MartinandClaire

Hello...!

My hubby and I are flying out to Calgary next month. I am on a study permit and hubby temp work permit.

My immigration consultant has advised I should register with my college asap for health insurance. After research I see we can also register for Alberta health insurance and this will run from the date we land.

Because of this could someone please tell me, do we actually need to purchase temp health insurance?!

Also I assume we would need to find temp accommodation asap as a Canadian address would be needed to apply for the insurance??

Thank you in advance for you help

PS: I am aware we need to be registered within the first 3 months of arriving in Calgary

ultrarunner

OP....unless you are clairvoyant and can tell that nothing will happen to you and your hubby, then by all means to take out health insurance. If you don't have magical powers, then get the coverage for a peace of mind

You can get a private mail box at a local post office to use as your temp address. Local shopper's drugmart (pharmacy / store) also have a post office in them

Jingle

Hi Claire .... Will you be studying at U of C? J

not2old

in addition to what the other posters have commented

if its U of C

https://www.mystudentplan.ca/uofcalgary

Athabasca University

http://www.ausu.org/services/healthinsurance.php

Mount Royal

http://www.samru.ca/supportservices/...entalbenefits/

if its SAIT

http://www.mystudentplan.ca/sait/mybenefits-at-a-glance

if its Bow Valley

http://international.bowvalleycolleg...ical-insurance

Aviator

University health plans are like employer plans, they are extended health and do not cover basics, this kicks in for many things AHCIP won't cover, such as dental and prescriptions. If the cost is not too exorbitant, not a bad idea to have the coverage, unless you can afford these things yourself. AHCIP covers basics only http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/what-is-covered.html

AHCIP is usually effective immediately, so longs as you register in the first three months of arrival and meet the eligibility requirements.http://www.health.alberta.ca/documen...re-AHC0009.pdf

To register you would require a physical address, a PO box would not be accepted for medical plan registration. The address of your hotel would suffice if that is where you are staying and you can update it when you have somewhere more permanent.

ultrarunner

If you have your mail delievered to a local shoppers drugmart, it's the physical address of the shop that you get to use as your mailbox address

AlmostThere12

Although you may immediately be covered, hospitals expect to see that card before they'll treat you, otherwise they make you pay up-front. We had this issue when our son decided to fall off monkey bars in the ice. Even though we were immediately eligible they wouldn't accept that, nor would they allow us to have him treated first & then pay if our health cover was turned down. They wanted $800 just to look at him!

As others have said, you never know and you would only need it until your card arrived.

Aviator

Everywhere has a physical address. A box at a post office or drug store is not a physical address for healthcare, as soon as you put a box number in the address that would cause rejection. This is the case for medical, drivers license etc.

A hotel has a physical address, so long as the hotel name is not one the address, likely it would be accepted, alternatively use an address of a friend or colleague.

Almost Canadian

That may be the case in BC but is not the case in Alberta. It can't be as I live rurally and I only have a post box address. All of my "official" documents show this address, including my Operator's Licence.

Aviator

I stand corrected.

not2old

other than the hotel address, maybe something along the lines UR mentioned that its an actual address & not a PO box number

http://theupsstore.ca/services/mailboxes/

http://theupsstore.ca/store-finder/

With The UPS Store mail forwarding service, you can get a mailbox with a real street address and secure 24-hour access* to mail and package deliveries. We can forward your mail to you, anywhere you are. If you have a mobile business or work from home, a The UPS Store mailbox address gives you a professional storefront and makes it easier for your customers to stay in touch.

ultrarunner

Now that is a first...that couldn't have been easy for you?

dbd33

It would only be surprising if he said he stood corrected by you.

Adrian12

[QUOTE=MartinandClaire;11041067]Hello...!

My hubby and I are flying out to Calgary next month. I am on a study permit and hubby temp work permit.

My immigration consultant has advised I should register with my college asap for health insurance. After research I see we can also register for Alberta health insurance and this will run from the date we land.

Because of this could someone please tell me, do we actually need to purchase temp health insurance?!

Yes

Aviator

Why?