Come on in, Just Don't Get Sick
November 26, 2007From the day Permanent Residents land in Canada, they have nearly all the rights and obligations of Canadian citizens. Aside from the right to vote, a Permanent Resident who landed in Canada yesterday and a native-born Canadian pay the same taxes and in return have the same expectation to services from the government. That is, unless they get sick.
In four Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and New Brunswick), newcomers must wait three months after landing before being eligible for free medical care. This rule does apply to people moving from other provinces in Canada as well, however those Canadians will still be covered under their previous province's insurance plan. If newcomers do have a medical emergency before the coverage kicks in, the cost can be staggering, as in the case of the $63,000 medical bill presented to the parents of a 7 year old boy, who fell and damaged his kidney at a playground in Montreal. The effect of this delay in medical coverage is to place an unfair burden on immigrants who have the unfortunate luck of getting sick or injured within their first three months in Canada.
For one matter, it's poor healthcare policy. By putting in place the three month waiting period these provincial governments encourage newcomers to delay seeking medical attention for their problems. This flies in the face of decades of research that shows that earlier treatment is both more effective from a health standpoint and also less costly for the health system. An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth a pound of cure.
In addition, it's hard to find a legitimate explanation for the waiting period. Having just taken medical exams as part of the immigration process, it's not as if there can be concerns about newcomers burdening the provinces' medical systems with pre-existing conditions. Serious health issues would, in most cases, have kept them out of Canada in the first place. The seeming arbitrariness of the three month mark just illustrates that the policy has little ground to stand on.
More importantly, the policy is discriminatory and fundamentally out of line with Canadian values. Our public healthcare system is a major point of pride for Canadians. In a recent CBC contest former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas was named the "Greatest Canadian" of all time for his work in founding universal healthcare in Canada. The reason Canadians are so proud of the healthcare system is because of the belief that all Canadians-rich or poor, recent or long-time-should be entitled to the same quality healthcare.
Canada depends on immigrants in many ways. Every year thousands of new immigrants come to work in the Canadian healthcare sector, helping to fill huge shortages of personnel that have emerged in recent years, especially in nursing. It is absurd that we could welcome someone to come work in our hospitals, use their tax dollars to maintain those hospital services, and then deny them the same care as other Canadians if they were to fall ill within their first three months. This policy amounts to an embarrassing black mark on an otherwise world-class healthcare system. It is time to fix it.
14 Comments:
Fair enough.
I support it!
Unfortunately this practice in Ontario also applies to Canadian citizens returning to Ontario after residence outside of Ontario. Wait 3 months. My wife and I and out 7 children, all Canadian citizens were told by OHIP Hamilton to wait 3 months after returning to Ontarion and establishing residence in Ontarion again.
I quite agree with the fact that the newly arrived immigrants should be allowed to enjoy the same health benefits as others. Essentially, they have come in to create wealth - that's just the bottomline! And if we are going to go by the dictum: "Health is Wealth", by what consideration would this wealth be maximally created if this bracket of the population are denied essential health care.
I am an immigration applicant and I strongly opine that the government would be doing a great deal of favor to those who have just arrived if they are allowed to enjoy the same medical care in their first three month in the country, like others.
I quite agree with the fact that those who have just arrived should be allowed to enjoy the same health care as others in the first three months.
Essentially, the whole idea of getting immigrants to get into Canada is to create wealth, I strongly opine. If this idea is defeated, then what would be said of the old dictum: " Health Is Wealth", which qualifies essentiality of health with regards to wealth creation!
The government should look into it and give due consideration to the newly arrived.
As a new guy on board, I think I would want to enjoy the same benefits as well!!
Strongly agree! An accident coverage should be the minimum provided.
We came in July on a company exchange program willing to become permanent residents in the near future. On the forth day after arrival, our son 6, had an accident. He swallowed a LEGO. We had to pay the hospital emergency treatment out of pocket. The doctors didn't charge us their hours but we paid for the facility and equipment.
Fortunately it is my company's policy to reimburse for these cases. For somebody who's not covered under such policy it could have been the end of his stay in Canada loaded with a depth.
Thomas B.
bunge.t@add-hilfe.de
As noted, Canadian citizens who return from working abroad have the same limitation. Yes, some employers will provide transition coverage, but that doesn't help those who work on contract or whose employment has ended.
I, too, had to wait three months for OHIP coverage in Ontario after getting PR status. Nor was I covered as a dependent under my wife's employer. I admit I was a little more careful in my actions during that time.
I agree that the 90-day wait is arbitrary and unjustified in terms of the very minimal extra cost. I would be more accepting if there were also a 90-day tax waiting period after you being working {wink}.
It is really unjustified to the newcomers. It is quite obvious that people who come from outside to a country like canada may fall sick because of the climate and in that case a rule like this is quite unjustified and dishearting for them.Canadian provincial goverment should rethink about it and of course withdraw it.
I have applied to immigrate to Canada nad i feel that it is not fair that new immigrants could not enjoy free medical care. We will contribute for the economy leaving our native land so i think that we must have a good treatment. I strongly believe that they will review this, as Canada is reputed as a welcoming country.
Perhaps if these named provinces will withdraw this law, current immigrants domiciled on their soil will naturally influence intending immigrants to settle in these regions. Combined with other factors, these regions may automatically become more attractive and hence be able to RETAIN MORE landed immigrants than other regions. Selah. Posted by Oladapo Bankole
It is cruel. like USA
The intention is to stop people coming from other countries on say a tourist visa, and receiving free health care and then going back home, having made no contribution to the social system.
A good proportion of your income is taken out to pay for these services, so to charge for them, and not allow you to claim these ESSENTIAL services, is a complete shambles in common sense and decency.
I would like to see someone challenge this from a legal perspective.
If you take a look at England, the NHS (National Health System) will treat foreign visitors free of charge and even supply them with prescriptions, which cost around £6, If necessary, the NHS will recover the costs, if high, from the country this person is from.
I think all countries should provide a service like this. It is ludicrous to expect people to go upto 3 months with a medical problem scared of having to pay fees!
I hope they can reach a solution soon!
That's why you need to get Visitors to Canada Insurance while you are waiting for the provincial health insurance.
You cannot have free lunch before you start contributing the new country.
I believe the law should be amended so as to allow immigrants to receive free healthcare the moment they arrive in Canada. They were already considered as Immigrants the moment they landed in Canada. Having waited years to be approved as an immigrant, and going through medical exam before being approved for the visa, it is rightful enough that the government should give them the right for the services at day one. I believe that this law or provision should be amended. Canada should uphold its reputation of having one of the best universal healthcare systems.
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