Can someone who is knowledgable with taxes, BC medical help me?

[Black-Berry]

Ok so here goes,

i applied for my CARE (BC) medical card last year in january. well after about four months they sent me a letter stating blah blah blah.. they cant cover me unless i show proof that my file has been recieved by CIC and i should print off the page from CIC stating they have recieved my file and are working on it and i shiould send the recipt that i have paid for my PR. By then i couldnt log on to CIC. so i waited until i logged on or uld log on for me to send and print out the page. then i sent it (again) in September theinfo they requested ie the page from cic and receipt that i paid for my pr. U.

Unfortunately for me , last year in August i injured my back real real bad. i needed to go to therapy (Physical) as i couldnt walk. Therapy cost 60 bucks per session. i couldnt afford to go to the ER because without Insurance it would cost me an arm and leg. So i went to a few sessions of therapy which somewhat helped and it cost me about 200 bucks ..That on a couple thats not working with three kids is really hard!. I couldnt work because i had to wait for AIP and hubby wasnt getting any business and couldnt work Because i injured myself and i needed help moving around and with the three children.

Anyway so well BC health authotrity sent my application BACK (again) i had forgotten to send them a copy of my passport. But i couldnt at the time because i had sent my passport to be renewed and i didnt have a passport!!!. So i had to sit and wait to recieve my passport . i recieved it almost about the time i got AIP (December) so i decided to apply (AGAIn!) for BC medical!!!!!. this time it was 100 pages thick together with copies of all my kids care cards, my hubbys,. I had TWO entry dates into canada November , 2009 where i originally entered and August 31st where i had gone on vacation!. so BC care put the later (august 31st and counted my coverage starting in february!!.


last year in december., I slipped on Ice and fractured my foot and ankle!. i HAD TO get an xray as i was in immense pain and a cast. obviously i went to the ER and they put a cast on it. they couldnt take an xray because the xray machine in that hos[pital GET TIS... CLOSES AT 6.00!!. so they had a doc see me there give her opinion and the transferred me (Again) to another hospital where an xray machine was working!!. where i was seen by another doctor and given MORE advise ,

now this is where my story gets funky. I got the bill from bc health authority and it was 1800 dollars!!. .
the breakdown;
535 for my 1st emergency visit where the xray machione didnt work
535 for my second emergency room visit to where the ray machione was working!.
The rest,
i got three doctors fees. for all the doctors that saw me where a doctor is almost 200 bucks!!
and the rest is for the xray and the cast for my ankle!!.

I am LIVID!. as anyone who isn working would be!. i cant afford to pay it!. should i try and tell the health authority that i arrived in canada in 2009 November??. I know after three months i am entitled to coverage!. .
I think in this case im entitled to be heard !.
Does anyone know or advise what i should do? this bill is haunting the crap out of me and ive spent sleepless nights plus i have a perfect good credit and im afraid it will ruin it.

 

[Leon]

I know that some provinces would have your 3 month waiting time starting when you got AIP but if other people are getting BC health faster, you could go to BC health and state your case, you could write them a letter, you could contact the ministry or if still not resolved, you can complain to the Ombudsman: http://www.ombudsman.bc.ca/how-to-make-a-complaint

For anybody who is in the situation of waiting for their immigration and not having health coverage yet, it would be a very good idea to get accident and emergency insurance to avoid situations like this.

 

[Black-Berry]

Thanks leon,,

I copied and pasted this from their website

New residents or persons re-establishing residence in B.C. are eligible for coverage after completing a waiting period that normally consists of the balance of the month of arrival plus two months. For example, if an eligible person arrives during the month of July, coverage is available October 1. If absences from Canada exceed a total of 30 days during the waiting period, eligibility for coverage may be affected.

You should apply for MSP coverage immediately after arriving in B.C., rather than at the end of the waiting period, to allow time for your application to be processed.


Also here is the link

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/eligible.html#enroll

It pretty much states that coverage STARTS 3 months after arrival into the province and not after AIP.
SHould i fight this?. Also i went on vacation for only 15 days we still have our tickets. I am confused as to what to do but maybe sending them a letter!.
i just am not sure if i have a case!...
i dont want to ignore this and im stuck with this 1800 dollar bill and there is something i can do about it.


Also, if i were to pay for this. is there any amount that is taxable?. im still learning about the taxes and i want to know where i stand exactly.

thanks so much!..

 

[Leon]

You should definitely try to fight it at least to the point what I have pointed out to you to do but note that it says: if an eligible person arrives during the month of July, coverage is available October 1 but were you eligible when you arrived? In a worst case scenario, they can say that they will not acknowledge your arrival because you were not eligible then so your "arrival" to them would be your AIP date even though you were already in Canada.

IMO you should first go to BC health and explain your case and talk to somebody there. If you get nowhere, ask to see a superior. If you still get nowhere, go to the ministry. If you still get nowhere, try the ombudsman or talk to your MP.

If you have to pay it, you can claim a deduction on your taxes, at least if it is over a certain percentage of your income.

 

[suenim]

I think the 3 mth wait starts after your eligibility - not when when you entered Canada (well except in the case of a new PR just arriving in Canada). You can try to fight it if you want. I did but with no success. In my case, I have been here since 2005 on study and work permits. I got a PGWP in June 2008 which would have made eligible for OHIP, but according to them some glitch by CIC made them not able to give it to us. I was pregnant and had to pay out of pocket. OUCH! Cost me and arm and a leg. Anyhoo.. they fixed said glitch in April 2009 (by then I had given birth 2 mths prior). I didn't get too excited because I wanted to know 1st if coverage was retroactive. It wasn't. I applied for OHIP in April and they said they I had to wait until July for my coverage to start. I thought that was bull. I am in the country for 4 years but I still had to wait this stupid 3 mth period. I wrote them disputing my eligibility date which should have been in June 2008 but they gave me the standard crap and if I want to sue them I should. I just couldn't be bothered and dropped it.

