Moving Grandparents to BC and Health Coverage
#1
Just Joined
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 11
Moving Grandparents to BC and Health Coverage
Hi Everyone,
We recently made the big move to BC. We’re 5 months in and so far loving it. We’re still figuring out how everything works here and I find the health care confusing! Missing the simplicity of the NHS! I have extended health benefits through work so it’s all been done for me.
We’re thinking of suggesting that the grandparents make the move but I really would like to understand what that would mean for them with regards to health coverage and how much it would cost. Mother in law has had breast cancer and father in law with heart issues. I would hate to suggest they leave the U.K. only to find out that to stay here would cost them a small fortune just to access similar services to the NHS.
Can someone please help to explain the system here in BC and if anyone has moved their parents over I’d be interested to know what their expenses were like for health coverage.
Thanks so much!
We recently made the big move to BC. We’re 5 months in and so far loving it. We’re still figuring out how everything works here and I find the health care confusing! Missing the simplicity of the NHS! I have extended health benefits through work so it’s all been done for me.
We’re thinking of suggesting that the grandparents make the move but I really would like to understand what that would mean for them with regards to health coverage and how much it would cost. Mother in law has had breast cancer and father in law with heart issues. I would hate to suggest they leave the U.K. only to find out that to stay here would cost them a small fortune just to access similar services to the NHS.
Can someone please help to explain the system here in BC and if anyone has moved their parents over I’d be interested to know what their expenses were like for health coverage.
Thanks so much!
#2
Re: Moving Grandparents to BC and Health Coverage
Just checking, but you’re aware you can’t sponsor them until you’ve got three full tax years of Canadian income? Not sure how long ago you moved but thought I’d mention it just in case.
The main thing that that isn’t covered under provincial healthcare are prescription medicines (as well as ambulances, dental), so if they’re on regular medication you’d need to look in to what that would cost them in Canada.
Good luck.
The main thing that that isn’t covered under provincial healthcare are prescription medicines (as well as ambulances, dental), so if they’re on regular medication you’d need to look in to what that would cost them in Canada.
Good luck.
#3
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 3,874
Re: Moving Grandparents to BC and Health Coverage
I haven't looked into it recently, and things might have changed for the better but my m-i-l wanted to move over here. She was being treated for congestive heart failure and she would never have been covered by MSP for medical costs associated with that. Her two families here discovered that we would not be able to cover her medical costs as well as those of our own families, even when combining our money.
This was despite the fact that the adults in both families were earning decent salaries (accountant, teacher, university professor and technician).
As I understand it, you have to demonstrate when you apply for reunion that you have sufficient income available to support your own family plus the in-laws, and that has to be still the case during the years waiting until they are granted visas. That means increasing the amount if you have another child. Basically it means that you have to have a certain amount of money available from Day 1 to visa issuance, and it must never drop below that level. You are also responsible financially for their support for as long as they live.
This was despite the fact that the adults in both families were earning decent salaries (accountant, teacher, university professor and technician).
As I understand it, you have to demonstrate when you apply for reunion that you have sufficient income available to support your own family plus the in-laws, and that has to be still the case during the years waiting until they are granted visas. That means increasing the amount if you have another child. Basically it means that you have to have a certain amount of money available from Day 1 to visa issuance, and it must never drop below that level. You are also responsible financially for their support for as long as they live.