DXBtoDOH

Hi knowledgeable people,

I'm posting this on behalf of a friend (yes, this is a genuine on-behalf-of-friend post). The situation is as such:

Retired Canadian citizen (born and raised and spent most of her adult life in Canada) is currently living in the Middle East. She left Canada two years ago. Recently she received notice from her province's health insurance provider that she would soon be declared non-resident and as such, her health insurance would be cut off.

What are her options for keeping the health insurance without moving back to Canada (she does intend to do that someday, but not for a few more years).

If she does return to Canada, how long does she need to remain in the province to keep the insurance, before going back overseas?

The province's health provider website indicates that Canadians who are abroad for travel or personal reasons (such as retirees) lose their resident status after two years, but if you are working abroad, you keep that resident status for four years. If she can prove she has a valid employment visa/contract, can that be used to keep her health insurance active for two more years? (although she's retired, she does have an employment visa in her current country and has worked part time).

All advice is greatly appreciated. She is not looking to abuse the system (she is a lifelong Canadian citizen who has always paid her taxes) but simply wants to see what her options are.

dbd33

It is usual for older Canadians to return to Canada to meet their obligation to be in the country for half the year plus a day, 183 days. One routinely encounters panic stricken Canadians at US airports when there are flight delays and they're at risk of not making the deadline. It's something cradles seem to take very seriously.

DXBtoDOH

Thank you.

Just to clarify, what are "cradles" in this context?

thistlehollyberry

I think she needs to wait 3 months after returning (at least in Ontario) before being eligible for health care coverage.

dbd33

Canadians born in Canada; a useful differentiator as most of the population, at least in southern Ontario, are nationals of other countries, as well as possibly holding Canadian passports.

Jerseygirl

Plus you can only leave Canada for 28 days for the first 6 months...that is 3 month waiting period plus 3 months after the healthcare kicks in.

DXBtoDOH

Ah. Explains why 90% of the Canadians I meet in the Middle East are really Lebanese.

Aviator

She is presently paying taxes in Canada, or in the country of residence?

This is for BC Leaving B.C. Temporarily - Province of British Columbia

Maybe get health insurance in the country of residence, pay for private medical cover?

plasticcanuck

It really isn't such a big problem. Assuming she has health insurance in her present country, she just has to maintain that and when/if she returns to Canada permanently, purchase insurance for the period required until provincial health coverage kicks in (usually no more snow than three months).

dbd33

a bit of a leap, innit?

Davita

If a citizen extends his vacation more than 183 days, without advising the MSP, but maintains premiums and doesn't make any claims, and files annual taxes, will he have to wait up to 90 days, on return, to regain eligibility?

If so....is there any reason or logic for that rule?

plasticcanuck

Why? I think it's reasonably safe to say she's probably carrying health insurance from somewhere, either from country she's presently in, or from a private insurer

dbd33

I suspect that, if that were the case, there would be no need to maintain Canadian coverage. Perhaps DXBtoDOH will explain.

Jerseygirl

I wonder what Province...does that make a difference to healthcare cover?

DXBtoDOH

In response to the queries:

She does not have health insurance other than the current one provided by her province (Alberta). She has never needed to use it while overseas, I believe. The plan was that it was an emergency back up so if needed, she'd just fly home for treatments. I do not know all the details but I do think there was something in the health insurance that covered emergency treatments overseas (can be totally wrong on this).

But once the policy is cancelled this will no longer be feasible in the sense that she has automatic access to the health care upon arrival in Canada? If she lets the insurance lapse, and as a Canadian citizen she can apply for the health insurance when she returns, but will need to wait three months for it to begin?