Sponsored Parents - Health care options they qualify for?

[cookie.monster]

Hi,

I am evaluating options about sponsoring my parents in Canada and I would like to know about the medical and health care options that parents and grandparents qualify for if they are sponsored specifically in British Columbia. From https://www.canadavisa.com/parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship.html#gs.cxrwbl, it looks like a person has to sign an undertaking:

• to financially support the sponsored for 20 years (starting when they become permanent residents), and
• to repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members (if applicable) for a period of 20 years.

Are they eligible for MSP and Fair Pharmacare or the sponsor has to pay for their health expenses? If they are covered by the government, will it be counted towards my Pharmacare limit or do they have to declare that they don't have any income so the Pharmacare program covers their expenses 100 %? Any other health care options they qualify for?

Any guidance will be much appreciated.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi,

I am evaluating options about sponsoring my parents in Canada and I would like to know about the medical and health care options that parents and grandparents qualify for if they are sponsored specifically in British Columbia. From https://www.canadavisa.com/parent-and-grandparent-sponsorship.html#gs.cxrwbl, it looks like a person has to sign an undertaking:

• to financially support the sponsored for 20 years (starting when they become permanent residents), and
• to repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members (if applicable) for a period of 20 years.

Are they eligible for MSP and Fair Pharmacare or the sponsor has to pay for their health expenses? If they are covered by the government, will it be counted towards my Pharmacare limit or do they have to declare that they don't have any income so the Pharmacare program covers their expenses 100 %? Any other health care options they qualify for?

Any guidance will be much appreciated.

As long as they meet the residency requirements for MSP, they will qualify for coverage and pharmacare. Their limit would be their own. They will have to declare their foreign income in order for the province to calculate what they are allowed. I'm not sure what you mean by other healthcare options.

You need to have 3 years of income that meets LICO in order to qualify as a sponsor.

 

[bdidol]

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[canuck78]

There are other bills that you’d need to be responsible for like dental care, anytime in a publicly funded longterm care home, etc. You’d also need to see what the program looks like in 3 years.

 

[cookie.monster]

As long as they meet the residency requirements for MSP, they will qualify for coverage and pharmacare. Their limit would be their own. They will have to declare their foreign income in order for the province to calculate what they are allowed. I'm not sure what you mean by other healthcare options.

You need to have 3 years of income that meets LICO in order to qualify as a sponsor.

Both of them are retired and in their late 50’s, so they don’t have any income, and no pension as well. I currently support and will continue to support them financially. They do have their savings from the past employment though.

 

[cookie.monster]

I'm not sure what you mean by other healthcare options.

There are other bills that you’d need to be responsible for like dental care, anytime in a publicly funded longterm care home, etc. You’d also need to see what the program looks like in 3 years.

Is there any option through which they can have extended health benefits. Currently, my company supports my family in providing extended health coverage. I am not sure if they will provide for the parents as well. I don’t believe they will.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Is there any option through which they can have extended health benefits. Currently, my company supports my family in providing extended health coverage. I am not sure if they will provide for the parents as well. I don’t believe they will.

No, they cannot be added to your benefits. If they want extended coverage, they will need to pay privately for it.

 

[cookie.monster]

No, they cannot be added to your benefits. If they want extended coverage, they will need to pay privately for it.

Thank you all for the responses.

 

[cookie.monster]

The followup question would be then, what is the typical range of the monthly premiums for extended health coverage for parents. They are currently taking medications for blood pressure, diabetes etc

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The followup question would be then, what is the typical range of the monthly premiums for extended health coverage for parents. They are currently taking medications for blood pressure, diabetes etc

With such health problems, probably in the thousands. Otherwise, a company is pretty much guaranteed to lose money on them.

 

[cookie.monster]

I am not sure, but I think I read somewhere that if you're sponsoring your parents you can declare them as your dependent and then maybe you can have extended benefits through your own company. Is this correct?

 

[zardoz]

I am not sure, but I think I read somewhere that if you're sponsoring your parents you can declare them as your dependent and then maybe you can have extended benefits through your own company. Is this correct?

Nope. Your company health cover will not touch them. To be clear, your parents are not dependents for immigration purposes.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I am not sure, but I think I read somewhere that if you're sponsoring your parents you can declare them as your dependent and then maybe you can have extended benefits through your own company. Is this correct?

Perhaps you read about listing them as dependents for tax purposes. That has zero to do with being considered dependents for extended benefits with any company. Benefits plans are expensive and therefore restricted. Many employers don't even allow their employees to include spouse/children in benefits plans because of the cost.