Scan Medical Insurance

i want to move to canada but i have health problems?

i am from the united states and i want to move there and become a citizen but i need to be getting some treatments that need to be gotten at a hostpital through the iv once ever two months. can i get cheap/free medical treatment over there and if not, is my insurance good over there? its united healthcare ppo. i know canadians have free healthcare, but when becoming a citizen you cant leave the country and only citizens get free healthcare. not other people.

Public Comments

1. Ofcourse! Canada has free healthcare :) It's one of the benefits of being a Canadian citizen. And I'm not sure about your insurance company. Maybe you can call them and ask just to be sure.
2. People who need medical treatment are often refused at the application stage of immigration. Immigrants are eligible for healthcare three months after they enter Canada with an immigration visa, and may be absent for two years out of five before citizenship. You lose your healthcare after six months absence. You should ask your insurance company for information. There are few chances of using other insurance in Canada. To apply for permanent residence you will need a job or profession in demand in Canada, work experience, good health, a clean criminal record and $11 000 to keep yourself while you job hunt. An application takes two years if you are accepted.
3. To begin, you can't just move to Canada. You need a student visa, work permit, or permanent residency in order to stay in Canada. A work permit requires that you have a valid job offer from a Canadian company which has permission from Citizenship and Immigration Canad to hire a foreign worker -- which is only give in profession which has a shortage of Canadian workers. Even the most highly skilled workers can spend year looking for a job offer and never find one. A permanent residency application (baring having immediate family in Canada, $800,000 to invest, etc.) requires the same job offer, plus a minimum number of points based on your education, age, work history, language test results, etc. The process of applying for permanent residency takes between three and six years in most categories. Permanent residents have most of the same rights as citizens -- except you can't vote. You can apply for citizenship after having permanent residency for more than two years. All student visa, work permit, and permanent residency applicants must undergo background checks, submit to medical exams, and submit proof of finances. If your medical exam has any expensive conditions, you will either be denied entry, required to provide proof of private insurance, or CIC may assess a fee to equal to the estimated cost of the treatment. This is also true of other social program requirements... such as having a child with special needs. As for health insurance itself... Canadians get health insurance through their provincial government health plans. You have to apply for it and you pay premiums (based on your income level). Children under 19 are automatically covered under their parent's plan. Any citizens, permanent resident, or person with a valid student visa or work visa may apply for the plan. You must submit proof of citizenship (or your visa or work permit) and proof you are living within the province. They will check with CIC to confirm any visa/permit and Canada Revenue Agency to confirm your stated income. Most plans also have a benefit cap within the first three or six months you join. You can't otherwise be denied. You'll get a provincial health care plan card. When you go to the hospital, doctor, or clinic... you give them the card and most basic and emergency coverage is paid for. There may be small fees in some cases, such as a private room, a pharamacy's fee for issuing a prescription, etc. and some types of procedures aren't covered -- eye glasses, dental, etc. Many Canadian employers and groups also have private coverage items not covered in the basic plan. If you don't have a health care card.... they'll ask for a private insurance and then a credit card. If you aren't a Canadian citizen, they may also call CIC about your immigration status. US health care will not typically pay for out of country expenses. Some plans may include travel insurance which will be good for Canada and you can always purchase this separately, but such politices almost always include limits on how long you can be out of the US, limit it to emergency procedures, require that you return to the United States within X days of the procedure, and often only pay for what the cost would be in the United States -- although Canada is cheaper so this usually isn't an issue.
4. you would need to qualify to immigrate,then after living in Canada for 3 years you can apply for citizenship. Your health condition may stop you from qualifying to immigrate