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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

A story to illustrate the importance of getting medical coverage, reading the fine print, and personal responsibility.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/04/25/mexico-insurance060425.html

C-Guy · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Canada

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/longer.html
Go to this site.

It says that you don't have to cancel your OHIP coverage if you are away from Ontario for work, missionary stuff, studying, or vacations (in some cases).

You need to apply at the local ministry office. Then you have to let them know you plan on returning to Ontario (you could always lie though and just keept he coverage going). It says that they will only let you keep the coverage for 5 years though (but by that time maybe you could work something else out).

I think it does say though, that they recommend you get additional coverage, because OHIP is limited with what they will cover while you are abroad.

hope it helps...

Johnny T. · Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject: OHIP COVERAGE

Wow! C-Guy (are you sure you are not just an anagram for Guy C.? - oh wait a minute, you're up here in Canada, so I guess your not one of Guy's journalistic aliases), thank you so much for the OHIP link - that is good news and I will follow up on that in the next couple of weeks!
Thanks again, there's so much to do before travelling, I probably wouldn't have discovered it! Very Happy

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I never noticed that! Laughing

In any case, my pen name is Fifi LeFoune, and she only writes steamy romance novels.

C-Guy · Joined: 11 Oct 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Canada

no problem, I was looking into the same thing anyways... just thought I would share...

I am nobody's alias!! I am just crazy old me!!

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

Man, something about falling off balconies while drunk has never aroused my sympathy, however, lines like this do:

"With no money to cover medical costs, hospital staff are only covering Campbell's wounds and giving him painkillers."

"The 25-year-old broke his pelvis and both legs and suffered internal injuries and swelling to his brain."

Its just disturbing. With that in mind I'm going to make sure when I arrive in Mexico to only drink on ground level. Old-fashioned I know, but safe.

I saw a link from someone else to this identity card website, checked it out and think I'm going to apply for one. Has anyone else found this to be an adequate, albeit, temporary provider of insurance?

MELEE · Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 2:37 pm Post subject:

I had that insurance (from the ID card) as both an international student and in my first year as an international teacher. But never had the "opportunity" to use it.

kitkat1 · Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 37

I posted that link to the Teacher ID Card - I got the coverage when I went to teach in Guadalajara before I had medical insurance from my school. I didn't end up using at that time because I only had one or two doctor visits in two years and they were so inexpensive that I paid out of my own pocket. But later I used it for some medical tests - around $300 US -- I had in GDL and they reimbursed me 100%. I also used their lost/delayed baggage insurance when one of my bags arrived late when I was travelling in Nicaragua - they paid the cost of the things I had to buy until the bag arrived plus transporation for the person to bring the bag from the airport to me an hour away. I also used their passport replacement coverage in Nicaragua (it was a doomed trip!) and they paid for everything involved - transportation to and from the American consulate from the city where I was staying (2 round trips), the cost of the passport and the cost of the photos. All this for only the cost for the ID card - around $30 US. Be sure you keep any and all receipts for everything you may claim. Given my experiences, I think it's well worth the cost, but I would add that if you can get good insurance (not IMSS) from your school in Mexico, I would take that.

samizinha · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 174 Location: Vacalandia

Knowing exactly what you have for you insurance is so important, I had to do a double check after last week. A Canadian collegue of mine went to the hospital and found out that our school's insurance didn't cover the private care she was getting- she was actually asking the doctors to delay removing her apendix for as long as possible because she was so worried about the money Shocked