worried about cost of health care

[slpmom]

If we move to the US and my employer says they have a health care plan, does that mean they would still deduct a wack of dough from my paychecks for this? I assume it would only cover me and not my husband and kids - would it be really expensive to have them covered? what does it depend on?

[Reba]

Depends on the insurance company and how much money your employer is willing to dish out for subsidised premiums.

I pay over $400 per month for health insurance for just me and my husband currently. Plus you still have to pay for doctor visits what they call a "co-pay". The amount of your co-pay will also depend on your insurance plan.

The best person to be asking these questions to is your HR manager or insurance plan manager at your employers. Every insurance company is different, every employer plan is different, and laws and regulations regarding insurance are different in each state. There's no way anyone here could even hazard a guess what you'd be covered for or how much it'll cost you, unless they worked for the same employer.

[Steven]

This is one of the big catches of moving to the US, because not only do you have to pay somehow for your healthcare (either yourself or via your employer) but your medicare contributions count for nothing, and not only that but if you remain resident in Canada for tax purposes (which legally you're supposed to on TN-1 and you basically have to if you're only there for a couple of years) then you pay the equivalent of Canadian income taxes AND the US healthcare costs. Which really sucks if you're from a Province where your healthcare is paid out of your income taxes and you don't pay a separate premium.

[dannykool]

This is one of the big catches of moving to the US, because not only do you have to pay somehow for your healthcare (either yourself or via your employer) but your medicare contributions count for nothing, and not only that but if you remain resident in Canada for tax purposes (which legally you're supposed to on TN-1 and you basically have to if you're only there for a couple of years) then you pay the equivalent of Canadian income taxes AND the US healthcare costs. Which really sucks if you're from a Province where your healthcare is paid out of your income taxes and you don't pay a separate premium.

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I think the US healthcare costs are clear and any US resident pays for them. Medicare not counting does hurt. The higher income taxes as well.

I know plenty of TN's who have been out for 2 years though ie in the US and are non residents of Canada for tax purposes. Unlike the tourist or business visits or even students actually, TN means that you are taking up TEMPORARY residence in the USA. For this temporary period, there is not a need to maintain ties. As i said, plenty of TN workers in this situation.

[irakon]

I agree with dannykool, when you're on TN in the US there is no need to keep your Ontario healthcard or any other ties to Canada. File your Canadian income tax as non-resident and just pay lower US taxes. By the way, healthcare system here in the States is so much better than in Canada if you have healthcare insurance. If you need to see a specialist or you need to do some expensive tests like cat scan, etc. there is no waiting lists here. Living in Canada, I had to be on a waiting list for couple of years before I could get a family doctor, 6 months waiting list to see a specialist, argue with a family doctor when I needed expensive exams done. In Canada you pay for healthcare or they deduct it from your income tax when you file, and you don't get to use it. Yes, in the States you pay a bit more for health insurance, but it is worth it!

[Reba]

Depends where you live actually. Some states, and some counties within states are short on doctors, so there are waiting lists. And even with insurance, specialists can cost a small fortune. We ended up paying about $1700 for some cardiac tests for hubby last year.

[flames9]

There are a zillion types of insurance plans as well, and one has to pay close attention to what you actually get. My wife works for the federal Govt (in USA) and she came home with a book that must have been like 2 inches thick of the various plans available. I never had a problem in canada seeing a Dr, nor do my parents, guess it all depends where you live. And one can't always get into a Dr here in the USA either (DC area.) I'm a RN nursing student (39 days to go,lol) and there are plus/negatives of both systems. I know the hospitals here in the USA really push customer service, as they want your business, but they sure charge you fore everything,lol Ensure that you spend some time going over the various plans and companies.

[Steven]

Alberta supposedly has the best healthcare system in Canada, and it's totally hopeless compared to anywhere I've lived or needed treatment in the US. I'm extraordinarily lucky to have a family doctor here, a lot of people don't. However the problem is still the wait for an appointment, I had to go to the ER for an ear infection, because my GP couldn't fit me in for weeks and the local clinic was overloaded for days and I couldn't get in.

The kicker is of course the cost, I never had much in the way of insurance when I lived in the US, so I remember once I got taken to the ER and I got a bill that was loaded down with all sorts of things I hadn't had done, including a breast biopsy(!) If it had gone to the insurance company I wouldn't have seen it. It was clear to me when I complained to the hospital and how embarrassed they were that it was a common practice but people didn't notice.

It's amazing to me how many people get shipped down to Great Falls who are in critical condition, however since the new Provincial health board was formed they seem to have decided it's cheaper to just let people die.