Emigrating and medication advice
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 35
Emigrating and medication advice
Hi,
I'm on thyroxine and have been for nearly 20yrs. It's a medication I have to take daily. I have a one-month prescription. I have declined a three-month prescription earlier this year, due to a recent change in dosage....and even today my dosage was changed!
I'm moving to BC this month and understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months.
How can I get my Drs to give me a longer prescription to cover the first three months?
Do I tell him I'm on holidays for 3 months?
Surely if I say I'm moving to Canada they don't have to give me anything?
Or do I get a friend to collect it from Pharmacy and post it? I'm not sure if that's illegal though?
I can't get the medication when I'm I'm Canada without a prescription.
How has anyone else tackled this? I'm sure there are other people who are on daily medication and moved.
I'm on thyroxine and have been for nearly 20yrs. It's a medication I have to take daily. I have a one-month prescription. I have declined a three-month prescription earlier this year, due to a recent change in dosage....and even today my dosage was changed!
I'm moving to BC this month and understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months.
How can I get my Drs to give me a longer prescription to cover the first three months?
Do I tell him I'm on holidays for 3 months?
Surely if I say I'm moving to Canada they don't have to give me anything?
Or do I get a friend to collect it from Pharmacy and post it? I'm not sure if that's illegal though?
I can't get the medication when I'm I'm Canada without a prescription.
How has anyone else tackled this? I'm sure there are other people who are on daily medication and moved.
Last edited by L0VE; Jun 14th 2019 at 4:41 pm. Reason: spelling
#2
re: Emigrating and medication advice
Hi,
I'm on thyroxine and have been for nearly 20yrs. It's a medication I have to take daily. I have a one month prescription. I was declined a three month prescription earlier this year, due to a recent change in dosage....and even today my dosage was changed!
I'm moving to BC this month and understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months.
How can I get my Drs to give me a longer prescription to cover the first three months?
Do I tell him I'm on holidays for 3 months?
Surely if I say I'm moving to Canada they don't have to give my anything?
Or do I get a friend to collect it from Pharmacy and post it. I'm not sure if that's illegal though?
I can't get the medication when I'm I'm Canada without a prescription.
How has anyone else tackled this? I'm sure there are other people who are on a daily medication and moved.
I'm on thyroxine and have been for nearly 20yrs. It's a medication I have to take daily. I have a one month prescription. I was declined a three month prescription earlier this year, due to a recent change in dosage....and even today my dosage was changed!
I'm moving to BC this month and understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months.
How can I get my Drs to give me a longer prescription to cover the first three months?
Do I tell him I'm on holidays for 3 months?
Surely if I say I'm moving to Canada they don't have to give my anything?
Or do I get a friend to collect it from Pharmacy and post it. I'm not sure if that's illegal though?
I can't get the medication when I'm I'm Canada without a prescription.
How has anyone else tackled this? I'm sure there are other people who are on a daily medication and moved.
#3
re: Emigrating and medication advice
Hi,
I'm on thyroxine and have been for nearly 20yrs. It's a medication I have to take daily. I have a one month prescription. I was declined a three month prescription earlier this year, due to a recent change in dosage....and even today my dosage was changed!
I'm moving to BC this month and understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months.
How can I get my Drs to give me a longer prescription to cover the first three months?
Do I tell him I'm on holidays for 3 months?
Surely if I say I'm moving to Canada they don't have to give my anything?
Or do I get a friend to collect it from Pharmacy and post it. I'm not sure if that's illegal though?
I can't get the medication when I'm I'm Canada without a prescription.
How has anyone else tackled this? I'm sure there are other people who are on a daily medication and moved.
I'm on thyroxine and have been for nearly 20yrs. It's a medication I have to take daily. I have a one month prescription. I was declined a three month prescription earlier this year, due to a recent change in dosage....and even today my dosage was changed!
I'm moving to BC this month and understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months.
How can I get my Drs to give me a longer prescription to cover the first three months?
Do I tell him I'm on holidays for 3 months?
Surely if I say I'm moving to Canada they don't have to give my anything?
Or do I get a friend to collect it from Pharmacy and post it. I'm not sure if that's illegal though?
