IMMIGRANTS APPLYING FOR A HEALTH INSURANCE CARD
One of the most important things you need to do as soon as you arrive in Canada is to apply for a health insurance card. All members of your family, even newborn babies, must have their own card. You can get an application form from the Provincial Ministry of Health office, any doctor’s office, a hospital or pharmacy. To apply for a health card you will need your birth certificate or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (1MM 5292) and passport. The permanent residence card may also be presented.
In Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Quebec there is a three-month waiting period before one becomes eligible for medicare coverage.
Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
All residents and their dependents are eligible.
Residents are defined as persons lawfully entitled to be or remaining in Canada and make their homes and are ordinarily present in Alberta. This excludes visitors, tourists, and transients.
Immigrants, who must wait for provincial coverage, and visitors can arrange for their own emergency medical coverage. This can be purchased for a short period of time (10 days) up to one year. Visitor’s or immigrant’s medical policies only cover emergency situations ( an acute condition which requires medical attention).
Following is a recent sample of daily medical rates for non residents of Alberta:
Foothill Medical Centre, Calgary
Emergency Room $250.00
Daily Hospital Ward $2,058.00
Intensive Care $5,000.00
These costs can be covered by a visitors to Canada emergency medical policy.
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