Travel insurance question - Canadian in Canada

[carom]

I am coming back to Canada to visit some family after living out of the country for a year. Do I need travel insurance because I haven't paid taxes for the last year or am I covered because of my citizenship?

Thanks.

[ma-skis.com]

Have you notified alberta health you were going to be gone, my understanding was that we told them we were going out of country and it would be as easy as just letting them know we were actually back.

[Northendzone]

So you are visiting canada - Regardless of your citizenship I can't see how you are eligible for coverage under the Canadian health system.

If you are returning to live in Alberta then it is a different issue.

[Barnet Flame]

I'm a Canadian citizen and require health insurance whenever I return to Calgary. Which is fair enough. I pay taxes in the UK and benefit from the UK healthcare system, so it would be a bit rich to expect to benefit from a healthcare system I'm not contributing to.

The OP's situation is not however as cut and dried as mine, but he should seek advice from an official source and take appropriate action to ensure coverage.

[NBC]

If you are still paying AHC premiums then you fine. Like the earlier post stated, if you informed AHC that you are moving and stopped AHC payments, then you'll need the insurance. But you can always call them and ask.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by NBC

If you are still paying AHC premiums then you fine. Like the earlier post stated, if you informed AHC that you are moving and stopped AHC payments, then you'll need the insurance. But you can always call them and ask.

I thought they did away with AHC premiums

[carom]

Thanks for the replies. I was pretty sure that because we are not contributing to the Canadian tax system or a provincial healthcare system I would have to get travel insurance for a trip back home. I wonder if we could still Claim that we are 'residents' because we have bank accounts and an 'address'. Either way, it's fair enough that we get insurance as I was able to get on the NHS and a European Health Insurace Card easily here because of my EU passport.

It's my wife who I am most worried about because she will be in her third trimester and figured it could get pretty expensive if she went into labour early on the trip home.

[tipenmat]

I am not 100% sure but I believe that you need to reside in Alberta for 3 months to be eligible for health insurance after living abroad. However, if you didn't inform anybody you were moving (for example somebody who goes on an extended trip overseas for holidays) they most likely still think you live here and I'd be shocked if they don't let you use your AB health card as they do not expire. Of course that could get you in trouble I guess if they found out you don't live here.

[spuzzum]

I've gone through this several times being overseas and returning home to Canada. If you leave Canada for greater than 181 consecutive days, you no longer are eligible for health care. You will need travel insurance valid for 90 days after returning to Canada.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I thought they did away with AHC premiums

Man, I must be way out of the loop!

[TheCommodoreAfro]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

I'm a Canadian citizen and require health insurance whenever I return to Calgary. Which is fair enough. I pay taxes in the UK and benefit from the UK healthcare system, so it would be a bit rich to expect to benefit from a healthcare system I'm not contributing to.

The OP's situation is not however as cut and dried as mine, but he should seek advice from an official source and take appropriate action to ensure coverage.

I'm the same here - in Japan as a PR and paying Japanese taxes so when I go home I do take travel insurance from Japan despite being a Canadian citizen. I think if you were returning home to live you would have to notify Alberta health and then you're all sorted though.

[normtwofinger]

We are Canadian citizens applying for Costa Rican residency. We will be purchasing travel insurance when we return to Calgary for a visit. Do not want to chance not being covered with a little one in tow.

[Northendzone]

Are you sure you want your wife flying? Read the fine print in the policy about this, some policies have exclusions for pregnant women.

[normtwofinger]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Are you sure you want your wife flying? Read the fine print in the policy about this, some policies have exclusions for pregnant women.

Huh? Not sure if this was directed at me. Our son is going to be 9 months old when we take our trip.

[NBC]

Originally Posted by normtwofinger

Huh? Not sure if this was directed at me. Our son is going to be 9 months old when we take our trip.

I think he was speaking to carom. His wife is going to be in her 3rd trimester.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by tipenmat

However, if you didn't inform anybody you were moving (for example somebody who goes on an extended trip overseas for holidays) they most likely still think you live here and I'd be shocked if they don't let you use your AB health card as they do not expire. Of course that could get you in trouble I guess if they found out you don't live here.

That is likely true. If you had to visit a doctor's office or go in for a minor emergency; odds are nobody would bat an eye. However if you end up needing something major (like a car accident, for example)- they might look a little further.

It's like when people keep their out of province insurance after moving to Alberta. It isn't a problem if you have a minor claim, but if the claim is bigger you can bet they will look into it.