Canadian Husband/American Wife who's pregnant... help?

[cassiebroadway]

Yeah it'd be so nice if it were covered by insurance and there were more. We drove 3 1/2 hours today to have mine because none were in my state and only 2 were in the state next to us (Illinois). Hopefully you don't have to travel far.

My Canadian husband has no passport, we aren't foreseeing an issue.

You won't have any insurance as a spouse - it's run by the government for citizens, ect. Not spouses of citizens, sorry If only!
One thing to note, is that if you apply from within and are denied - you are not able to appeal! So that is a perk of being outside.

So basically I'd be pregnant, in Canada, with no way of getting medical care?

 

[can_usa_97]

So basically I'd be pregnant, in Canada, with no way of getting medical care?

I know there is tourist coverage available but I'm not sure what that falls under/covers if you'd be eligible. I havne't looked into it more than to quickly get a quote for the 3 months our family will be without. And that was $770.

I'm sure you could get coverage -- for a price (no idea what), that is private.
COBRA? From your husbands job in the US? Do they even accept that in Canada? Not sure, sorry.

I know I fell when I was in Canada in 97 visiting my now husband and we had to pay his Dr cash.

 

[heatherusa]

Oh, good to know! So he should definitely apply for a new one beforehand. How much will that cost him from the States?

Also, I'm just going to ask this one more time. Would it really be stupid for me to just go to Canada before the baby is born without applying for anything? Would I even have health coverage as the pregnant wife of a Canadian citizen? I know I'm probably so ridiculous for still asking this again, but I'd really feel more comfortable applying from within. I don't know why it scares me so much!

$97 for the passport and whatever photo costs and mailing charges are.

You will need the long form birth certificate for the passport since it has expired you cant fill out the simple passport application. The documents and photos need to be certified by a Canadian citizen with a valid Cdn passport. My neighbor just happens to be one so I lucked out.

You can apply and still move and have an outland application while you are in Canada. You wont have health insurance through OHIP so you would be uninsured, unless you still have your health coverage from the US. It may be easier for your baby that way - I'm not sure. Even if you are in Canada, you can still apply outland. You have to decide what is best for your family in regards to your health care costs. Your baby will be a Canadian Citizen if born in Canada and have the right to Citizenship if born outside of Canada because of the Canadian parent.

I think that your dilemma is no health care for you for the birth of your baby and then however long it takes to become a PR + the three months after you 'land' if you go to Canada before it is born, versus no health care for you and the baby for three months if you go there after you receive your visa. If you can have your US insurance as long as possible and Cobra or purchase insurance then you may be fine in Canada either way. Good luck.

 

[cassiebroadway]

I know there is tourist coverage available but I'm not sure what that falls under/covers if you'd be eligible. I havne't looked into it more than to quickly get a quote for the 3 months our family will be without. And that was $770.

I'm sure you could get coverage -- for a price (no idea what), that is private.
COBRA? From your husbands job in the US? Do they even accept that in Canada? Not sure, sorry.

I know I fell when I was in Canada in 97 visiting my now husband and we had to pay his Dr cash.

My husband doesn't have health care here, I do. And no, it wouldn't be applicable in Canada

I could look into COBRA, but wouldn't my pregnancy be a pre-existing medical condition or whatever?

 

[heatherusa]

My husband doesn't have health care here, I do. And no, it wouldn't be applicable in Canada

I could look into COBRA, but wouldn't my pregnancy be a pre-existing medical condition or whatever?

In my health plan a pregnancy isnt a pre existing condition. I think that is mostly common in the US now.

 

[can_usa_97]

My husband doesn't have health care here, I do. And no, it wouldn't be applicable in Canada

I could look into COBRA, but wouldn't my pregnancy be a pre-existing medical condition or whatever?

Pregnancy can't be a pre-existing condition according to HIPPA laws in the US.

I found this # on the OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) regarding private insurance during that 3 months.
Contact a private insurance company or call the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. at 1 800 268-8099. In Toronto, call (416) 777-2344.

 

[heatherusa]

Here is the link for the passport.

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/cdn/section6.aspx?lang=eng&region=USA

 

[cassiebroadway]

Pregnancy can't be a pre-existing condition according to HIPPA laws in the US.

