Health insurance

[JAMO1973]

My wife and I are going to Canada in September. She just got her permanent residency visa. I'd like to know how many people bought health insurance while waiting for their provincial insurance to kick in and which company they used. Thanks

 

[Rob_TO]

Everyone should get it. If any accident occurs while not covered under provincial care, the resulting hospital bill can bankrupt you. 3 months of coverage will just cost you a couple hundred bucks total.

My wife got coverage from a one of the companies though this website while waiting for OHIP to kick in: https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada

 

[keesio]

I bought it for my wife also while she was waiting for OHIP: http://www.coverme.com/products/travel-insurance-visitors.jsp

 

[JAMO1973]

Thanks RobTO and Keesio. I'll look into this. Did you choose the least amount of coverage and what amount of deductible?

Thanks again

 

[keesio]

Thanks RobTO and Keesio. I'll look into this. Did you choose the least amount of coverage and what amount of deductible?

Thanks again

I'm risk adverse so I didn't go with the cheapest. I think I got 50K because it was only like $80 more or something like that. I did get a high deductible (maybe 2500?)

 

[JAMO1973]

I'm risk adverse so I didn't go with the cheapest. I think I got 50K because it was only like $80 more or something like that. I did get a high deductible (maybe 2500?)

Does that insurance only cover emergencies? You can't go to the doctor for a visit with that? I never go but I was just wondering. I've never paid for non provincial coverage before.

 

[keesio]

Emergencies. At least the one I got for my wife.

 

[Rob_TO]

Does that insurance only cover emergencies? You can't go to the doctor for a visit with that? I never go but I was just wondering. I've never paid for non provincial coverage before.

You can go to a doctor instead of a hospital, but only if it's in response to a specific symptom that comes up. You just can't go to a doctor just for a general physical or check-up. Usually everything is paid upfront by you, then you ask the insurance company to reimburse you afterwards.

i.e. say you get a bad stomach pain during the 3 months you have medical insurance, you can go to any doctor or walk-in clinic (and pay cash) to get it checked. They may send you for some tests (which you would pay for), and then you would have to go back to the doctor again to get the results (pay again), and then any necessary treatment from a pharmacy (pay some more), and then back to the doctor again if needed if the symptoms don't go away and repeat the cycle till it's fixed. After that you gather up all your receipts, send them to the insurance company, and they'll send you a cheque to reimburse you (less any deductible).

 

[canvis2006]

a lot of companies refuse to re-imburse you saying it is only for emergencies.
so ask them before buying.

Canadian companies are not honest many times. So be careful. There are many cheapsters that offer no reimbursements. to them it's nothing