As you probably know Canada has a national health system in place. Like all national health care systems there are two sides to the coin. On the one hand it is a blessed relief not to have to worry that someone in the family might become ill or be in an accident and if that happens will it wipe us out financially or worse still, will we simply not be able to get the care. On the other hand, hey, it's not really free people! Taxes are definitely higher in order to pay for this and while the general standard of health care is the highest in the world, some aspects of the service are not up to par when compared with the US levels of luxury. Having lived in a country with free health care (the UK) and also in one where I had to pay (the US) I know something of both systems. I really can't tell you which is preferable. I think it depends on your beliefs, whether you are 'doctor-going' type people and how much value you place on privacy or what colour the walls are painted when you are being put back together after an accident. For us, being people who firmly believe in avoiding doctors and hospitals at all costs - all those sick people go there, got to be bad for you, and doctors love sticking nasty sharp needles into people this system works just fine.... I only see the demons in the white coats when I absolutely have to ... but I digress.... In both systems it is the abuse that causes the rise in fees and costs. Abuse by some patients, some medical staff and some administrational cock-ups. Every time someone demands an antibiotic for a cold (which won't have any effect by the way) then they are adding to costs for all, whether private or public. So soapbox mode off and what happens here in Canada....

Registering for Health Insurance - please note, the rules for this vary depending on which province you go to.

Manitoba Here you are eligible for health insurance from day one. This covers all basic medical care including doctors visits, hospital treatments and the like. You have to pay for drugs up to a certain financial limit - this varies depending on income. After that medication is free. However the chances of you needing that level of medication in the early years is unlikely. That's why they do the medical! Pregnancy and childbirth are covered. Hospitals are clean and safe. However this is the national health so there are fewer frills than yoou may be used to in the US. You can buy top-up health insurance from people like Blue Shield to bring you up to the private room stuff - just like anywhere really.

Ontario In Ontario, the health insurance is known as OHIP (pronounced Oh-Hip). OHIP stands for Ontario Health Insurance Plan. This plan covers the cost of medically necessary services (doctors visits, tests, surgery, etc.). In general, costs are covered 100%. All permanent residents of Ontario who spend at least 183 days a year in Ontario are eligible. You must be a Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant or have refugee status to qualify. There are no premiums or fees to pay for OHIP. The plan is funded through income and payroll taxes. Each person covered by OHIP will be issued a green Ontario Health card. The card contains your name, birthdate, health number and address. If you are over age 15 1/2 it also has your photo. As of April 1998 any doctor you visit will have to see and validate your OHIP number each time that you receive medical service. If you cannot present your OHIP card you will have to pay for the service, although you can apply to the Ministry of Health for a refund. Doctors and hospitals are not permitted to refuse emergency treatment regardless of whether you have a health card or not. New residents of Ontario, whether they're from another part of Canada, or another country, must wait three months from the time that they establish residence in Ontario until their health coverage begins. However, if you have coverage in another Canadian province, it will cover you during those three months (just as OHIP will cover you for three months after you move from Ontario to another province). Persons without coverage (including newly arrived Landed Immigrants) should purchase private health insurance to cover them during the waiting period. Don't wait three months before applying for coverage. It will take some time to process your application and you should apply as soon as possible after landing. Your health card will arrive around the time that your coverage takes effect (usually a few days after). To register for OHIP, you must go to an Ontario Ministry of Health office. Note that any children over 15 1/2 years of age will have to go too so that they can have their photograph taken. For each person applying you must show three separate documents: 1. Proof of Canadian Citizenship or Landed Immigrant Status. 2. Proof that you live in Ontario. 3. Proof that you are who you say you are. In the case of children, the document proving item 1. must be in the child's name, while the documents for items 2. and 3. can be in a parent's name. Rather than give an incomplete list, you can find out which documents qualify at the following website: http://www.gov.on.ca/health/ . Note that you MUST have three separate documents even if the same document can prove two of the items above. For instance you can't use an Ontario driver's license to prove that you live in Ontario AND that you are who you say you are, you need a separate document for each. As in other provinces you can buy (or many employers provide) additional health insurance to cover the cost of items not covered by OHIP. For instance, OHIP only covers the cost of a hospital stay in a ward room. If you want a semi-private room you must pay out of pocket, or have private coverage. Additonally, you or your employer can obtain additional coverage to cover the cost of prescription drugs. OHIP does not normally cover the cost of prescription medicines, but Ontario does have a drug benefit plan for persons with low income and/or high drug costs.

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