Canadian tourist health insurance
Canadian medical insurance for visiting relatives' medical insurance is specially designed for those who enter Canada but cannot enjoy or temporarily cannot enjoy the Canadian government medical insurance. Therefore, the main adaptation targets are tourists visiting relatives in Canada, new immigrants and international students who are temporarily unable to enjoy government medical insurance. In addition, the program is also suitable for Canadian residents who go to the United States to do short-term work for no more than one year.
In some provinces of Canada, new immigrants cannot enjoy the government's free medical insurance for the first 90 days or more than two months. The government has not stipulated that new immigrants must buy temporary medical insurance within these 90 days, and many young new immigrants have not bought temporary medical insurance. However, due to the high cost of hospitalization in hospitals in North America (see Canada's temporary medical insurance FAQ for details), if it is affordable, it is still worth considering to spend less money on medical insurance just in case. In recent years, there have been several cases in Toronto where new immigrants are seriously ill and have no medical insurance. We appeal to everyone to raise money.
On the other hand, with the steady income of new immigrants, the number of parents invited to visit relatives in North America has gradually increased. Because parents are older, it is relatively necessary to buy a temporary medical insurance for visiting relatives after their arrival. Otherwise, in case of an accident, the inviter may be in financial trouble.
The third group of people who are suitable for temporary medical insurance are international students studying in Canada. Many schools require international students to buy medical insurance during their studies, and many schools even include medical insurance premiums when charging tuition fees. However, medical insurance arranged by schools, such as UHIP in Ontario, is not necessarily the most competitive. International students can ask whether they can choose their own insurance company, and show their proof of protection to the school after handling it, so as to avoid paying the medical insurance fees arranged by the school.
Canadian medical insurance and its benefits
Source: Canadian study abroad network
Canada has world-class medical facilities and services, and the government's medical insurance covers all major medical care, which can be applied by all citizens and permanent residents. There are about 60,000 medical practitioners in Canada, which is equivalent to one doctor for every 500 people. Free medical care is provided to the whole people, including all kinds of laboratory tests, examinations and operations. All the expenses of hospitalization for serious illness are borne by the government, including meals and nursing expenses.
After landing in Canada, you must apply for a medical insurance card and apply for it at the provincial health department office in the city where you live. Insurance cards in British Columbia, Ontario and New Brunswick will take effect three months after the date of entry, and health insurance in other regions will take effect immediately from the date of application.
1. The medical insurance plan includes international students.
British Columbia:
Students must register within three months after their arrival.
British Columbia medical service plan
PO Box 1600
Victoria, BC
V8W 2X9 Canada
Telephone consultation: 1-800-633-7 100 Fax: 250-952-3427.
Website:
Alberta:
Students must register within three months after their arrival.
Alberta medical insurance plan
PO Box 1360
AB Edmonton
T5J 2N3 Canada
Telephone enquiry: extension 3 100000. (403) 427- 1432 (Edmonton) or (403) 297-64 1 1 (Calgary).
Saskatchewan:
Students must register immediately upon arrival.
For details, please contact:
Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
Health insurance registration
Douglas building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6 Canada
Telephone consultation: 1-800-667-755 1.
Fax: (306)787-325 1 or 895 1.
Website:
2. The medical insurance plans of the following provinces do not include international students. Students studying in these provinces must arrange medical insurance through private insurance companies and get help from schools.
Manitoba, New Brunswick.
Ontario, Nova Scotia
Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
welfare
Canada has the best social welfare system in the world, such as free medical care system, pension, unemployment allowance, work injury allowance and social relief fund. This is only a partial introduction.
endowment insurance
Canadian citizens or immigrants can receive a pension as long as they reach the age of 65. For immigrants, the Canadian government stipulates that they must live for more than 10 years to receive pensions.
unemployment relief
If you are unemployed, you can get double living security. First, unemployment insurance, usually unemployment benefits can be received for up to 50 weeks, which is about 50-70% of the original salary. If you haven't found a job after 1 year, you can receive social welfare allowance. 1 person is about 800 Canadian dollars per month.
