Private health insurance for first few months for a PR in Canada?

[amit_27]

Hi.

Is it worth getting private health insurance in Canada for PR after coming to Canada, since there's a waiting period before being eligible for provincial healthcare? And, which private insurance company is recommended, if it's advisable to get private health insurance?

Thanks!

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi.

Is it worth getting private health insurance in Canada for PR after coming to Canada, since there's a waiting period before being eligible for provincial healthcare? And, which private insurance company is recommended, if it's advisable to get private health insurance?

Thanks!

Whether or not there is a waiting period before you qualify for provincial medical care varies by province. For example, in Ontario, there is a three month wait, while in Nova Scotia you would qualify immediately.

First find out if the province you plan to live in has a waiting period, then how long it is.

Is it 'worth' getting private medical insurance to cover any waiting period? How do you feel about maybe having a bill of hundred of thousand or even millions of Canadian dollars if you are hospitalised in a traffic accident? You are playing 'Russian roulette' without it IMHO!

Companies worth Googling for quotes are:

Canadasure
ETFS Travel & Healthcare Solutions
Manulife
Blue Cross
Sun Life Financial
Great West Life
Telfer International
The Co-operators
TIC Travel Insurance

 

[profiler]

Is it 'worth' getting private medical insurance to cover any waiting period? How do you feel about maybe having a bill of hundred of thousand or even millions of Canadian dollars if you are hospitalised in a traffic accident? You are playing 'Russian roulette' without it IMHO!

Really? Seems to me, in your cited example, the vehicle the person would be in, would have to have insurance that would be covering medical expenses. And, I think a million dollars is pretty steep -- just drawing on my experience with the OHIP fee schedules, that would require surgery on basically every organ + bone. And you'd still have money left over.

Not that I dispute the merit of private insurance until the OP gets provincial coverage. However, most don't even cover more than 150,000 -> 200,000 of coverage anyway. That said, if the OP is responsible with life choices, it is easy enough to avoid the need for medical attention. Eg: my wife was able to get away without OHIP for nearly a year. I have extended benefits which permitted her to use the ancillary services without, and she didn't need to see a doctor -- if she had, our family doctor charges $40/visit.

 

[Sunset0505]

Hi.

Is it worth getting private health insurance in Canada for PR after coming to Canada, since there's a waiting period before being eligible for provincial healthcare? And, which private insurance company is recommended, if it's advisable to get private health insurance?

Thanks!

BC has a three month waiting period...we got BCBS for that time period but we also ensured that we had enough meds, I have colitis, to last three months, the waiting period...My hubby landed on 29APR2016 and BCMED became effective July 1st...BCBS refunded the entire month of July...the insurance was for peace of mind...Hubby had a VAD at 38 (just like a stroke) but we had short term disability in place, which you never think you are going to use...Now if you have $100K to blow don't get insurance!!!!!

 

[gopscanada]

BC has a three month waiting period...we got BCBS for that time period but we also ensured that we had enough meds, I have colitis, to last three months, the waiting period...My hubby landed on 29APR2016 and BCMED became effective July 1st...BCBS refunded the entire month of July...the insurance was for peace of mind...Hubby had a VAD at 38 (just like a stroke) but we had short term disability in place, which you never think you are going to use...Now if you have $100K to blow don't get insurance!!!!!

Just curious. How much was the premium for three months in BC? And was there a deductible and amount of coverage?
Thanks

 

[Regina]

Try Pacific Blue Cross or Manulife sites.

 

[Sunset0505]

Just curious. How much was the premium for three months in BC? And was there a deductible and amount of coverage?
Thanks

It was something like $800 Canadian....There are a number of plans...we are a little older so we wanted to be covered...I called BCBS...and they were great...

 

[sahiljain22]

Hi.

Is it worth getting private health insurance in Canada for PR after coming to Canada, since there's a waiting period before being eligible for provincial healthcare? And, which private insurance company is recommended, if it's advisable to get private health insurance?

Thanks!

Its up to you and what you expect your health expenses to be. Also note that you can use 1-2 months of travel insurance when you move for the first initial months. Its quite easy to goto a walk in clinic and pay $40 a visit if needed, or pay for labs or X-ray or basic stuff. This may also depend on when you expect your provincial coverage to become active.

If its 2-3 months, you are healthy, young, and not making crazy life choices, you can always decide to wait it out.

 

[Rob_TO]

During the OHIP waiting period my wife used a Travel Guard policy, obtained through this broker site: https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada.

Monthly cost will depends on applicant's age, deductible and coverage amount chosen. In my wife's case she got a minimal policy and it was around $100 per month. We even ended up making a claim on it and there were no problems at all.