BC health care enquiry

[everythingsucks]

Hi guys,

I am an Australian who lived in BC this year for 9 months and I had travel insurance to cover myself while I was here. Following the 9 month period I went backpacking in Europe for 5 months and have now returned to BC to live. I am wondering if i am covered under the BC health care system or do I still require travel insurance in the event of an accident or falling ill? I heard there is a 3 month period you have to wait before you are covered, can someone please explain this further, as my understanding of it is fairly limited. I am not currently employed so I'm assuming my taxes would cover my health care, so what do I do about making payments for my coverage? I will be snowboarding too and that is considered on many insurance policies to be a dangerous activity, does this affect anything?

Thanks heaps, Alex.

 

[Karlshammar]

What is your status in Canada? From your post it appears that you are a visitor (tourist), in which case you are not entitled to any public health care, and have to rely solely on privately purchased insurance.

If you are not a tourist, please advise us of your status and we can answer your question more accurately.

 

[Leon]

If you are eligible for BC health, you still need to register with them before you can be covered. You can read about eligibility here: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/eligible.html#who and on there, it also gives you the link to contact them.

 

[haver]

If you need private medical insurance in British Columbia you have to consider that all of them have
waiting period if you buy them after arrival to Canada. You can check which one could fit your insurance
needs. There are four different travel insurance companies here . Manulife covers you since the moment you have arrive provided you buy it before arrival.
The waiting perion lasts as usual 48-72 hours. Some companies have limits how many times to visit a doctor
with the same sickness. Please check it careful.

 

[everythingsucks]

My status is that I am on a working visa. Does that entitle me to anything? Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Karlshammar]

I am fairly confident that you will not be eligible, but check with the MSP to be sure: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/contacts.html

My status is that I am on a working visa. Does that entitle me to anything? Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[job_seeker]

You need to register as Leon has mentioned. It takes about 4-6 weeks after you sent the form before you receive your care card.

 

[Leon]

Whether you are eligible or not totally depends on the province. Some provinces would like you to be a PR or citizen to be covered although they might see it in their hearts to cover some people on work permits provided certain conditions are met while other will cover all temporary workers, students etc. Better ask the healthcare where you live.

 

[job_seeker]

Whether you are eligible or not totally depends on the province. Some provinces would like you to be a PR or citizen to be covered although they might see it in their hearts to cover some people on work permits provided certain conditions are met while other will cover all temporary workers, students etc. Better ask the healthcare where you live.

Hi,

I am in BC on work permit and I qualified for MSP. When I applied I sent a copy of my work permit. The coverage is co-terminus with my work permit though. The OP can actually call 604 683-7151 and verify.

 

[toby]

I plan to be in B.C. for 182 days per year, no more. I want to be there in the summer. The B.C. plan requires me to be resident in B.C. for at least 6 months. I'd be 1 or 2 days short of the 6-month minimum.

Does any one know if there are dispensations to the 6-month rule, since I'd be almost there at 182 days?

 

[Karlshammar]

Not as far as I know. If you don't mind me asking, why not just stay the extra day or two?

I plan to be in B.C. for 182 days per year, no more. I want to be there in the summer. The B.C. plan requires me to be resident in B.C. for at least 6 months. I'd be 1 or 2 days short of the 6-month minimum.

Does any one know if there are dispensations to the 6-month rule, since I'd be almost there at 182 days?

 

[toby]

There are serious tax consequences to remaining in Canada for 183+ days. Suddenly one is taxed on worldwide income, which could be expensive if -- in a few years -- one of my riskier offshore investments were to be sold at a gain.

If one spends 182- days in Canada, worldwide income is not taxed by Canada while one is outside the country, only in-Canada income.

 

[Karlshammar]

I see what you mean. Yes, the reason they don't give health care to someone who doesn't fulfill the required days for residency is because they don't have to give tax-supported health care to someone who doesn't pay "their fair share" of taxes.

There are serious tax consequences to remaining in Canada for 183+ days. Suddenly one is taxed on worldwide income, which could be expensive if -- in a few years -- one of my riskier offshore investments were to be sold at a gain.

If one spends 182- days in Canada, worldwide income is not taxed by Canada while one is outside the country, only in-Canada income.

 

[toby]

Ah ... I knew we'd get into this debate: what constitutes a "fair share of taxes"?

Twice I posted a longish reply, and twice I deleted it, because this forum is not the place for polemics. This, believe it or not, is the short version.

Canada does deserve a “fair” share of our income to pay for infrastructure and social programs. (It could be argued that Canada does not need so much of our income in the form of taxes if only it would make its government more efficient and responsive to the taxpaying public, but let that pass.)

Where one earns or invests in Canada, it seems clear that Canada’s infrastructure has helped to make the income or investment possible. So, reasonable taxes are fair.

Not so with an offshore investment, where Canada’s infrastructure has done nothing to enable the investment, where Canada takes none of the investment risk, and even denies to the investor several deductions it allows for investments in Canada. To tax that investment seems decidedly “unfair” to me.

If I were to join the provincial health care plan and spend (say) 7 months in Canada, 5 months outside, I would have to pay for 12 months but use only 7. Is that fair too?

This decision depends a lot on whether one has a socialist mentality (in which the State owns our income, and decides how much it will return to us for living expenses) or a capitalist mentality (in which we own the fruits of our labours, and will give a small part of it to the State to run essential services).

I feel that small government is better, more efficient, less wasteful of our money. Are we happy with what is being done with our tax dollars? Do we really need to fund high-spending embassies? What do they do for us that a small visa office could not do – at a much lower cost? And pay someone to answer the phone!! What a strange concept that would be for the embassies!

So, if I cannot join a health-care plan without putting my offshore investments into the grasp of an ever-more rapacious CRA, then so be it.

 

[Karlshammar]

I agree with you politically speaking. But now we do unfortunately have a system where the government pays for health care, and because of that, it won't allow people to benefit as Canadian residents when they are not paying taxes as Canadian residents. It does make sense under the system we have.