Tax preference for children
Canadian citizens or permanent residents, refugees, and people who are chartered by the government to stay in Canada according to the immigration law can apply for children's milk money.
Old-age security (old-age security)
Basic guaranteed income allowance and spouse allowance. The old-age allowance is provided for people aged 65 and over, and people with no or little income can apply for the basic guaranteed income allowance. Spouses of low-income or deceased beneficiaries can apply for spouse allowance.
-Canada and Quebec pension schemes)
The subsidy scheme in Quebec, Canada is a kind of insurance, and the beneficiaries pay a certain amount of money to the scheme during their work. You can receive the benefits of the plan from the age of 60 and monthly from the age of 65, depending on the total amount you pay to the plan.
A summary of Canada's free medical insurance system
Canada's universal free health care system is one of the best in the world. Citizens and permanent residents who have joined the medical insurance can enjoy free medical treatment, diagnosis, laboratory tests, fluoroscopy, surgery and hospitalization services with a "health card" (a medical magnetic card with photos).
The federal government of Canada promulgated the Health Act of Canada on 1984, which defined the contents and functions of the medical care system, as well as the responsibilities and rights of the federal government and local governments for the first time.
The bill stipulates that the federal government is mainly responsible for the legislation, policy formulation and supervision of medical care and provides macro guidance, while the daily services of medical care are the responsibility of the provinces themselves, and the expenses are shared by the federal government and the provinces. The federal government allocates a part of the funds directly from the state tax to the provinces every year, mainly for the basic expenses of hospitals.
More importantly, the bill sets five guiding principles for increasing universal health care. In addition to universal and convenient access, it also includes the principle of extensive services, that is, covering routine medical services, first aid, public health, pregnancy, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, death and so on. The principle of no demarcation, that is, health insurance cards can be used all over Canada; Public management, that is, the federal government is responsible for allocating funds and supervising services in various places to maintain a unified national standard. No matter which province violates any of the above five principles, it will be punished by the federal government to cut funds.
Medical insurance coverage is slightly different in the coverage, qualifications and procedures of the insured. In some provinces, joining the medical and health plan is completely free, while in other provinces, it is necessary to pay a certain premium. The cost depends on the financial situation of the applicant (family), and you can apply for premium subsidy if you have financial difficulties. Although the specific provisions are slightly different, the provincial medical insurance system ensures that every citizen can enjoy the most basic medical insurance, including medical treatment, hospitalization, laboratory tests and other services. The items not covered include hospital service fees, telephone charges, personal care fees, prescription drugs taken home when discharged from hospital, cosmetic surgery, acupuncture, psychological experiments, unorthodox medical services and dental services.
In order to solve the problem of medication for the elderly, poor families and those who apply for relief funds, provinces have also established their own "drug insurance plans". In addition, the Canadian government also encourages companies or institutions to participate in the medical insurance system in the form of collective welfare. For medical services that cannot be covered by free universal health insurance, Canadians need to choose medical and health insurance provided by non-government.
As the most important social welfare, universal health care in Canada has made important contributions to the country's economic development and social stability. But this system is not perfect. Since the 1990s, some institutional drawbacks have become increasingly obvious. The main manifestations are as follows: the medical expenses have soared, and the medical expenses in each province have increased at an average annual rate of 10% or even higher; The contradiction between supply and demand is prominent, the waiting time for Canadians to see a doctor is shocking, patients complain a lot, and even take the government to court; Medical equipment is backward, and X-ray machines and nuclear magnetic vibration equipment in some hospitals are still at the level of 20 or 20 years ago.
The reasons are: firstly, the government has poor management, too many loopholes and a serious waste of resources. For example, because it is at public expense, many people always go to the emergency department and ask for hospitalization (providing meals) and stay in the hospital for a long time. Secondly, the population is aging and the demand for medical care is increasing. At present, the medical expenses of the elderly over 65 years old have accounted for about half of the total medical expenses. Then the drug price is too high. According to statistics, over the past 20 years, the price of drugs has increased by more than ten times, and the proportion of drugs in medical expenses has exceeded that of doctors.
