving back to Canada after several years abroad. Won't qualify for provincial health insurance until after I'm back for 6 months, and am thus supposed to take out private health insurance for that period.

Any suggestions as to companies?

Cheers.

[CanuckAbroad]

Are you sure you won't be covered within 3 months? My fiancee who just got permananet residence status is covered under BC MSP as of today (she 'officially' landed in December).

Private helath insurance.I'm really not sure. Do you have health care from the UK that you're covered under? I would get travel medical insurance there maybe.

We had to go to the doctor once in those three months, and we paid $60 flat fee for the visit. But of course if it's something more serious then it's probably a good idea to have health insurance.

[nelsona]

There is no province that requires 6 month waiting perio.

In fact the Canada Health Act requires that returning Cdns be granted coverage IMMEDIATE upon return to live in Canada. Only NB and OHIP have refused to grant this, but a court case would be a slam dunk.

But if you are moving to any other province coverage is immediate. The Grasmisk and Twincities forums have done extensive research on this.


The 3-month 'waiting' period really only applies to cdns moving from one province to another, when the OLD province MUST still cover you. Many swizzle servants lazily apply those rules to returnees. Coming from outside canada (specifically, Cdn citizens returning to Canada to LIVE) are immediately covered

[helenor]

As far as I can determine, the 3 month wait period DOES apply, even to Cdn citizens who have been living abroad and return to Canada (BC) to live. I've just been inquiring, since I've been living in Seattle as a full-time student for the last 7 years. I discovered I am not considered a resident of BC any longer, so have to apply as any average person who has been living outside of the country. This includes the 3-mo wait period (the wait time may be less, but cannot be more than that). In fact, section 10 of the Canada Health Act (the universality clause) says,
"Under the universality criterion, all insured residents of a province or territory must be entitled to the insured health services provided by the provincial or territorial health care insurance plan on uniform terms and conditions. Provinces and territories generally require that residents register with the plans to establish entitlement. Newcomers to Canada, such as landed immigrants or Canadians returning from other countries to live in Canada, may be subject to a waiting period by a province or territory, not to exceed three months, before they are entitled to receive insured health services."

According to this, Nelsona's reply seems mistaken, though I'd love to hear if there is a way around it; the people at the med plan offices were quite adamant, even though I'm a bit desparate to have coverage since I just had surgery in the US and need a gp/ med services in BC as soon as I am here in October. They suggested buying private health insurance.

[pv]

There is definitely a 3-month waiting period (at least in Ontario) but my question is whether you have to be out of Canada for a certain period of time in order for the waiting period to apply. My husband and I, for example, are moving back to Canada in January after living in the US for only one year. I read on one website that you only need to re-apply for coverage if you have been out of Canada for 3-years. Does anyone know if this is true?

[pv]

Okay, ignore my last post. It looks like you need to re-apply if you have been out of Canada for more than 7 months.