Health insurance - proof of coverage?

[S&B 1]

I wasn't sure where exactly to post this, but this seemed the most appropriate place.

My fiance has been told that in order to add me to his health insurance, I need to provide proof that I haven't been without coverage since I have a pre-existing condition. My question is, how or where do I get this information, coming from Ontario, Canada? Would my OHIP card and birth certificate be enough? I've tried to Google but so far have come up with nothing. I need surgery every 1-3 years, so I'm not sure I can afford the waiting period. I can't imagine my health card wouldn't be enough, but my fiance is skeptical. Has anyone had to do this?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

[CanAmBride 5]

Contact OHIP directly and ask for a letter confirming your coverage. Just the card and your birth certificate is not enough to prove ongoing coverage.

[S&B 1]

Contact OHIP directly and ask for a letter confirming your coverage. Just the card and your birth certificate is not enough to prove ongoing coverage.

Awesome thanks. Do you happen to know how long it will take to obtain this? My interview is in two days, and I'm planning on leaving with my fiance two weeks after that. Will that be enough time?

[S&B 1]

Nevermind, they told me. That was...easy. Lol.

[Rob and Jill 82]

Just as an FYI here is a link to an interesting article about the new Health Care Plan in the US and it's laws regarding a pre-existing condition clause. If for some reason your husband's insurance won't cover you, you can get into the National High Risk Pool.

Pre-Existing Condition Clause

Also, my husband came from the UK and I didn't have to show them anything. I very adamantly stressed that all he had was a card showing he had insurance and that because it's a pretty common fact that there is a National Healthcare program there, that the insurance company was being absolutely ABSURD in asking for this information. I received his new insurance cards in the mail a week or less after we were married.

EVERYONE needs to keep in mind that insurance companies (and I work in the industry, although not healthcare), ARE NOT GODS. You can argue with them. You can prove your point and fight for what you think is right or obvious. The person on the phone IS NOT always the final say. If they give you ####### about it, ask for the account manager who handles your policy, or ask the Underwriter for the policy to explain why you have to provide it. Ask them why THEIR COMMON SENSE doesn't tell them that it's obvious you've had coverage.

[S&B 1]

Just as an FYI here is a link to an interesting article about the new Health Care Plan in the US and it's laws regarding a pre-existing condition clause. If for some reason your husband's insurance won't cover you, you can get into the National High Risk Pool.

Pre-Existing Condition Clause

Also, my husband came from the UK and I didn't have to show them anything. I very adamantly stressed that all he had was a card showing he had insurance and that because it's a pretty common fact that there is a National Healthcare program there, that the insurance company was being absolutely ABSURD in asking for this information. I received his new insurance cards in the mail a week or less after we were married.

EVERYONE needs to keep in mind that insurance companies (and I work in the industry, although not healthcare), ARE NOT GODS. You can argue with them. You can prove your point and fight for what you think is right or obvious. The person on the phone IS NOT always the final say. If they give you ####### about it, ask for the account manager who handles your policy, or ask the Underwriter for the policy to explain why you have to provide it. Ask them why THEIR COMMON SENSE doesn't tell them that it's obvious you've had coverage.

The only thing about the new healthcare bill is that it won't go into effect for me until 2014, and I will need surgery before that. And because it's pre-existing, I need to prove that I've had insurance that has covered it, or else I have to wait 1-1.5 years before they will cover it, and I can't take the chance that I won't need it before then. Luckily, all I did was call OHIP and give them my number and my address and they're sending a letter saying I've been covered to me. I don't forsee any other issues once I have that.

[Rob and Jill 82]

The only thing about the new healthcare bill is that it won't go into effect for me until 2014, and I will need surgery before that. And because it's pre-existing, I need to prove that I've had insurance that has covered it, or else I have to wait 1-1.5 years before they will cover it, and I can't take the chance that I won't need it before then. Luckily, all I did was call OHIP and give them my number and my address and they're sending a letter saying I've been covered to me. I don't forsee any other issues once I have that.

That is not correct, which is why I provided you the link to read. If you are a legal resident or a legal immigrant you can go into the High Risk National Healthcare Pool BEFORE 2014. I'm glad OHIP is sending you what you need, but should you continue to get grief, keep in mind the information here. If they still give you grief let me know and I WILL check with someone in my office who works in healthcare insurance.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Rob and Jill

[S&B 1]

It says for those who have been uninsured for at least six months. I would assume that since I'm providing them with a letter stating that I'm covered, that doesn't apply to me. Unless I guess, I stayed in the states uninsured for 6 months, but as we apparently only have 30 days post-marriage for him to claim me on his insurance, I don't think that would help the issue, since I do have the letter and everything should be worked out. I do appreciate the advice nonetheless!

Edited January 20, 2011 by Anysunrise

[tbaygrrl 2]

Your OHIP does count as previous coverage!!! Don`t let anyone convice you otherwise (on this forum, or at the insurance company...many emplyees are not familiar with how coverage works outside of the US ).

Contact OHIP for a confirmation of coverage letter and this can be used to prove that you were covered. There have been many folks on here who initailly were told that Canadian health insurance didn`t count, but when they looked into it further and spoke with a more experienced person at the insurance company, they found out that it DOES count.

There are lots of misconceptions in the US about how the Canadian health care system works. Many don`t think / know that we actually have to show proof of coverage when we go to the hospital, doctors, etc...

Just make sure that when explaining it to your husbands company that you tell them that you have proof that you were insured under the Canada's Ontario Health Insurance plan

Hope this helps :-)

[M&Pooh 12]

Your OHIP does count as previous coverage!!! Don`t let anyone convice you otherwise (on this forum, or at the insurance company...many emplyees are not familiar with how coverage works outside of the US ).

Contact OHIP for a confirmation of coverage letter and this can be used to prove that you were covered. There have been many folks on here who initailly were told that Canadian health insurance didn`t count, but when they looked into it further and spoke with a more experienced person at the insurance company, they found out that it DOES count.

There are lots of misconceptions in the US about how the Canadian health care system works. Many don`t think / know that we actually have to show proof of coverage when we go to the hospital, doctors, etc...

Just make sure that when explaining it to your husbands company that you tell them that you have proof that you were insured under the Canada's Ontario Health Insurance plan

Hope this helps :-)

Found this thread recently researching the same issue for my wife. Sounds very promising! But... can you provide us with any information supporting your statement? The possibility to switch from group insurance to group insurance without having gap in pre-existing conditions coverage is provided by the The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. I can't find anywhere the official info that this law requires insurance companies to treat foreign insurance ( OHIP ) as a creditable coverage... could you provide me with some leads? Thanks!!

[TBoneTX 43,001]

Thread from 2011 is now closed to further comment.

A recent post has been split from this thread, moved to the Canada regional forum, and given the topic title "Will Ongoing OHIP Mess Up U.S. Insurance? [split topic]."