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Want to move to BC, what do I do for healthcare until Permanent Resident Status begins?

joeyskywalker

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Aug 13, 2019
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From what I understand, all citizens and permanent residents pay into a pool of money every month that is used to fund the health care system. My goal is to move in as a skilled worker, so I would have to wait 6 months to become a permanent resident. What do I do for healthcare until then? Is there American style private insurance I purchase? My wife takes several prescriptions every day so it's important to understand this ahead of time.
 

Copingwithlife

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Jul 29, 2018
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You purchase private insurance, but depends upon the plan, it would not cover visits to the Dr, etc, or pre existing conditions. If you had to go a walk in clinic, they would ask you first, "Can we see your health card?', Failing that, they would ask for a major credit card. The system is not set up in a way where the Dr would bill private insurance. Some provinces charge a monthly fee, dependent upon income level, or provinces, like Ontario, charge a Health Tax, you would see the amount when you file your personal income tax
 
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joeyskywalker

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Aug 13, 2019
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You purchase private insurance, but depends upon the plan, it would not cover visits to the Dr, etc, or pre existing conditions. If you had to go a walk in clinic, they would ask you first, "Can we see your health card?', Failing that, they would ask for a major credit card. The system is not set up in a way where the Dr would bill private insurance. Some provinces charge a monthly fee, dependent upon income level, or provinces, like Ontario, charge a Health Tax, you would see the amount when you file your personal income tax
That could be a major issue then, my wife can't go without her medicine for 6 months. Would I just have to save up enough to pay for the full price?
 

Copingwithlife

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Jul 29, 2018
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joeyskywalker

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Aug 13, 2019
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You’d have to go pay to see a Dr then get a prescription
You’d also have to see if your wife is medically admissible to Canada during the application process for PR
Note you can’t move to Canada until your application is approved and you receive COPR
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/standard-requirements/medical-requirements/refusals-inadmissibility.html
She has prescriptions in America, would they have to be reissued by a Canadian doctor?

Thank you for sharing that link. Nothing she has would pose a risk to others. She has some nerve damage that she's treating with a few medications. Beyond that she sees a neurologist annually, plus normal stuff like an OBGYN. I imagine that would not be considered "excessive" in terms of cost, but I don't know that for a fact.
 

Copingwithlife

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Jul 29, 2018
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I could be wrong , but I believe that for a prescription to be filled in Canada, it has to be issued by a Canadian physician. I recall reading about Americans coming across the border to get insulin , and they required a Canadian physician to fill it
I found this

Canadian provinces require that pharmacies dispense medications pursuant to a valid prescription authorized by a Canadian practitioner. Therefore, U.S. prescriptions received by a Canadian pharmacy must be approved by a Canadian physician, who issues a Canadian prescription, prior to it being filled. This practice is often referred to as cosigning. We view the cosigning process as an additional review of the patient's health profile by a licensed practitioner to determine the suitability of the recommended treatment.
 
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canuck78

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Jun 18, 2017
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Yes you need a prescription from a Canadian doctor. Insulin doesn’t actually require a prescription that is why you hear about caravans arriving from the US. You are also entitled to bring in a 90 day supply of medication with you when you enter Canada which may be another option and then see a Canadian doctor. BC also has a 2-3 month wait time before you have coverage.
 
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joeyskywalker

Newbie
Aug 13, 2019
6
0
Couldn't you become a foreign worker first and have the MSP covered before you became PR?
I'm not sure, but that sounds like a better idea. Do you have any references I should read on that program? Would that work with the skilled labor immigration?

Right now my plan is:
  1. Get a job offer from a BC company
  2. Apply for Skilled Worker Immigration
  3. Take necessary tests
  4. Move to Vancouver and start working
  5. Become a permanent resident
  6. Become a citizen
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
52,959
12,758
I'm not sure, but that sounds like a better idea. Do you have any references I should read on that program? Would that work with the skilled labor immigration?

Right now my plan is:
  1. Get a job offer from a BC company
  2. Apply for Skilled Worker Immigration
  3. Take necessary tests
  4. Move to Vancouver and start working
  5. Become a permanent resident
  6. Become a citizen
It can be difficult to get a job as a foreign worker. The employer needs an LMIA first. Not sure where you guys are from. If you are US citizens you may be able to get jobs under NAFTA and not require an LMIA.
 
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joeyskywalker

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Aug 13, 2019
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It can be difficult to get a job as a foreign worker. The employer needs an LMIA first. Not sure where you guys are from. If you are US citizens you may be able to get jobs under NAFTA and not require an LMIA.
We are from the USA, so the NAFTA should apply. Does that help with the gap in health insurance? American health insurance drops the moment you stop working, and as I understand the Canadian healthcare doesn't kick in for a few months at a minimum.
 

scylla

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AOR Received.
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File Transfer...
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We are from the USA, so the NAFTA should apply. Does that help with the gap in health insurance? American health insurance drops the moment you stop working, and as I understand the Canadian healthcare doesn't kick in for a few months at a minimum.
NAFTA applies to specific occupations. You'll need to look at the NAFTA occupations list to see if your occupation is covered.

No - this doesn't help with any gap in health care coverage. The gap will exist regardless. You'll need to cover yourself during the gap through a combination of paying out of your own pocket and/or private insurance.
 
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Copingwithlife

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Jul 29, 2018
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It is a pretty detailed legal document, jump to to 3.8,( unless you are really into reading a Government document), in the attached link to see if your profession is covered under NAFTA
NAFTA does not cover all professions, it is a reciprocal agreement between the three countries
Typically skilled, with the accompanying education degree

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/international-free-trade-agreements/north-american.html
 
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joeyskywalker

Newbie
Aug 13, 2019
6
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NAFTA applies to specific occupations. You'll need to look at the NAFTA occupations list to see if your occupation is covered.

No - this doesn't help with any gap in health care coverage. The gap will exist regardless. You'll need to cover yourself during the gap through a combination of paying out of your own pocket and/or private insurance.
First off, thank you to everyone on this thread so far. You're incredibly helpful.

How does Canadian private insurance compare to American? I'd imagine that the cost of paying out of pocket versus private insurance that covers pre-existing conditions are both going to be pretty expensive.
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
92,538
20,358
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
How does Canadian private insurance compare to American? I'd imagine that the cost of paying out of pocket versus private insurance that covers pre-existing conditions are both going to be pretty expensive.
Yes - that's right. Pre-existing conditions are generally either not covered or very expensive. Also, generally only emergencies are covered - not regular / non-emergency treatments and doctors visits. If you're on regular medications, you'll be better off (cheaper) to pay out of your own pocket vs. getting insurance. Insurance companies are in the business of making money - so they obviously aren't going to provide a policy that costs them more than they anticipate they will make through fees.