I found this # on the OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) regarding private insurance during that 3 months.
Contact a private insurance company or call the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. at 1 800 268-8099 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1 800 268-8099 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. In Toronto, call (416) 777-2344.

Thanks for that! I will call them tomorrow. If I can just leave for Canada sometime in August or September, pay for my own insurance, and then file while I'm already in Ontario, I would MUCH prefer that!

Also, does anyone have COBRA's official website? I googled it and there seems like a lot of imitations.

 

[can_usa_97]

My husband just switched jobs and we debated COBRA - it was just for 30 days - but it was $1200 for our family of four vs $200 a month.
The link I used, which might be one you already looked at was this - http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML

Since it's an extension of your current insurance -the coverage would remain the same as you have right now. But you'd pay both your usual premium and then what your employer had been plus a fee.

 

[heatherusa]

Thanks for that! I will call them tomorrow. If I can just leave for Canada sometime in August or September, pay for my own insurance, and then file while I'm already in Ontario, I would MUCH prefer that!

Also, does anyone have COBRA's official website? I googled it and there seems like a lot of imitations.

COBRA is the acronym for the Act that requires that employees be provided with the opportunity to continue their insurance coverage after leaving their job.

Your company will have to give you specific information on costs but it is the same insurance that you have while employed, but you probably have to pay the whole premium. My one month cobra cost is $700 and my regular monthly premium while employed is $50 - big difference.

 

[cassiebroadway]

COBRA is the acronym for the Act that requires that employees be provided with the opportunity to continue their insurance coverage after leaving their job.

Your company will have to give you specific information on costs but it is the same insurance that you have while employed, but you probably have to pay the whole premium. My one month cobra cost is $700 and my regular monthly premium while employed is $50 - big difference.

Okay, so COBRA definitely doesn't seem like a good option, haha. I'll look into that link about the private insurance in Ontario and also travelers insurance, I guess.

 

[suenim]

If you're pregnant the immigration application may get delayed because you won't be able to do the x-ray -unless of course you choose tp do so with your doctor's approval. You can continue with the process but it will not be complete until the medicals are complete. I'd you choose to deliver in Canada, they will just ask to see the father's OHIP card and the baby will get OHIP at birth. If you have to pay out of pocket be prepared to pay $2000-$8000 for delivery and hospital costs. Speaking from experience. If your private insurance will cover the deliveru then no worries.

 

[heatherusa]

Okay, so COBRA definitely doesn't seem like a good option, haha. I'll look into that link about the private insurance in Ontario and also travelers insurance, I guess.

It really is quite a conundrum. I am fortunate to be moving back to Alberta where we will have health care from day one, but from the time quit working until we get there my family will be uninsured and it scares the bejebuz out of me.

The process of moving is sooooo much more than just filling out applications, being approved and moving. It is so much work and so much struggle.

It will be worth it to be with the rest of my family again, and for opportunities we dont have here anymore.

 

[cassiebroadway]

If you're pregnant the immigration application may get delayed because you won't be able to do the x-ray -unless of course you choose tp do so with your doctor's approval. You can continue with the process but it will not be complete until the medicals are complete. I'd you choose to deliver in Canada, they will just ask to see the father's OHIP card and the baby will get OHIP at birth. If you have to pay out of pocket be prepared to pay $2000-$8000 for delivery and hospital costs. Speaking from experience. If your private insurance will cover the deliveru then no worries.

Thanks for the knowledge! So I should definitely move at least 3 months before my due date, if I want my baby to be covered through my husband's OHIP (because he's here in the States with me and will have to wait 3 months to get the OHIP back, yes?).

I'll look into private insurance that would cover my pregnancy. There's no way I'm paying even $2,000 for my delivery! I'd just stay in the States and move to Canada afterward.

 

[cassiebroadway]

It really is quite a conundrum. I am fortunate to be moving back to Alberta where we will have health care from day one, but from the time quit working until we get there my family will be uninsured and it scares the bejebuz out of me.

The process of moving is sooooo much more than just filling out applications, being approved and moving. It is so much work and so much struggle.

It will be worth it to be with the rest of my family again, and for opportunities we dont have here anymore.

Where in Alberta are you from? We lived in Banff for some time
And good luck with everything! This stuff is just wayyy too complicated.