Health Insurance for Canadians

[Frozen Chosen]

We are heading abroad for three years and will therefore not be eligible for prov health care. What do people do for health ins? I understand the "self insure" concept but we will need to spend three months in the States and that is a gamble I can't take. Has anyone come up with good expat insurance as either a stand alone or supplemental option. We actually will have public service comprehensive coverage but it still does not cover Hospital charges...?go figure. I am chasing my tail and would appreciate any input you can give.

[JPA Cate]

In Australia, people buy travelers' insurance for trips to the States, FWIW.

Good luck with your search.

Ann

[Teknav]

Hello Frozen! I do not have a workable solution for your situation. Contact Blue Cross & Blue Shield for their advice on coverage. In addition to car insurance, State Farm and Allstate provide medical coverage as well. See if your motor club has extended medical coverage, outside of Canada. In the US, the AAA motor club sells medical insurance coverage. The last option, check with Mutual of Omaha insurance company. These are just suggestions which may or may not work. They all have toll-free 800 numbers to call. Let us know what did you find! Good luck! Mauritz

[swanny]

What province are you in?

OHIP has a out-of-country coverage for up to, two years. Because we still have our provincial coverage, PSHCP is still valid. We also use SevenCorners but have a high deductible.
cheers

[Frozen Chosen]

Thanks Swanny.

The OHIP site specifically recommends that folks purchase supplemental insurance when they travel, but I won't qualify for OHIP since I won't have been in the province for 154 days in each of the preceding two years. We essentially won't have a residence in any prov. The PSHCP offers Comprehensive coverage which is designed for people without Prov health cards and they cover everything except Hospital charges. I don't get it. So all that I need is Hospital coverage to top up the laundry list of things they do cover. Every expat policy I encounter is all singing and dancing and would duplicate the gov coverage.

It is amazing to me that a company would have accepted to underwrite this policy but the no Hosp coverage is a big issue, especially if you're in the US.

Does Seven Corners supplement OHIP and have you ever had a claim?

Any other long term Canadians cruisers that have purchased stand alone ins?

[Dave]

I'm just going through this myself, so I'll be interested in what others come up with.

Couple of things I found out so far:

In Alberta, health care remains in effect even if you leave for years. Alberta Health Care will provide a letter to that effect upon request. Some Canadian providers of out-of-country health coverage require proof that your provincial program is valid in order to grant coverage outside Canada.

So far, I've found that RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) has the best and most cost effective plan.

Dave L38 #38

[Frozen Chosen]

Teknav,

That looks like a DHC6 you're sailing....

I am currently flying the Twin around the Canadian Arctic, but am looking for warmer climes. I will take your suggestion and call CAA to see if they have a solution.

[Frozen Chosen]

Dave,

The coverage provided by RBC is to augment the prov health care is it not? Unfortunately we are retiring from the NT to ON and then heading off. The NT won't cover us and ON requires a certain time in Prov before they will assume coverage. They aren't as reluctant to collect my tax dollars but this ins issue is becoming an problem.

Give me a shout at 867-920-0352 if you want to chat off line.

Robin

[Teknav]

Hi Robin! DHC6 it is! The list of american insurers that I posted here...give them a call! I am not sure, if they only cover US citizens. Good luck! Mauritz

[swanny]

I'm still a little confused about insurance. We have never had to put in a claim.

My understand is we would use OHIP and PSHCP first. Our deductible is 2500, so sevencorners after that. Again, I really don't understand the insurance companies and we have never had a claim.

I do know that the gov policy will only cover the equivalent cost in our province. For example if the procedure cost $50 in Canada and $200 in the US, the gov with only cover $50.

[Frozen Chosen]

Swanny,

The PSHCP has two policies, one for people living in Cananda and another for people abroad. As I understand it the domestic plan supplements the prov coverage for glasses, physio etc however if you are travelling abroad I don't think it will give you enhanced travel ins and you are still recommended to get travellers ins.

We will purchase the PSHCP non resident package which has everything EXCEPT hospital charges (room and board essentially) which would not concern me except for our time in the US. I am finding it difficult to get top up ins for the expat coverage.

[Cheechako]

Welcome to our world!

[AiniA]

I think you are asking two related questions - what insurance do you need in the US and what insurance, if any, for the rest of the world. For the US you do really need insurance and it is widely available from many companies. Shop around especially if you are younger since many plans are aimed at retired snowbirds. Beyond the US self insurance makes considerable sense. Other than my serious hand injury in South Africa that resulted in major surgery and five days in a private hospital our health care costs for three years of cruising were about $200. The South African costs were about $7000 but in total the costs of health insurance for my wife and I would have been more.

[Teknav]

To just give you an idea on how much surgeries cost in the US: Herniated/Fused vertebrae; around $40,000 USD...Corrective hernia surgery (stomach) with a mesh inserted; around $55,000 USD. With a good medical insurance, your out of pocket expense is about $3,500 USD/year. A non-specialist's doctor visit is about $175.00 USD and a specialist's visit is around $250.00 USD; tests and x-ray are extra. BC/BS insurance coverage, for a middle aged non-smoker person is around $600.00 USD/month; non-job coverage/subsidy. The bottom line is...don't require surgery in the US, without insurance coverage; the cost of medical care will bankrupt you! Mauritz

[Frozen Chosen]

Aini,

Most travel ins policies that I have read are only designed to supplement an existing provincial policy. I understand the concept of self insurance but we will need coverage in the US for the time that we are there.