I can't get the medication when I'm I'm Canada without a prescription.
How has anyone else tackled this? I'm sure there are other people who are on a daily medication and moved.
But you presumably have temporary medical insurance in place to cover you for the three months gap when you arrive? So you can see a doctor under that if needed.
#4
re: Emigrating and medication advice
I think you understand wrong, and the question that you should be asking is "how do I get medical insurance to cover me ASAP after I arrive?"
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 35
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
Yes, of course, I'll have insurance! I've had quotes just working which is the best for family and myself. However, I was looking at that for a medical emergency like my son breaking his leg, hospital admission etc But for a tiny cheap pill that I need to take it just seems a big hassle putting a claim in for that. So was wondering if I had any other options
So I presume I could find a private DR when I land to just get a prescription? If so any tips on how to find one, please? I know where we are going there are huge waiting lists to get a DR, but I gather it won't be the same to see a private DR before the health care system kicks in and I can visit the walk-in clinic.
So I presume I could find a private DR when I land to just get a prescription? If so any tips on how to find one, please? I know where we are going there are huge waiting lists to get a DR, but I gather it won't be the same to see a private DR before the health care system kicks in and I can visit the walk-in clinic.
#6
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
Which is why you said, and I quote "I .... understand I won't be covered for health care for 3 months. "
You will get better information if you are frank and open about your situation. ..... When you said "of course, I'll have insurance", do you mean health insurance for a resident of BC, or have you been looking at quotes for "travel insurance" to cover emergencies like a broken leg?
You will get better information if you are frank and open about your situation. ..... When you said "of course, I'll have insurance", do you mean health insurance for a resident of BC, or have you been looking at quotes for "travel insurance" to cover emergencies like a broken leg?
#7
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 35
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
What I meant was I won't be covered by the BC provincial health care system for three months. I was just typing a post and keeping it as short as possible. I'm sorry if it confused you.
I've got quotes for travel insurance within Canada for example like this company https://arbetovinsurance.com/new-imm...ada-insurance/which I'll be sorting out the next couple of days. I never travel without insurance! I just didn't see it as a way to cover my prescription because I would have thought it a hassel to put a claim in. I've never put an insurance claim in before, perhaps I'm wrong? I searched the forum before and came across posts by expats that had managed to have the extra medication to take with them ie diabetics and was wondering how?
I've got quotes for travel insurance within Canada for example like this company https://arbetovinsurance.com/new-imm...ada-insurance/which I'll be sorting out the next couple of days. I never travel without insurance! I just didn't see it as a way to cover my prescription because I would have thought it a hassel to put a claim in. I've never put an insurance claim in before, perhaps I'm wrong? I searched the forum before and came across posts by expats that had managed to have the extra medication to take with them ie diabetics and was wondering how?
#8
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
...for a tiny cheap pill...So I presume I could find a private DR when I land to just get a prescription? If so any tips on how to find one, please? I know where we are going there are huge waiting lists to get a DR, but I gather it won't be the same to see a private DR before the health care system kicks in and I can visit the walk-in clinic.
You can pay in there and then pay for the prescription at the pharmacy and then decide whether to claim on your insurance.
It may not be as cheap as you think mind.
#9
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 35
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
Just look for "walk-in" places. They may be listed as "out of hours"...chances are you'll see some and quite likely attached to the bigger pharmacy stores.
You can pay in there and then pay for the prescription at the pharmacy and then decide whether to claim on your insurance.
It may not be as cheap as you think mind.
You can pay in there and then pay for the prescription at the pharmacy and then decide whether to claim on your insurance.
It may not be as cheap as you think mind.
#11
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Thread Starter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 35
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
#12
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
Finding a gp will be difficult so you may find using walk-in clinics are the way to go, many Canadians citizens don’t have a gp
#13
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
Not living in Canada myself, I am not sure, but do you think that writing a prescription for a long term hormone therapy, which properly requires monitoring and periodic testing, is something that a walk-in clinic would do? Personally I am sceptical.
#14
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
#15
Re: Emigrating and medication advice
In Alberta at least, anyone can use a walk in clinic, but you have to pay for the privilege.
Thyroxine is called Synthroid over here.
Thyroxine is called Synthroid over here.