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> The biggest concern, in my opinion, would be people who try to come to Canada in the hopes that they can get sick here and recover somewhere that isn't going

> The biggest concern, in my opinion, would be people who try to come to Canada in the hopes that they can get sick here and recover somewhere that isn't going to bankrupt them as a result. do canadian hospitals not send foreigners a bill? it seems like this sort of issue would've come up long before now.

bryanrasmussen 7y ago
maybe it has come up before, but there would be a pretty significant difference between doing that with normal conditions and during a pandemic.
btilly 7y ago
do canadian hospitals not send foreigners a bill? It may have changed, but it used to be standard not to. I remember a news article from about 15 years ago where doctors at a Vancouver hospital were unhappy about it. Not because they were treating the sick traveler for free, but because some stupid regulation meant that he had to remain in an ER bed rather than moving him to a normal hospital bed and freeing the space for anyone else who might need it.
- justusthane 7y ago
  As an American, I had to pay out of pocket for an ER visit in Ontario a few years ago. They charged me before admitting me even.
- ev0l 7y ago
  Most (all that I am aware of) health facilities here in Toronto will charge you before you get service unless you can prove you have coverage in the province. So yes Americans who are visiting will be charged for health services.
  - blaser-waffle 7y ago
    Healthcare in Canada is done by province -- there isn't a national system, just 10 different ones that have to comply with a federal mandate. They're all a little different. That said, as an American in Alberta I can confirm for sure that they'll make you pay up front here too. Cost out of pocket was much, much lower than it would be in the US, but certainly not trivial.
peanut_merchant 7y ago
They definitely do. At least in BC. Source: Live in BC, foreign relatives had medical treatment while visiting.
gramie 7y ago
About ten years ago, a relative came to Ontario and had to pay the cost of an emergency room visit (about $400 to see a doctor and get a cast). The bill was sent about a month afterward (to our address), but I could see a tourist being made to pay immediately.
kragen 7y ago
Yes, Canadian hospitals will bill you if you're foreign, but the amount they bill is about 20× to 50× less than what US hospitals bill for the same services.

bryanrasmussen 7y ago

maybe it has come up before, but there would be a pretty significant difference between doing that with normal conditions and during a pandemic.

btilly 7y ago

do canadian hospitals not send foreigners a bill? It may have changed, but it used to be standard not to. I remember a news article from about 15 years ago where doctors at a Vancouver hospital were unhappy about it. Not because they were treating the sick traveler for free, but because some stupid regulation meant that he had to remain in an ER bed rather than moving him to a normal hospital bed and freeing the space for anyone else who might need it.

justusthane 7y ago
As an American, I had to pay out of pocket for an ER visit in Ontario a few years ago. They charged me before admitting me even.
ev0l 7y ago
Most (all that I am aware of) health facilities here in Toronto will charge you before you get service unless you can prove you have coverage in the province. So yes Americans who are visiting will be charged for health services.
- blaser-waffle 7y ago
  Healthcare in Canada is done by province -- there isn't a national system, just 10 different ones that have to comply with a federal mandate. They're all a little different. That said, as an American in Alberta I can confirm for sure that they'll make you pay up front here too. Cost out of pocket was much, much lower than it would be in the US, but certainly not trivial.

peanut_merchant 7y ago

They definitely do. At least in BC. Source: Live in BC, foreign relatives had medical treatment while visiting.

gramie 7y ago

About ten years ago, a relative came to Ontario and had to pay the cost of an emergency room visit (about $400 to see a doctor and get a cast). The bill was sent about a month afterward (to our address), but I could see a tourist being made to pay immediately.

kragen 7y ago

Yes, Canadian hospitals will bill you if you're foreign, but the amount they bill is about 20× to 50× less than what US hospitals bill for the same services.