 

[angelbrat]

Good luck with BC MSP. Sorry to be the downer but even after I had received COPR, I had to wait nearly 2 months before MSP would cover me. This was after being in Canada for 2 1/2 years and being covered temporary for 2 years during my work visa!!!!

They have to be the most difficult provincial health department in the whole of Canada. No, they would NOT cover me, even after I got AIP and I had a very scary few months to be honest, especially having a young son that plays rugby.

Fight it....yes but I feel that you may get no where and maybe your best route is just to offer a payment plan initially (to get the bad credit stuff out the way). Then start hounding them with all the proof that you should have been covered during the period you broke your ankle.

You will not get the physio paid for, that isn't covered under MSP any way and is usually covered if you have extended benefits.

Sorry I am the bearer of bad news but I have been there and got the T Shirt.....MSP is a nightmare.

 

[doctorkb]

We have ex-pat insurance for my wife during this time, so it's more of a "would be nice to have" thing, but I'm hopeful.

I sent in the application for BC MSP in October (after we were married) as I was advised by a MSP rep (by phone) that all that was needed was the marriage certificate.

We get a letter back in December saying that they need a copy of her visitor visa / permit and passport. I sent that in mid-January.

We get a letter yesterday asking for a copy of any sponsorship approval and printout from e-CAS, which is in an envelope ready to be mailed tomorrow.

I'm really curious as to what they'll come back with as far as eligibility and date for it.

 

[Love_Young]

Sorry Black-Berry but I am not experienced with BC MSP only Newfoundland MCP. However, I do know of someone that was here (was legal, then illegal, now has a work permit) and is waiting out the inland process. He was granted a TRP and OWP and with the OWP he was eligible to get MCP. He got the card and it said the dates of issue were from 2000 to 2011. He asked the woman if that was a mistake for putting 2000 on there and she said no. He had previously over the years of being here (10 years) needed surgery and had to pay over $10,000 for the procedure. He asked if he could get reimbursed for a portion of his medical expenses and she said yes, just to bring proof of receipts and bills if it happened between 2000 and 2011. He brought that in and was paid thousands of dollars back. In conclusion I am wondering if any other province allows for this and if so if the amount of expenses has to be over a certain amount. I think once you do get coverage it would be worth a shot to ask and bring proof with you. I know that once I am able to get MCP I will be finding out if I can get some of my money back even if it is only a $100. I would still be happy with that.

I am really sorry girl but I will be praying for you to find a solution through all of this. You will find a way through this. Good luck! And I wish I could have been more help. I just wanted to post to see if anyone else had attempted this. And like it has been said by Leon if it over a certain amount, you can claim it on taxes.

 

[Black-Berry]

We have ex-pat insurance for my wife during this time, so it's more of a "would be nice to have" thing, but I'm hopeful.

I sent in the application for BC MSP in October (after we were married) as I was advised by a MSP rep (by phone) that all that was needed was the marriage certificate.

We get a letter back in December saying that they need a copy of her visitor visa / permit and passport. I sent that in mid-January.

We get a letter yesterday asking for a copy of any sponsorship approval and printout from e-CAS, which is in an envelope ready to be mailed tomorrow.

I'm really curious as to what they'll come back with as far as eligibility and date for it.

Doctorkb that is exactly what i was told too by bc MSP.
ie printout from e-cas, reciept of sponsorship payment, marriage certificate, visa, passport, but they took me back and forth.
i had also forgotten to mention that over the phone, she told us that i have to be a resident of Canada and i can prove that by home ownership papers, (which i also sent)

they made it look like we didnt have to wait for initial approval. i mean now im covered. i have my CARE card but all im curious about is if i was eligible to be covered from earlier, (which they made me believe i was).

 

[Black-Berry]

Sorry Black-Berry but I am not experienced with BC MSP only Newfoundland MCP. However, I do know of someone that was here (was legal, then illegal, now has a work permit) and is waiting out the inland process. He was granted a TRP and OWP and with the OWP he was eligible to get MCP. He got the card and it said the dates of issue were from 2000 to 2011. He asked the woman if that was a mistake for putting 2000 on there and she said no. He had previously over the years of being here (10 years) needed surgery and had to pay over $10,000 for the procedure. He asked if he could get reimbursed for a portion of his medical expenses and she said yes, just to bring proof of receipts and bills if it happened between 2000 and 2011. He brought that in and was paid thousands of dollars back. In conclusion I am wondering if any other province allows for this and if so if the amount of expenses has to be over a certain amount. I think once you do get coverage it would be worth a shot to ask and bring proof with you. I know that once I am able to get MCP I will be finding out if I can get some of my money back even if it is only a $100. I would still be happy with that.

I am really sorry girl but I will be praying for you to find a solution through all of this. You will find a way through this. Good luck! And I wish I could have been more help. I just wanted to post to see if anyone else had attempted this. And like it has been said by Leon if it over a certain amount, you can claim it on taxes.

Hmmm interesting love-young... waiting to call tomorrow

Everything is worth finding out though. ill let you know what im told tomorrow . who knows!. If i point it out they may cover me!!..
\
if not, Ill just go on a payment plan and hopefully dh will claim it in the taxes.
Thanks for the prayer girl!!. your awesome!.

xx