In recent years, the debate about how to reform Canada's medical system has been endless. Some people suggest that users pay to reduce the pressure on the government; Some people also advocate the dual-track medical system, give full play to the role of private medical institutions, and let people get more convenient services. However, nationwide, there is a high voice against the dual-track system and user payment. The government of current Prime Minister Paul Martin has decided to invest 465,438,800 billion Canadian dollars in the next 10 year. On the one hand, we should increase the investment in local governments; on the other hand, we should intensify scientific research, update medical equipment and shorten the waiting time for patients to seek medical treatment, so as to improve and strengthen the current system.
Canadian medical insurance system
Of all the welfare programs in Canada, Canadians are most proud of its free medical care system for all. Americans are very jealous of this. From the first day when Clinton took office, he appointed his wife to reform the current medical system in the United States, trying to establish a system similar to that in Canada. One plan after another has not been realized for only one reason. The Canadian-style system is based on a high tax system, while the United States wants free medical care and does not want to pay more taxes. How can sugarcane be sweet at both ends?
What is the free medical care system in Canada? Every Canadian, whether you are a citizen or a permanent resident, can get a medical magnetic card with photos, which is called Health Card in English. With this card, medical treatment, laboratory tests, fluoroscopy, surgery and hospitalization in Canada are free. The doctor will charge the government Ministry of Health according to the number on your card. Note: you should pay for the medicine yourself. The doctor writes a prescription, and you must go to the drugstore to buy the medicine yourself. Medicine is not expensive, but usually affordable. But if you have a more formal job in Canada, usually the boss will buy you medical insurance, so that the whole family can reimburse the medical expenses. In other words, as long as one person in your family can have a formal job, the whole family will hardly have to spend money on medical care. Dentists in Canada are not included in this medical system and need to pay their own expenses. Is a relatively independent industry. There is no dentistry in the hospital. In addition to medical college, there is a separate dental college in the university. They think that dentistry is not a disease, but an industry related to beauty, so they should pay for it themselves. But just like the cost of medicine, if you have a formal job (not working in a restaurant, of course), the boss will buy dental insurance for your whole family. This is the lowest employee benefit in Canada. In this way, your family can see the dentist for free.
One more thing, new immigrants just arrived in Canada and can't get medical cards. It usually takes three months to apply. During this three-month period, you will not enjoy free medical care. If you get seriously ill during this period, it will be miserable. In Toronto, the cost of hospitalization for one day is 2,200 to 2,400 Canadian dollars. A week later, all the money was gone. So many new immigrants buy private medical insurance in the first three months, and each person is about 100 Canadian dollars per month.
In Canada, the way of seeing a doctor is very different from that in China. In China, it is natural to go to the hospital when you are sick. In Canada, you can't go directly to the hospital, and there are no registration offices and other institutions. If you are sick, you must see a "family doctor" first. Every doctor usually has his own clinic, with one or two secretaries or assistants. These doctors are often "panacea", who know everything from obstetrics and gynecology to psychiatry, but know nothing. Small problems can be solved. If you are seriously ill, he will transfer you to a hospital or a specialist. So patients who go to the hospital are often arranged by family doctors. Usually everyone has their own fixed family doctor. Choosing a family doctor is your own business. If you are not satisfied, you can change it at any time. There are still three or four. But every time you change to a new doctor, in order to establish a medical record, you often have to check inside and outside, and you have to draw four or five tubes just to draw blood. So, don't torture yourself unless you have to. New immigrants from Chinese mainland usually look for a family doctor who can speak Mandarin. No matter how good your English is, you may not understand so many professional words, which is natural. This is a matter of life and death. If you take the wrong medicine, the consequences are unimaginable.
Doctors abroad are by no means worse than those trained in Canada.
Researchers in Ontario point out that doctors trained outside Canada care for patients with heart disease at the same level as doctors trained in Canada, which is enough to reassure patients and policy makers who have alleviated the shortage of doctors in China.
The Institute of Clinical Evaluation Science is the main author of this study. Dr Dennis Ko, a cardiologist at Xinning and Huiren Hospital in Toronto, pointed out that the level of foreign medical graduates in caring for patients is by no means inferior to that of doctors trained in Canada.
