Tiffin Tease

I have just spent about 30 mins trawling through the site but can't seem to find an answer to one question.... how does it work?

Say hubby and I get our 3 month insurance, followed then by the 'normal' provincial insurance paid I assume in our tax contributions - do we also then need additional private insurance or are we fully covered under the province insurance?

Also, if, and when, we need regular treatment (visits to doc, dentists or whatever) or even, God forbid, hospital stay, do we pay upfront for the whole costs, part of the costs or nothing and then does our insurance give us the money back (all or part?)

Only asking because we have read one insurance document and it looked like they only covered us for 80% of costs so if we're stuck with a hideous medical bill we have to pay the 20%???

I am hoping I / we are misreading this and being a bit daft cos there is NO WAY we could afford to cover 20% of major costs...

Confused of Devon
Ki

Sarahad

Also can someone advise. If husband gets health insurance benefits from his employer, does that just cover him or the family?

Steve_P

For the first three months covered by private insurance I would guess that you will have to pay up front and then claim through the private company.

After the three months are up and you have Alberta Health Care coverage (paid for by your monthly premiums, $88 per month for family and $44 for individual). You will need additional private insurance to cover the cost of prescriptions, ambulance, and other items not covered by Alberta Health Care.

Visits to Doctor, hospital stays and all drugs while in hospital are covered by Alberta Health Care and all you have to do is show your AHC card you will not be charged for any of these services.

Dental care is NOT covered by AHC so private coverage would be required if you want coverage. Also as I said earlier that drugs, ambulance, glasses and other items are not covered by AHC and private insurance is available for that. In most cases that coverage is 80% insured, you pay the other 20%, most insurance companies want you to pay up front then claim the 80% back from them.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Steve

Tiffin Tease

Thanks Steve - that is extremely helpful and I actually understand it now LOL

Not too different from the UK then really...

Ki

R2D2

We get Alberta Health premiums and additional coverage through Manulife, included in my husbands package. Both cover the whole family, and like Steve said, it is usual to have to pay 20% of the costs, with the insurers covering the remaining 80%.
For prescriptions, we pay ALL upfront, then claim back
For Dental, they calculate the 20% charge there and then.

I guess it will depend on the insurer

Deb

hot wasabi peas

If you come to Alberta from outside of Canada, you're covered by Alberta's provincial health care from the day you land... but if you move here from another province, you have to wait 3 months for coverage.

Steve_P

Thanks Ro,

Seeing as I have been here so long I was unaware of that point.

Cheers
Steve

Piff Poff

If however you come on work permits you have to wait the 3 months.

hot wasabi peas

Understandable oldtimer . Being a 'newbie' to Canada, I was made fully aware of it!

Cowtown

I'm as confused as Hangman ... new PR's can buy coverage from day one ... you're really saying that people from other province and people on work permits have to wait three months??

Got to be the first time PR's have an advantage over other new arrivals ...

hot wasabi peas

Well, I'm not a PR but a returning CND citizen and as a new resident of Alberta from outside of Canada, I have coverage from day one.

dozzzzy

As I understand it if you move province, eg BC to NS, your old provinces, in this case BC, medical insurance is valid for the first 3 the months in your new province, NS. They will just do some form of cross charging thing.

This is what I was told by a Canadian friend of mine, I am just regurgitating it for the hell of it. I believe my friend but you might want to check.

Dozzzzy