New Immigrants and Returning Residents

If you are a new immigrant or resident moving back to Canada after having been away for over 6 or 7 months, some provinces would require you to wait for a certain number of days or months before you requalify for that province's government health insurance plan. In Ontario the waiting time is 3 months starting from the day of your arrival. For instance, if you arrive on January 1, your OHIP coverage will not start until April 1. In British Columbia, the calculation is different. Please contact us or visit BC MSP for details.

It is during this three months or so waiting period when you need protection by a private health insurance policy, as strongly suggested by the provincial governments. Our rates for people below 61 are generally very affordable and we do have great rates for families with young children.

It is important to keep in mind when shopping for interim health insurance coverage that unlike the government private insurers are in this to make a profit. It is unrealistic to expect a temporary emergency medical insurance policy to cover non-emergency or elective treatments as government may do. The only way the private insurers can pay for such things as dental check-up would be through significantly higher rates, rates most people would be unwilling to pay.

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