sagebarn

We have just moved to BC (Canada) and have been looking at obtaining medical insurance for the 3 months until my employer provides basic healthcare. We have found the following:

1. The majority of policies are for 'Visitors to Canada' and offer cover of up to a maximum of $150000.

2. If taking out normal travel insurance from the UK you are covered for about £3Million! Of course only for a max of 30 days.

3. If you are unfortunate to have an accident and end up in intensive care, then this would cost up to $10000 per night! The cover would not last long and then you would have a huge bill to pay out!

Does anyone know of any alternatives that would provide reasonable cover? It really is a minefield!!

Surrey Expat

Are you sure your employer is providing basic health care and not extended health care (this is the norm)? For basic you should have registered with MSP, which can be done at any Service BC centre. Also, MSP is required for eligibility to extended plans.

Pacific Blue Cross offer a policy for new immigrants for the period before MSP kicks in. Policies for emigrants from the UK are available over there, with reasonable limits. I believe the Post Office offer such a policy. Does not help you much now, but maybe something others may want to look into before leaving the UK.

architeutus

Sorry for cutting in, but normally which insurance company do most new immigrants choose if they settle in Ontario? Any input would be appreciated!

Andrew Miller

Each Province runs it's own, universal health insurance plan - in Ontario it is OHIP.

Insurance companies provide only supplemental coverage, over and above what Provincial plans cover. You cannot get supplemental insurance without already having Provincial coverage.

architeutus

Thanks for the reply, Andrew. Sorry I wasn't clear in my previous post, I already know about OHIP. I was wondering, for the 1st 3 months before OHIP kicks in, which private insurance company is a good bet for new immigrants? Thanks.

britsnake

There are a few suggested in the wiki, but you could have a look at ontario blue cross Get an online quote for travel insurance and they have an option for newly landed immigrants.

Euripides

Sorry to charge in, but Blue Cross has a poor rep in the United States. They are one of the best Insurance brokers for circumventing the need to pay out. They are very creative when it comes to reasons why they shouldn't pay out. But Ontario Blue Cross may be much different.

PS., I'm not a shill from another broker.

Wannabe

I'm with Ontario Blue Cross, and haven't had any problems having them pay out for my dental work or contact lenses, which is all I've used them for so far. They clearly outline what is and isn't covered in the booklet you get when you sign up.

sagebarn

Thanks Surrey Expat. Well despite extensive research it appears the norm here is to take out Visitors to Canada medical insurance, but the max is $200000. It seems that if unfortunate to end up in intensive care, they would stabilise you and then ship you back to your home country ASAP.

sagebarn

Surrey expat....yes am looking into whether extended healthcare is offered...if not then will extend it myself

chicagojlo

If you take out travel insurance when you are in fact living in Canada you may find your insurance refusing to pay out. Often times after the money has been spent. It's not a route I recommend.

MarkG

I just went for the Canadasure policy; don't have the URL, but I'm sure Google can find it. In theory I didn't need it here in Saskatchewan, but 150 quid for peace of mind seemed like a good idea.

As mentioned, most travel insurance policies won't cover you if you'll be a resident in the country you're travelling to. They can afford to offer vast coverage because in most cases they can stabilise you and fly you back to the UK for much less than $3,000,000.

chigirl

i also used canadasure we purchased online before leaving the uk. for a family of 4 it cost 500 pounds, a small price for peace of mind until the msp kicked in. the price depends on what profession you have ie my husbands was high due to being in construction.

hope this helps

Judy in Calgary

Luckily we live in America Lite, not the real thing.

My son has supplementary medical insurance through Alberta Blue Cross, and has no complaints about them. He had occasion to test them in January, when he broke his ankle, was whisked to hospital by ambulance, and had surgery. The surgery and the hospital stay were covered by Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, but Alberta Blue Cross paid for the ambulance and some other extras without blinking an eye.
x

G77

Canadasure's site has been having "TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES" for a few months now.... not very reassuring, how hard can it be to fix a website?