He said that the results of Monday's study showed that the level of care for patients was similar, so it could reassure patients, especially those with heart disease.
The above report was published in the latest issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers reviewed the health records of 65,438+027,000 patients with heart disease who were sent to Ontario hospitals for treatment from 65,438+0992 to 2000. They found that whether the patients were cared by doctors trained in Canada or abroad, the mortality rate of patients was the same within 30 days and 1 year, while doctors trained in China and abroad were the same in saving patients' lives, and they all used standard treatment methods, such as prescription ASA pills and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Joan Atling, president of the Ontario International Association of Physicians and Surgeons, said that she was glad to learn that there was a lot of evidence that the quality of foreign medical graduates who chose to join the medical and nursing system was comparable to that of doctors trained in Canada.
Her Toronto-based organization has been actively supporting and fighting for the rights and interests of foreign doctors. On the same day, she said that the results of the report can refute the statement that letting foreign trained doctors join the health care system will lower the level.
She pointed out that Ontario has begun to establish a mechanism to evaluate foreign medical graduates and let them join training and residency programs. At present, there are 200 such places, more than 12 six or seven years ago. However, at present, there are 2,000 doctors trained abroad in Ontario who want to practice medicine in the countries where they emigrated. So the problem is still serious. 200 places are really not enough, but it is finally moving in a good direction.
Every province in Canada has its own standards to evaluate and approve foreign-trained doctors.
Dr.Albert Schumacher, President of the Canadian Medical Association, said in June of this year, 5438+ 10 that 850 international medical college graduates have passed the first part of the licensing examination this year, but only 85 of them can become residents. Canadian medical college has 1773 graduates this year, but the association knows that the country needs 2500 doctors.
At the same time, many doctors who have been trained abroad and practiced medicine at home for many years are now willing to take up their posts as long as they have jobs in hospitals. Aileen pointed out that some doctors who have spent some time in Canada can also use some of their medical knowledge and skills for medical research or medical insurance evaluation, from folding clothes in the hospital laundry room to working in the parking lot.
She said that these foreign-trained doctors immigrated to Canada with their families. They know that there are not enough doctors in Canada, and they are convinced that they can return to their careers after evaluation. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, which made them feel betrayed.
Abuyebao, a 49-year-old family doctor, 200 1 immigrated to Canada from Bangladesh and practiced medicine in his hometown and Iran for 20 years. Although he has passed the assessment test in Canada, he is still waiting for retraining opportunities or vacancies of residents to obtain a medical license. He said that he was in a very bad mood and anxious at present, because he knew that he was absolutely qualified to be a family doctor, but he never had a chance.
However, after obtaining the license, he will leave Mississauga, where he lives now, because according to Ontario law, foreign doctors will have to practice medicine in areas where there are not enough doctors in the province for five years, except doctors trained in Canada. At present, I am working part-time in a medical clinic and working as a clinical observer in a hospital in Toronto, but my income cannot support my family. He used to be a telemarketer, but he never gave up his major. However, he was glad to learn the results of the report, which proved that some foreign-trained doctors, accounting for 20% of Ontario's level, could not compare with Canadian doctors.
Canadian temporary medical insurance
Unlike Canada's travel medical insurance, Canada's temporary medical insurance (Canada's travel medical insurance for visiting relatives) is specially designed for people who come to Canada but cannot enjoy or temporarily cannot enjoy the Canadian government's medical insurance. Therefore, the main adaptation targets are tourists visiting relatives in Canada, new immigrants and international students who are temporarily unable to enjoy government medical insurance. In addition, the program is also suitable for Canadian residents who go to the United States to do short-term work for no more than one year.
In some provinces of Canada, new immigrants cannot enjoy the government's free medical insurance for the first 90 days or more than two months. The government has not stipulated that new immigrants must buy temporary medical insurance within these 90 days, and many young new immigrants have not bought temporary medical insurance. However, due to the high hospitalization expenses in hospitals in North America (see Canada's temporary medical insurance FAQ for details), it is worth considering spending some money on medical insurance just in case. In recent years, there have been several cases in Toronto where new immigrants are seriously ill and have no medical insurance. We appeal to everyone to raise money.
