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Why health insurance is a good policy |
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By Johnny Mangiante »
Travel medical insurance is often that last thing you think of when
planning your move to Canada. It should however be one of the first.
Now you're probably saying: "Wait a minute, isn't healthcare free in Canada?"
It's true. Canada not only has one of the most effective healthcare systems in the world, most medical services are available free-of-charge to all permanent residents and their families who are registered under a national health insurance program called "medicare."
Medicare pays for medical services provided by licensed medical doctors at hospitals, clinics or doctors’ offices.
As a Canadian citizen or an immigrant granted with landed status, you are entitled to all the benefits that medicare provides. However, newly arrived immigrants have to wait a specified period of time before they can claim landed status which entitles them to healthcare benefits. He/she will have to pay the medical bills during that time.
By purchasing Travel Health Insurance you will be covered until that time when your Medicare card comes into effect.
Moving to a new country is stressful enough without having to worry about coping with unforeseen medical expenses. As a newly arrived immigrant, you will likely be looking for work and a home as well as learning how to adapt to what may be a new culture, a new climate and quite possibly two new languages.
If you have children, you may be looking for schools as well. With all this on your mind, the last thing you need is the added stress of unexpected medical expenses. Something as insignificant as a child’s ear infection can entail significant costs for consulting a doctor and purchasing antibiotics in order to treat the infection.
Should you or a family member fall ill during the waiting period, you would have to cover the cost of the ambulance, the x-rays and the expensive drugs. You may possibly have to pay up to thousands of dollars a day for surgery or hospitalization.
These figures taken from Queen’s University provide visitors and immigrants with the approximate cost of medical care in Canada:
- Emergency or clinic visit - $220
- Standard daily ward rate per night - $2,960
- Specialized daily unit rate (ICU OR Critical Care Units) - $3,535
- MRI with enhancement - $2,000
- CAT scan with enhancement - $941
- Regular day surgery - $800
Many people would have difficulty meeting such medical expenses. Travel health insurance would cover or partly cover those costs.
Even if you are just visiting Canada ahead of doing your landing, taking travel health insurance is important.
While you're unlikely to come down with a deadly tropical fever or become sick from contaminated food or water, you may well face an unexpected illness or accident that could, without travel medical insurance, cost you thousands of dollars in unexpected hospital/medical expenses.
Although most travel insurance policies cover accidents, accidents rarely happen. More often it is the simple and common everyday ailments such as the flu and other viruses that send people to the doctor or hospital. The cost of simple medical examinations, administered vaccines and prescribed medication can quickly drain travel funds.
Visitors to Canada aren't covered by medicare. Moreover, your domestic health insurance policy may not provide adequate coverage when you're travelling or residing outside your home country. Travel insurance is a quick and simple way of being covered for these unforeseen costs.
There are many companies that offer travel medical insurance. Your mission should be to find the one that's right for you.
When choosing travel medical insurance for a visit to Canada, it's a good idea to purchase from a Canadian insurance company. They know the medical system and are familiar with costs and common health risks. They're also easier to get in touch with if a medical emergency should arise during your stay.
It's important to choose a policy that gives you sufficient coverage. A basic plan should cover each family member up to C$50,000 and should include benefits such as ambulance expenses, laboratory tests, doctor bills and public hospital rooms.
Many people buy coverage that seems inexpensive only to find out that they are not adequately covered when a medical emergency occurs. Below are a few key questions you should ask your insurance provider before purchasing trip insurance:
- What is not covered by the policy? Insurance companies call these "exclusions," and every policy has them.
- Are there specific exclusions relating to sports or other activities?
- Does the plan have a deductible that you must pay each time you file a claim?
- Does the plan deny benefits if your medical emergency arises because of a "pre-existing condition or health problem”?
Knowing the answers to these questions can help you avoid unpleasant surprises when you make a claim. Make sure you understand exactly what your trip insurance plan covers. When in doubt, call your insurer. A reputable insurance company can give you straight answers to your questions. Most offer toll free numbers so you can call them directly from wherever you are.
If you find that a plan has too many restrictions and complications, or that your questions are not being answered satisfactorily, do not hesitate to look somewhere else.
A comprehensive travel health insurance plan usually covers the following emergency medical expenses:
- Hospital accommodations
- Medical bills such as those for a physician, surgeon, and anesthetist
- Private registered nurses
- Ambulances
- Diagnostic services such as laboratory tests and x-rays
- Medical aids such as slings or splints, and the temporary rental of wheelchairs or walkers
- Prescription drugs
- Cost of returning a deceased back home
Remember that when it comes to insurance, you get what you pay for. When shopping around for trip insurance, it is important to keep in mind that not all insurance policies are alike. Be aware of minor price variations between insurance companies (the cheapest may not be the best company to deal with when you have a claim.)
About the author: Johnny Mangiante is an online journalist. He is also the editor and webmaster for many websites. For more information on travel medical insurance, see his website www.visitorstocanada.com |
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