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genesis99
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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 Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: Canadian health coverage locked for residents living outside |
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Every Canadian has this thing called health card thinking you're covered no matter what but the fact is that if you had left the country for a while, they probably locked your card = no coverage in Canada.
I'm visiting home for my vacation and when I went to renew my health card, they told me this.
Korean health insurance covers most areas yet does not cover serious illnesses (in other word, expensive stuff)
You can get your coverage back once we start residing in Canada.
I always thought I wouldn't have to worry about health care issues because I'm Canadian  but I guess I should look into private coverage for the terms I live abroad. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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Just wondering how'd they know someone isn't residing in Canada for that period of time? You don't clear customs when leaving Canada.
I file my taxes in Canada every year with a balance of whatever returns my investments and interest gets me. So as far as they are concerned I'm still a resident. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Another thing to note is that inter-provincial coverage is limited too. So if you were living in BC and flew to Ontario and was hit by a car, you might be paying a large bill in Ontario. However, you can get extra travel-insurance, but many Canadians are unaware of not being covered out of province by their basic provincial plan. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| Another thing to note is that inter-provincial coverage is limited too. So if you were living in BC and flew to Ontario and was hit by a car, you might be paying a large bill in Ontario. However, you can get extra travel-insurance, but many Canadians are unaware of not being covered out of province by their basic provincial plan. |
I've travelled and been covered by out of province insurance all the time. In fact I've even been covered for things in another province that aren't normally covered there because the other province covered them.
You're not going to get a large bill if you were hit by a car in Ontario. About the only thing you might end up paying is if you had to take an ambulance and your home province didn't cover that.
As for your card being locked, unless you've declared yourself a non-resident and cancelled your card, you should be fine. I did that before I left because at the time I left you had to pay $44/month for your Alberta Medicare, but if you file your taxes, they have no idea that you're out of country. I suppose if you went into the medicare office and announced you were living outside the country, they might know then.. |
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clyde
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I wouldn't want the Canadian government to think that I was living there. The taxes and rules for them are downright rapacious. I suggest eating well and exercising and having as little to do with Revenue Canada as you can. Health coverage counts as a secondary tie to Canada so instead of paying the wonderful 3.3 percent tax here, you could be paying well over 30. Canada is a gyp in my opinion. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| clyde wrote: |
| I wouldn't want the Canadian government to think that I was living there. The taxes and rules for them are downright rapacious. I suggest eating well and exercising and having as little to do with Revenue Canada as you can. Health coverage counts as a secondary tie to Canada so instead of paying the wonderful 3.3 percent tax here, you could be paying well over 30. Canada is a gyp in my opinion. |
Unless you've got full actual non-resident status, and not deemed not-resident status it wouldn't make any difference to you. Most people have what they'd call a secondary tie anyway, which can apparently include an old shirt that your mother uses as a rag. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| crossmr wrote: |
| jvalmer wrote: |
| Another thing to note is that inter-provincial coverage is limited too. So if you were living in BC and flew to Ontario and was hit by a car, you might be paying a large bill in Ontario. However, you can get extra travel-insurance, but many Canadians are unaware of not being covered out of province by their basic provincial plan. |
I've travelled and been covered by out of province insurance all the time. In fact I've even been covered for things in another province that aren't normally covered there because the other province covered them.
You're not going to get a large bill if you were hit by a car in Ontario. About the only thing you might end up paying is if you had to take an ambulance and your home province didn't cover that.
As for your card being locked, unless you've declared yourself a non-resident and cancelled your card, you should be fine. I did that before I left because at the time I left you had to pay $44/month for your Alberta Medicare, but if you file your taxes, they have no idea that you're out of country. I suppose if you went into the medicare office and announced you were living outside the country, they might know then.. |
I guess they changed it in the last 10 years. Anyways seems like Quebec is the exception, so if you travel there, beware.
http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/coverage-outside-claims.html#within |
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genesis99
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:04 am Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
Just wondering how'd they know someone isn't residing in Canada for that period of time? You don't clear customs when leaving Canada.
I file my taxes in Canada every year with a balance of whatever returns my investments and interest gets me. So as far as they are concerned I'm still a resident. |
Thanks,
does that mean the Canadian government can't track who is going in and out of the country? (Canadian citizen case)
For some reason they knew I was gone since 2009 and I have no idea how. |
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freddy teacher
Joined: 01 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:17 am Post subject: |
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| I was gone for a year and when i came back i went for a physical and no one said jack to me... |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| genesis99 wrote: |
| jvalmer wrote: |
Just wondering how'd they know someone isn't residing in Canada for that period of time? You don't clear customs when leaving Canada.
I file my taxes in Canada every year with a balance of whatever returns my investments and interest gets me. So as far as they are concerned I'm still a resident. |
Thanks,
does that mean the Canadian government can't track who is going in and out of the country? (Canadian citizen case)
For some reason they knew I was gone since 2009 and I have no idea how. |
Not sure how'd they know unless someone told them. The Canadian government usually has no idea when someone leaves the country, and usually don't care (if you aren't wanted for a crime). |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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They don't know you are gone unless you tell them.
I kept my health card and I used it every year I went home while I was working in Korea. I had also filed as a non-resident too. Canada already has too many people working for the gov't. I guess hiring people to track those using health care but not living full-time in Canada was a bit of a stretch.
I did apply for a new health card when I went back in 2006...it expires this year or the next, so time to renew that puppy! |
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rowdie3
Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Location: Itaewon, Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 4:29 am Post subject: |
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| I declared myself a non resident for tax purposes which means that I am cut off from the health care system until I go back and have been there for three months. So, be careful with that first three months. Buying insurance for that time period is a good idea. |
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giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:59 am Post subject: |
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You dont have to be out of canada for your health card not to work. I've been in Canada since 1989 and my health card was mysteriously cancelled ( none of my family had this problem soo its not a change of address thing). Anyways i went to the doctors one day ( 5 years ago) and they swiped my card and said it was cancelled. I needed to apply for a new card and wait 3 months . Kinda ridiculous but oh well.
If i pay taxes in Canada/Ontario on my korean income I would expect the health care to still be active especially if i didnt sign a non resident disclosure. If i cut off ties to canada and dont pay taxes Of course i expect the health care to stop. Wouldnt make sense if it kept going... |
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