On the other hand, with the steady income of new immigrants, the number of parents invited to visit relatives in North America has gradually increased. Because parents are older, it is relatively necessary to buy a temporary medical insurance for visiting relatives after their arrival. Otherwise, in case of an accident, the inviter may be in financial trouble.
The third category of people who are suitable for temporary medical insurance are international students who come to Canada to study. Many schools require international students to buy medical insurance during their studies, and many schools even include medical insurance premiums when charging tuition fees. However, medical insurance arranged by schools, such as UHIP in Ontario, is not necessarily the most competitive in price. International students can ask whether they can choose their own insurance company, and show their proof of protection to the school after handling it, so as to avoid paying the medical insurance fees arranged by the school.
Canadian citizens or permanent residents who travel to the United States for tourism or short-term work (within one year) can also purchase temporary medical insurance if they cannot enjoy the medical insurance of the original provincial government during their stay abroad. However, if you are going to other countries outside the United States, you need to buy Canadian travel medical insurance, not Canadian temporary medical insurance for the United States and Canada.
The medical insurance plans of the following provinces include international students.
1. Alberta:
According to the Alberta medical insurance system, students must register within three months after arriving in Canada. The medical insurance premium is about 34 Canadian dollars per month, which is only valid for students with visas for more than three months. A school letter certifying that students intend to stay in Canada for more than 12 months will help students obtain medical insurance.
Please contact the following address for details:
Alberta medical insurance plan
PO Box 1360
AB Edmonton
T5J 2N3 Canada
Telephone enquiry: extension 3 100000. (403) 427- 1432 (Edmonton, Alberta) or (403) 297-64 1 1 (Calgary).
2. BC:
According to the British Columbia Medical Service Plan and the British Columbia Hospital Insurance Plan, students must have student authorization to participate in the plan. The processing time is three months, and the monthly insurance fee is about 36 Canadian dollars.
Please contact the following address for details:
British Columbia medical service plan
PO Box 1600
Victoria, BC
V8W 2X9 Canada
Telephone consultation: 1-800-633-7 100 Fax: 250-952-3427 Website: www.hlth.gov.bc.ca/msp/msp.html.
3.saskatchewan:
Saskatchewan's hospital service and health care plan stipulates that students must register immediately after mortgage, and the medical insurance premium is valid and free during the student visa period.
For details, please contact:
Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
Health insurance registration
Douglas building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6 Canada
Telephone consultation: 1-800-667-755 1 fax: (306)787-325 1 or 895 1 website: www.govt.sk.ca/health.
The medical insurance plans of the following provinces do not cover international students:
Zwick, Manitoba, New Brunswick
Ontario, Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland
Quebec province
Students studying in these provinces must arrange medical insurance through private insurance companies.
References:
Canada online
Canadian citizens or permanent residents who travel to the United States or work for a short time (within one year) can also purchase temporary medical insurance if they cannot enjoy the medical insurance of the provincial government where they live during their stay abroad. However, if you are going to other countries outside the United States, you need to buy Canadian travel medical insurance, not Canadian temporary medical insurance for the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the medical insurance system is sound, but there are fewer hospitals and more clinics. Medical insurance premiums are generally paid once a year, and you can get what you buy, which means that you have to pay a relatively large insurance premium for various diseases. In the United States, diseases such as fever are generally treated in clinics, and minor illnesses generally have to bear 20% of the treatment costs themselves (the deductibles of different policies are different, but most of them are 20%), and insurance reimbursement is 80%. If it is a serious illness, for example, the treatment cost exceeds $65,438+0,000, you can get full compensation.
Theoretically, if you make your own plans and start buying insurance early, the cost of lifelong health insurance is not a big burden. There are also many work units that pay all or part of the insurance premiums for their employees. After retirement, I happened to be connected to the national free basic medical plan for the elderly.
Enter "American and Canadian medical insurance" from Google and try to find out what the result is.