Saw this article and it scared me...
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/millio...bill-after-woman-gives-birth-in-u-s-1.2107020
Andrew
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/millio...bill-after-woman-gives-birth-in-u-s-1.2107020
Andrew
Well, when I got my first assignement in the US it was suppose to be 3 weeks only, and ou basic canadian covergae plan were covering her for 3 months... so I did have her inculded on my ''work in the US'' corporate benefits.... and sooner than later the 3 months was gon so I started a long back and forth trail of emails with HR and our US corporate insurance broker, and after 4 months they finally make te call that I could not add her to the ongoing contract. So I then started to look for covergae for her.... she was in the US under my work via..... so she was not consider a US resident so company in the US would give her any kind of covergae..... so we looked in Canada, but as she was ou of Canada for more than 6 months, she was no longer coverd by the basic provincial insurance plan, so no canadian company would gicve her a covergae without te basic being cover by any of the regular provincial health care.... it kind of felt in the limbo where we were stuck with no easy way ou, and she didn't want to go home alone... so we took a chance..... a chance that could have cost us a lot of money......You didn't have travel insurance?
Wow. Now that is what I call stuck between a rock and a hard place!! I am glad to see you got out of the situation in a good stance and were able to get a reduction on the hospital bill.Well, when I got my first assignement in the US it was suppose to be 3 weeks only, and ou basic canadian covergae plan were covering her for 3 months... so I did have her inculded on my ''work in the US'' corporate benefits.... and sooner than later the 3 months was gon so I started a long back and forth trail of emails with HR and our US corporate insurance broker, and after 4 months they finally make te call that I could not add her to the ongoing contract. So I then started to look for covergae for her.... she was in the US under my work via..... so she was not consider a US resident so company in the US would give her any kind of covergae..... so we looked in Canada, but as she was ou of Canada for more than 6 months, she was no longer coverd by the basic provincial insurance plan, so no canadian company would gicve her a covergae without te basic being cover by any of the regular provincial health care.... it kind of felt in the limbo where we were stuck with no easy way ou, and she didn't want to go home alone... so we took a chance..... a chance that could have cost us a lot of money......
But after a lot of negociating with the hospital I lowered the bill by over 90%, ended up ok.... but I don't want to think what would ahve had happen if it would have been something really serious..... anyhow... learned the lesson..... and this 364 days and a half in the US (The visa was good for 365 days) was an awesome experience !
I too am covered when I work out of country but I am wondering how good my coverage is?! Gotta start reading some fine print..Checked my policy. I am covered for travel abroad.
I too am covered when I work out of country but I am wondering how good my coverage is?! Gotta start reading some fine print..
Andrew
Tsk tsk. Don't start the debate, the thread will be tossed in the can!!Here in Australia we look at the health care system in the US and scratch our heads.
We all pay a medicare levy and public hospitals are free. If you want private you pay extra insurance so you get quicker access for whatever surgery you want or need. Still cost very little, had it for years.
If the US medicare is anything like what we have here I cant see what all the fuss is about. No one here would vote against medicare. Sure poor people get free medical but hell you gotta give something back occasionally.
No one goes to the US from Australia without travel insurance. It is like sleeping on a bed of nails without a tetanus shot.
Chip even if you didn't have medical insurance and were hospitalized in Newfoundland, the kind people of Newfoundland would likely hold lobster suppers and raise money to pay for your bills themselves lolWe're US citizens but spend almost 6 months a year in Canada and don't have any supplemental insurance. We've been told by Blue Cross that if we need hospitalization in Canada that we can submit our bills (after paying them) and that Blue Cross will "likely" pay about 80%. I'm not sure I want to test this. It sounds less than ironclad. Best just to stay healthy. Now, I also have a US friend in Canada who is retired from the State Department. He gets free health insurance anywhere in the world even after he retired. Not bad if you can qualify.
ChipTam
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