scootb

Haven't had to take out any insurance,my union covers my entire family,they even pay the majority of the cost for laser eye surgery,which I may look into shortly.

Steve_

Nope, from the moment you become resident and register.
http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/r...for-AHCIP.html

ABC offers various add-on plans, but if your employer has a group plan you should check to see what that covers first. The most important ABC plan is the non-group coverage for prescriptions.

The one thing that isn't covered by AHCIP that usually surprises people is the ambulance service, so it is important to have something more than just AHCIP.

The Canada Health Act lists the basics of what provinces must cover, each provincial plan is different.

I think what most Europeans and Americans are surprised by is that there is no private option per se, the covered services are prescribed under the Health Act so in effect they are nationalized. Theoretically in Alberta you could be in private practice but no-one does because you cannot be paid by AHS for anything if you do. It's not like the UK where you can do both. It's one or the other.

Only Newfoundland & Labrador has a system like that, but that's because they have to ship people off to other provinces for serious stuff.

Basically if you want to "go private" you have to leave the country for any covered service.

Auld Yin

I suspect you're buying the insurance via union dues. Nothing is free.

YoshiPal2010

It is not always covered in the UK either! (This is a Scottish document, but the same applies in England and Wales).

http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/HDL2007_05.pdf

JonboyE

That is very different to how the system operates in BC. Here, outside of the main hospitals (and often in them) virtually all medical services are private. The essential difference to all out private medicine is that a medical practitioner cannot charge a member of the medical services plan (MSP) - in theory all residents of BC - for a service covered by medicare. They can bill the medical services plan which will pay at set rates, or they can bill the RCMP, or they can bill WCB if the treatment is the result of a workplace illness or injury. There may be others.

If you want to pay for treatment covered by MSP, to queue jump, you have to go to the US

PMM

Hi



Actually you can "opt out" of the BC medical plan and be responsible for all your own bills. You have to Opt out each year. Why anyone would do it is beyond me, unless they have an aversion to "socialized medicine"

adele

My employer covers our Pacific Blue Cross health insurance, we do not have anything deducted from our paychecks for it. Is it common for employers to make a deduction per pay period as a contribution towards the cost of the insurance?

We have good coverage too, 100% for prescription drugs, basic dental work and paramedical services, amongst other things. I count myself lucky.