Lose Canadian Health Care?

[usandcanada 0]

When the Visa is finally approved - (hopefully soon), how soon after my fiance and her children come to the US will she lose her Canadian Health Care? We are planning on being married as soon as she arrives here in the US. I know that I can put her and the children on my health care plan at work, but only after 30 days. She has a child who has brittle bone disease so many things could happen in the first 30 days that may require a hospital stay.

How soon after arriving can they apply for a Social Security Card?

The journey is long - but so worth it!

[trailmix 77]

Hi,

Provinces differ, for instance if it is with Alberta a person can buy coverage for 3 months. However, keep in mind that regardless of what the rules are for her province, if the child actually had to go to the hospital in the U.S., what they charge and what would be paid for by health care in Canada are probably miles apart. You should consider buying U.S. Health insurance for that month.

I'm going to move your thread from K1 procedures to the Canada forum, as that is Canada specific and you will get more response, it's also helpful if you can tell us which province they are from.

Edited July 5, 2010 by trailmix

[usandcanada 0]

Hi,

Provinces differ, for instance if it is with Alberta a person can buy coverage for 3 months. However, keep in mind that regardless of what the rules are for her province, if the child actually had to go to the hospital in the U.S., what they charge and what would be paid for by health care in Canada are probably miles apart. You should consider buying U.S. Health insurance for that month.

I'm going to move your thread from K1 procedures to the Canada forum, as that is Canada specific and you will get more response, it's also helpful if you can tell us which province they are from.

Yes, she is from Alberta. What is the link to the Canada forum? I am sure there are a lot of things on that forum that we need to know also. I have only come across the US portals.

Never mind - I found it!!

Thanks!

Eric

Edited July 5, 2010 by usandcanada

[Kathryn41 3,205]

For Ontario, it is when you give up living in Canada and start to live in the US. There is some argument you could make that until she applies for AOS she is still technically a non-immigrant. The only problem is that if hospital treatment is required OHIP generally tries to transfer the individual back to Ontario for treatment as soon as possible for emergency care and I doubt non-emergency care would be covered as that would be expected to be taken care of in Canada. Since the K-1 does not allow the person to leave the US once they enter it could be a dilemma. The best solution is to buy temporary health insurance to cover them between the time they cross the border to the time they can be added to your insurance plan. The other reason for this is that many insurance plans require a person with a pre-existing condition to have been covered by insurance immediately prior to being added to your coverage. I am not sure if the new health care changes have taken place to change this yet or not, but the pre-existing condition could be pre-empted for coverage for one year if there is no insurance prior to be transferred to yours.

Oops - just saw that she is from Alberta so OHIP doesn't apply - the having insurance until she is added to your plan in the US, however, still does.

Edited July 5, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Flames9_RN 358]

Not sure if this applies to Alberta----but read online a few weeks back (A canadian newspaper, can't recall which one) that even if ur still covered by ur Cdn healthcare coverage, it does NOT cover that much, and the article highly recommended that you buy other insurance when visiting the USA

[trailmix 77]

Yes, she is from Alberta. What is the link to the Canada forum? I am sure there are a lot of things on that forum that we need to know also. I have only come across the US portals.

Never mind - I found it!!

Thanks!

Eric

The link to the Alberta Health Care coverage information, when leaving the country is on this page, under the heading "Moving to and from Canada?". You have to contact them for details.