Travel insurance while in Canada - any ideas?

[mapleleaf987]

Hello

if I understand correctly new immigrants do not get any health benefits upon arrival. A friend recommended I take a travel insurance for the initial few months of my travel there.

do employers provide health insurance coverage immediately upon joining?
I am trying to determine how long i will need an insurance for, incase I get a job within a month or two of arriving in Canada

if anyone can share personal experiences

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Hello

if I understand correctly new immigrants do not get any health benefits upon arrival. A friend recommended I take a travel insurance for the initial few months of my travel there.

do employers provide health insurance coverage immediately upon joining?
I am trying to determine how long i will need an insurance for, incase I get a job within a month or two of arriving in Canada

if anyone can share personal experiences

Thanks

Employers will not cover you during this period. Any insurance provided by employers is in addition to any provincial health care coverage you already have. In many cases, you cannot qualify for the additional employer insurance until you are already covered by the provincial insurance. The employer insurance does not replace provincial insurance.

You need to purchase private insurance to cover yourself for the entire period. When you get a job is irrelevant and won't change this.

 

[APPNOV2014NY]

Employers will not cover you during this period. Any insurance provided by employers is in addition to any provincial health care coverage you already have. In many cases, you cannot qualify for the additional employer insurance until you are already covered by the provincial insurance. The employer insurance does not replace provincial insurance.

You need to purchase private insurance to cover yourself for the entire period. When you get a job is irrelevant and won't change this.

I was in Quebec for a year on Intra Company Transfer visa as far as I can recall I was covered through Employer sponsored Health Insurance plan until my Quebec plan started.

 

[scylla]

I was in Quebec for a year on Intra Company Transfer visa as far as I can recall I was covered through Employer sponsored Health Insurance plan until my Quebec plan started.

That's very rare. Employer insurance is generally additional insurance on top of what the provincial plan covers. In other words, it doesn't cover what the provincial plan covers and isn't a replacement for it. Most employer insurance policies require an individual to be covered under the provincial plan before they will grant coverage. There are certainly exceptions - but again, they are rare.

 

[mapleleaf987]

Employers will not cover you during this period. Any insurance provided by employers is in addition to any provincial health care coverage you already have. In many cases, you cannot qualify for the additional employer insurance until you are already covered by the provincial insurance. The employer insurance does not replace provincial insurance.

You need to purchase private insurance to cover yourself for the entire period. When you get a job is irrelevant and won't change this.

thank you! that clarifies a lot. when you say 'you need to purchase private insurance' you mean in addition to provincial health care or just until one can get provincial health care. provincial health care is funded by the government and not paid for by the insured right?