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lovea
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Ontario
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 Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject: Advice on Health Insurance |
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Hey
I am just wondering what everyone (from Canada in particular) did about getting health insurance before you left. Who did you get it through. I have been pricing some and have come up with about $640-$750 for year long insurance. Is that about normal?
And...how do you contact OHIP to let them know what you are doing.
Thanks!
Angie |
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danielita
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 281
Location: SLP
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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I have Mexican public health insurance and would consider myself to be pretty healthy so I did not buy any extra insurance except for a short term policy to cover off the time when I was traveling to Mexico and before I started work and was eligible for benefits.
As for the OHIP, check out: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/longer.html
It will explain everything to you. Also, make sure you bring a letter or other correspondence from your employer indicating that you have a job offer in Mexico.
Oh yeah, and don't go to the OHIP office on your lunch break, you'll wait forever!
D |
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lovea
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:34 pm Post subject: Hi |
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Hi!
What happens if we are going to Mexico hoping to get a job but do not have an offer yet??
Also, most of the jobs that I have seen do not have benefits. Do you mind if I ask where you work?
Thanks!
Ang |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:54 am Post subject: Re: Hi |
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| lovea wrote: |
| What happens if we are going to Mexico hoping to get a job but do not have an offer yet?? |
Cross your fingers and hope you don't get run over by a bus? That's what I did....
Seriously, unless you have some kind of severe or chronic medical problem I wouldn't worry about it. Medical care in Mexico is relatively cheap compared to up north. If you trip and break your leg, the bill would be measured in thousands of pesos, not thousands of dollars. For the month or so you'd be without any coverage while you look for work, you can get some kind of temporary traveller's insurance if you are at all worried. |
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Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:38 am Post subject: |
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I agree with ls650. Hopefully if one gets run over by a bus, the bus company will pay. Seriously though, medical care IS very cheap here. The one thing Canadians do need to think seriously about is transitting the USA without extended insurance. If you happen to encounter a case of airline food poisoning, or appendicitis or whatever  before or at your connecting point in the USA you would be required to seek medical attention there and that would be quite ugly financially. An additional policy for a short time would be a good idea. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:43 am Post subject: |
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| Both you and LS650 are from BC, and I suspect it may be different out there. OHIP offers limited coverage while outside of Canada, including while in the States. I don't know the particulars of it though. |
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Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:50 am Post subject: |
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| I'm not so sure OHIP would provide enough coverage for a hospitalization in the USA either. I think there is probably a daily maximum based on Ontario rates, which is what BC does too, but it's not too much. Good enough for Mexico coverage for the short time it covers. I remember it may be 3 months out of Province for BC (but that was a long time ago). I think OHIP is more generous time-wise. |
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: Hi |
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| ls650 wrote: |
Seriously, unless you have some kind of severe or chronic medical problem I wouldn't worry about it. Medical care in Mexico is relatively cheap compared to up north. If you trip and break your leg, the bill would be measured in thousands of pesos, not thousands of dollars. |
Just to put things in perspective. I had a cesarean twin delivery in a posh private clinic with my own room, a 1:3 nurse:patient ratio and there were six doctors on hand for the delivery. The grand total was a surpisingly round 15,000 pesos. I'm in contact with twin mothers in the US who's hospital bills were well over 100,000 dollars! |
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danielita
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 281
Location: SLP
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| Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:31 am Post subject: Re: Hi |
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| lovea wrote: |
Do you mind if I ask where you work?
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Hi Ang,
I work for a state university. Perhaps the other more knowledgeable posters can correct me if I am wrong, but I believe if you are working legally in Mexico for a company, you pay into the national health plan and therefore qualify for the benefits.
D |
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lovea
Joined: 15 Jan 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Ontario
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| Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 9:45 pm Post subject: Thanks |
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Thanks everyone for your input....still not too sure what I'm going to do yet but I appreciated the help!
Ang |
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