3 ms·

Can you back this up with your source?

krrrh 9y ago
My language could have been more clear. They state at the top of the page that you have to be "admitted for permanent residence" if you are not a citizen. However other visa situations also qualify [1]: > Certain other individuals, such as some holders of study and/or work permits, or working permits on working holiday programs — which are issued under the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and are valid for a period of six or more months — may be deemed residents. Tourists or visitors to B.C. do not qualify. I was thinking especially of the university students I know who got MSP cards after being in BC for a few months on student visas--they are actually required to enrol [2]. Incidentally, there was a thing in the media about the number of owners of multi-million dollar homes in Vancouver who listed their profession as "student" [3]. Working holiday visas are typically only for 1 year, and they also qualify. You might think that a lot of young people who need elective surgery would take advantage of the working holiday visa programs, but the waiting times for most specialties would make it a gamble to get anything done in the 9 months they'd have coverage (I'm not entirely joking). If you're curious what happens while waiting to become eligible, private insurance companies offer a standard insurance package called "Visitors to Canada" insurance ($200-$500 CAD for 3 months depending on deductible and whether you need coverage for a "stable" pre-existing condition). Visitor to Canada insurance is also what you need to buy if you're a Canadian who has lived abroad and need to cover the gap before you can re-enroll, though it is not a mandate, and technically under the Canada Health Act they can't refuse to treat you if you are a citizen. I have heard that a citizen or lawful resident can refuse to pay a bill even if you are not enrolled and nothing will happen, but that may also be an urban legend. One other point of clarification, since it confuses people to no end. Each province administers its own program. Three provinces (of ten) collect health care "premiums" on those who have income levels to support it: BC, Alberta, and Ontario. The premiums are not paying the cost of health insurance by any stretch, they are a poorly designed and administered poll tax that shares a name with the health care programs. This bothers me constantly when Americans who have moved to BC harp on about how "health insurance" only costs $75 a month in Canada, because the vast majority of the costs are paid through other revenues. Eliminating premiums is an issue in tomorrow's BC election. [1] http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverag... [2] https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness/health-insurance/health-insurance-details-international/medical-services-plan-msp-international https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness/health-insurance/hea... [3] http://globalnews.ca/news/2968607/new-numbers-show-multi-million-dollar-homes-in-vancouver-bought-by-low-income-buyers/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2968607/new-numbers-show-multi-mil... EDIT: Added some more information about how health care premiums work for the sake of posterity.

My language could have been more clear. They state at the top of the page that you have to be "admitted for permanent residence" if you are not a citizen. However other visa situations also qualify [1]: > Certain other individuals, such as some holders of study and/or work permits, or working permits on working holiday programs — which are issued under the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and are valid for a period of six or more months — may be deemed residents. Tourists or visitors to B.C. do not qualify. I was thinking especially of the university students I know who got MSP cards after being in BC for a few months on student visas--they are actually required to enrol [2]. Incidentally, there was a thing in the media about the number of owners of multi-million dollar homes in Vancouver who listed their profession as "student" [3]. Working holiday visas are typically only for 1 year, and they also qualify. You might think that a lot of young people who need elective surgery would take advantage of the working holiday visa programs, but the waiting times for most specialties would make it a gamble to get anything done in the 9 months they'd have coverage (I'm not entirely joking). If you're curious what happens while waiting to become eligible, private insurance companies offer a standard insurance package called "Visitors to Canada" insurance ($200-$500 CAD for 3 months depending on deductible and whether you need coverage for a "stable" pre-existing condition). Visitor to Canada insurance is also what you need to buy if you're a Canadian who has lived abroad and need to cover the gap before you can re-enroll, though it is not a mandate, and technically under the Canada Health Act they can't refuse to treat you if you are a citizen. I have heard that a citizen or lawful resident can refuse to pay a bill even if you are not enrolled and nothing will happen, but that may also be an urban legend. One other point of clarification, since it confuses people to no end. Each province administers its own program. Three provinces (of ten) collect health care "premiums" on those who have income levels to support it: BC, Alberta, and Ontario. The premiums are not paying the cost of health insurance by any stretch, they are a poorly designed and administered poll tax that shares a name with the health care programs. This bothers me constantly when Americans who have moved to BC harp on about how "health insurance" only costs $75 a month in Canada, because the vast majority of the costs are paid through other revenues. Eliminating premiums is an issue in tomorrow's BC election. [1] http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverag... [2] https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness/health-insurance/health-insurance-details-international/medical-services-plan-msp-international https://students.ubc.ca/health-wellness/health-insurance/hea... [3] http://globalnews.ca/news/2968607/new-numbers-show-multi-million-dollar-homes-in-vancouver-bought-by-low-income-buyers/ http://globalnews.ca/news/2968607/new-numbers-show-multi-mil... EDIT: Added some more information about how health care premiums work for the sake of posterity.