I filed for an inland application in December, now I am pregnant. I am insured in the United States and I had been driving from Toronto to Buffalo for doctor's visits, but now that those visits will be more frequent and I have delivery to think about. I'm due in September, what if OHip doesn't kick in before the baby is born? Driving 2 hours across the border to deliver a baby isn't practical. Going home to NYC and staying with my mom until the baby comes means my husband will miss delivery since he will be working in Toronto. I am looking into buying private insurance in Canada, but none seem to cover prenatal only emergency. Not sure what to do, Help Please!!!
Pregnant and Uninsured, what are my options?
- Thread starter MrsMal
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Going to NYC to stay with your mother could also forfeit your Inland application, as you are required to remain in Canada for the duration of the process. Actually, even leaving for your doctor visits could pose a problem if you are refused re-entry into Canada at the border (which is remote, but possible).
Hopefully, you will find an answer to your question here ASAP!
Congratulations!
Hopefully, you will find an answer to your question here ASAP!
Congratulations!
screech339
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Buying medical insurance will not do you any good. They won't cover baby delivery medical in the first 9 months after you bought insurance. This is to due you having a pre-existing medical condition. This is to prevent abuse of medical insurance. Sort of like buying 1 million dollar life insurance policy when you found out you got terminal illness.
MrsMal said:
Save money and pay for your delivery in a Toronto hospital or re-apply outland and deliver in NYC, you husband can get time off from work for his baby's birth (unpaid leave of absence or vacation) etc.
Private insurance will not cover you now, because it is a "pre-existing conditions" therefore your pregnancy would be excluded under any policy.
I hate to say it but cancelling the Inland application and re-applying Outland might be a good idea, as it sounds like you will have little choice but to move to NYC temporarily. That is, unless there's a way to get an answer on your OHip query.
If you filed your inland application December 2013 (rather than 2012), then it's extremely unlikely that you will have first stage approval by September 2014 based on current processing times. So unfortunately I don't think it's realistic for you to be counting on OHIP. And as you've found, insurers don't cover pregnancy (either the doctor visits or the delivery). If you think about it from a business perspective, it makes sense that insurers don't cover pregnancy. They would lose money every time.
I think you really have two options. Consider relocating to the US for the later stages of your pregnancy. Although as Ponga pointed out, this could jeopardize your inland application.
Alternatively you can seek treatment in Canada instead - however you and your husband have to be prepared to pay for the costs of doctor visit and the delivery out of your own pocket. One way to significantly lower costs is to have a home birth with the help of a midwife.
Good luck.
I think you really have two options. Consider relocating to the US for the later stages of your pregnancy. Although as Ponga pointed out, this could jeopardize your inland application.
Alternatively you can seek treatment in Canada instead - however you and your husband have to be prepared to pay for the costs of doctor visit and the delivery out of your own pocket. One way to significantly lower costs is to have a home birth with the help of a midwife.
Good luck.
I don't get out my inland application would be jeopardized by me going to New York, no where did I read that I can't leave the country for the next two years. I have a 6 month vistor's visa currently stapled in my passport. My name is on a lease in Toronto and I have bank accounts here, going to New York for a day or even for month doesn't change my address. Can someone clarify to me how that would?
Also, if I was to switch to an outland application, do I forfeit the 1000 dollars I paid for my inland application? Do I have to submit all the paperwork again or do they just send it over to the appropriate office
Also, if I was to switch to an outland application, do I forfeit the 1000 dollars I paid for my inland application? Do I have to submit all the paperwork again or do they just send it over to the appropriate office
scylla said:
+1. Midwife services are paid by the government even if you don't have OHIP. I heard they also have birthing centres to deliver at instead of hospitals, but not entirely sure of the details.
U could deliver with a midwife. Theyvr considerably cheaper then doctors and u get same and even better care and can also deliver at a hospital or home if u choose
Currently, I am high risk so a midwife may not be an option for me. I cannot bank on it at this point. That still does not help with prenatal care.
I hate to say it, but these are the things that make me want move back to the U.S. If the situation was reversed and I was working in the States and my husband was awaiting green card (he already has it) he would still be insured through my employment. Even non citizens are eligible for emergency medicaid. That is not an option here. And I haven't found any private insurance in Canada that covers pregnancy. They only offer travel insurance to visitors and people waiting on insurance which only covers emergencies not routine doctors visits. So the problem with pregnancy is not that it is preexisting, but that no company seems to offer a true private healthcare plan. If I knew this, I never would have filed inland. I think we are going to go back to the States, Canada is starting not to be worth it. It has already been a huge hit to our income and now this.
I hate to say it, but these are the things that make me want move back to the U.S. If the situation was reversed and I was working in the States and my husband was awaiting green card (he already has it) he would still be insured through my employment. Even non citizens are eligible for emergency medicaid. That is not an option here. And I haven't found any private insurance in Canada that covers pregnancy. They only offer travel insurance to visitors and people waiting on insurance which only covers emergencies not routine doctors visits. So the problem with pregnancy is not that it is preexisting, but that no company seems to offer a true private healthcare plan. If I knew this, I never would have filed inland. I think we are going to go back to the States, Canada is starting not to be worth it. It has already been a huge hit to our income and now this.
MrsMal said:
You have more ties to Canada than you do to the US. Also you are still just a "visitor" in Canada until you get your PR status. So all it would take is 1 border guard who is having a bad day to think that you will overstay your "visit" in Canada, and they could very easily simply deny you entry on one of your trips over the border.
If this happens your inland application is cancelled, and you need to start again from scratch. People intending to cross the border often should almost ALWAYS apply outland.
Rob_TO said:
That makes no sense. I was given the visitors visa in my passport because I am living here. Immigration at the border recommended it and they documented that I have filed and that I am awaiting. I can't think of more ties to Canada then a husband, home and money. Even beyond the doctor, we go to Buffalo monthly to buy groceries. I go to NYC to visit my Mom. Are you saying that those of you who do inland applications don't leave the country for 2 years
MrsMal said:
No - you would not forfeit the fee. However you would have to complete all of the paperwork from scratch and submit a brand new application. You can't transfer an application between inland and outland unfortunately. You would have to withdraw the inland and submit a new application outland.
And applying outland does not mean you have to be outside of the country. As you are from a visa exempt country you can very well be "vising" in Canada for months and month at a time while the outland application is being processed. Bonus is that for straightforward US apps the processing timelines are low (8 months to 12) on average.
Please don't stress about the situation now. Review your options, take care of yourself and your pregnancy, you do not need the added stress now. Congratulations by the way
All the best.
Please don't stress about the situation now. Review your options, take care of yourself and your pregnancy, you do not need the added stress now. Congratulations by the way
All the best.MrsMal said:
Yes - those who do inland typically do not leave for 2 years.
I would recommend that you stop the cross border visits to the grocery store immediately. Keep the border crossings to an absolute minimum and only for trips that are really necessary. As others have said, all it takes is the wrong border official and you could be refused entry.
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