Hello Experts:
My mother got Visitor Visa and will be coming over to Alberta soon. I understand that, visitors can only have emergency access to health care through insurance.
I want to know, if there is a way to get thorough medical check-up for visitors and how to get it at affordable cost?
Expert opinion please and thanks.
Yes, visitors insurance will only cover medical emergency treatment costs, which excludes anything related to a routine check up, continuation of an ongoing treatment, elective or cosmetic treatment.
Yet, "emergency" is a generalized term used by private insurance companies and what it means, at least in most cases, is an unforeseen sickness or accidental injury that cannot be reasonably delayed to be treated. A reasonable delay in such case is person's return home (since she is a visitor in Canada).
Basically, emergency is not just something life threatening, but a more common flu, infection, headaches, food poisoning, broken bone, etc. is also considered emergency according to insurance terminology. Physical exams and lab tests including x-rays are also covered under such insurance as long as it is a part of a medical emergency treatment.
So, getting a visitors insurance is still a smart thing to do, although it does not cover everything. In case there is an unexpected sickness or injury you can use your policy to cover possible expenses instead of paying for medical services out of pocket, which would certainly be more than what you would've paid for the insurance.
In any case, you can still take a look at the private insurance plans and see the cost online, so that you know your options -
Visitors to Canada Insurance