How To Buy Health Insurance In Canada

Getting a health card.

How to buy health insurance in canada. You can buy some of our health insurance products online. How to get health insurance in canada until an expat becomes eligible for the public healthcare system it is strongly recommended that they get travel medical insurance or an annual international medical plan before coming to canada. So make sure that the plan you choose suits your needs. In fact it has been reported by expat intelligence that there are almost 3 million canadians living outside of canada. Make sure you have private health insurance to cover your health care needs during this waiting period.

Before buying additional health insurance check your employer s benefits plan to make sure that you don t buy coverage you already have. Get a quote online. If you want to qualify for subsidies you. In some provinces you must wait sometimes up to three months before you can get government health insurance. Online purchase of personal health insurance is not available in quebec.

Contact the ministry of health in your province or territory to know how long you ll need to wait. For example you may already have coverage for glasses or dental work through your employer s plan. Many canadians are living abroad for work retirement or simply roaming the world for an extended vacation. Many more are already living abroad. Your best chance to buy affordable comprehensive health insurance is during the annual open enrollment window that runs from november 1 to december 15th.

To find a private health insurance company you can use the ombudservice insurance finder or look online. An advisor can help you apply. It offers free essential medical services for all canadian citizens and permanent residents. If eligible you should apply for msp as soon as you arrive in british columbia as you may have to wait up to three months after your arrival date for msp to start covering your health care costs. Why canadians need to buy international health insurance when living abroad.

For some companies you might have to buy insurance within a certain number of days after arriving in ontario. Health insurance in british columbia is known as the medical services plan msp. Canada has a public health care system called medicare.