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Medical Insurance-Canada

Medical Insurance-Canada

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[edit] Introduction

The health care insurance program for each Canadian province, known as Medicare, covers the cost of basic medical treatment. What is covered by Medicare and what is excluded varies from province to province.

[edit] Medicare inclusions

Typically the following health care services are covered by Medicare:

  • Most examinations and treatment by doctors (general practitioners as well as specialists)
  • Many types of surgery
  • Hospital care
  • X-rays
  • Many laboratory tests
  • Most vaccinations for children ( see Wiki on Immunization )

[edit] Medicare exclusions

Usually Medicare does not cover the following health care services:

  • Ambulance services
  • Prescription drugs administered outside of a hospital setting (i.e., drugs that your doctor prescribes and that you purchase from a pharmacy -- note that this includes insulin for diabetics)
  • Dental care
  • Glasses and contact lenses
  • Non-essential surgical procedures (the exact list varies from province to province, but may include certain types of cosmetic surgery, etc. )

But please remember that these lists vary from province to province, and you need to clarify what Medicare does and does not cover in the province to which you will be moving.

[edit] One-way travel insurance

It can, at first, seem difficult to obtain insurance coverage when you travel from the UK in order to take up residence in Canada. The companies that sell travel insurance rarely cover emigrants who are travelling one-way.

However, a number of companies do: the Post Office (for a maximum of 17 days), "Down Under" and Insure&Go

Travel insurance is also included in Canadasure's 90 day healthcare plans with optional baggage cover.

[edit] Before Medicare starts

Most provinces impose a three-month waiting period before new residents are eligible for Medicare coverage. (In some provinces, however, you are eligible to join the provincial health care insurance program from day one if you arrive from overseas. So again, you need to check the Medicare plan of the specific province to which you will be moving.)

Many newly arrived residents purchase private medical insurance to cover medical emergencies during the three-month waiting period. Companies that offer this type of insurance include:

[edit] Long-term supplementary insurance

In many cases, Canadian employers provide group medical and dental insurance programs for their employees. These plans cover the cost of prescription drugs, dental care, and other elements of health care that the provincial health care insurance programs do not cover.

But not all employers provide supplementary medical and dental insurance coverage, and some may stipulate that benefits are only available after a certain amount of time served. However, this waiting period is often waived or negotiable.

If your employer does not have a group medical and dental insurance scheme, consider buying supplementary insurance from one of the companies listed in the previous section.

[edit] Insurance for self-employed people

There are a number of medical and dental insurance companies that offer plans tailored to the owners of small businesses and to self-employed people. In many cases the business owner or self-employed person can offset the premiums against their taxable income. Quickcard is one of the companies that offers this kind of insurance.

[edit] Registering for provincial health care insurance

Even if your destination province imposes a three month (or similar) waiting time before you're eligible for provincial health care insurance, you should register with the plan soon after arriving. It takes time for the paperwork to go through the system. By registering promptly, you will go some way towards ensuring that everything is in order when your waiting period is over.

Here are the websites of the various provincial health care insurance plans:

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