Attn Canadian snowbirds

Unless I am reading this wrong the final phase, tracking Canadian citizens has not yet been implemented:

"Federal officials have said work continues on the final phases, though no revised dates have been disclosed. The U.S. has legislative authority to proceed, but Canada would need to pass a bill."

Given the busy agenda for the newly elected Canadian government and the distaste in Ottawa for initiatives from the former regime this program may slide to the back burner or perhaps never advance beyond where it is now.

So, until the final phase of the plan is put into place those that feel the need can "cheat" if they so desire.

I would like to add that in this day and age I think our government should be actively tracking who comes and goes across our international boundaries.

The fact is you are still using your provincial health care system if you require the use of the snowbird insurance you have purchased.
The insurance provider, in my case RBC Insurance will go after every penny they can before using their premiums collected.
I suffered and injury 2 years ago and they got $2500 from my retirees Blue cross plan, which happens to be my lifetime max for out of country medical expenses and then they claim from the province up to what the province deems the equivalent expense for treatment if the injury took place at home. They then come to an agreement with the service provider on the percentage of the bill they are willing to pay. When I arrived back in Texas last year I had a bill from a collection agency for the percentage that wasn't paid by RBC. This is just an attempt to collect more money. After several phone calls to RBC, collection agency and a visit to the billing department at the hospital I was assured that the bill collector notice would be taken care of by them. All is good now.

Tequila wrote:
In BC you can be out for 7 months, but only in the US for 6 months. That allows you to take summer flight somewhere and still spend 6 months in the US or mexico.

Yes. In Ontario it's 7 months as well.

almcc wrote:
Last time I checked Ontario OHIP would allow you to be out of the province/country for up to 2 years twice in your lifetime if you applied. Not sure if the out-of country providers would insure the added time or not.

For us, the 6 month time frame suits. Maybe they want to stop those "citizens of convenience" that use the government services to get flown back from war zones when fighting breaks out at taxpayers expense.

This is true for many provinces although some are worded so that you can be out for up to two years once every five years. However this is only to keep your health care benefits. Canada has no limits on how long you can be out of the country. NONE

The pretense behind all of this is that it prevents someone from applying for and receiving Canadian citizenship so they will get health care coverage and then leave and never come back unless they get sick. This is common in many if not all one payer or socialized medicine countries. Works for me. Health insurance (not supplemental health coverage) is relatively cheap unless you travel to or become an expat in the US.

By the way, these measures came out of pressure from tax payer coalittion recognizing that it was an effective way to curb abuse.

naysmitj wrote:

Flyboy320 wrote:
If you are playing by the rules and not trying to screw the system......not a problem!

I'm sorry but snowbirds are not screwing the system, it is the other way around.
So as a retired Canadian by birth who may prefer to reside outside Canada more than 180 days annually I do not understand why Ontario puts my medical coverage in jeopardy.
I do not contribute less to either the Canadian Government or the Ontario Government as I still pay my income and municipal taxes.
I pay for out of country medical insurance to cover my time out of the country, so I am actually less of a liability to the Ontario health costs.
Yet, there is a complex calculation allowing them to discontinue my coverage, which I paid for since my early twenties and continue to pay for now.

Who is screwing who to cut costs

It is 210 days not 180 days for people from ontario...and a bunch of other provinces. Canada could care a less how long you are in the US. That is between you and the US goverment, either immigration if you are over 180 days or the IRS if you are over 183 days. The IRS also doesn't care how long you are in the US as long as you file a tax return and pay taxes.

In BC you can be out for 7 months, but only in the US for 6 months. That allows you to take summer flight somewhere and still spend 6 months in the US or mexico.

Last time I checked Ontario OHIP would allow you to be out of the province/country for up to 2 years twice in your lifetime if you applied. Not sure if the out-of country providers would insure the added time or not.

For us, the 6 month time frame suits. Maybe they want to stop those "citizens of convenience" that use the government services to get flown back from war zones when fighting breaks out at taxpayers expense.

MPI_Mallard wrote:

naysmitj wrote:

Flyboy320 wrote:
If you are playing by the rules and not trying to screw the system......not a problem!

I'm sorry but snowbirds are not screwing the system, it is the other way around.
So as a retired Canadian by birth who may prefer to reside outside Canada more than 180 days annually I do not understand why Ontario puts my medical coverage in jeopardy.
I do not contribute less to either the Canadian Government or the Ontario Government as I still pay my income and municipal taxes.
I pay for out of country medical insurance to cover my time out of the country, so I am actually less of a liability to the Ontario health costs.
Yet, there is a complex calculation allowing them to discontinue my coverage, which I paid for since my early twenties and continue to pay for now.

Who is screwing who to cut costs

Very well put!!!

I re-read the article and take this away " A summer 2014 memo, recently released under the Access to Information Act, says savings can be expected through “preventing abuse and eligibility fraud” with respect to the employment insurance, old age security and child tax benefit programs by ensuring Canadian residency requirements are fulfilled." They are looking at EI and child benefit laws which do not pertain to "Snowbirds" so , in my opinion the title of this thread may be a bit misleading. The 183 day thing is a pain in the butt as I too would spend more time out of Canada if in was legal. Until the laws change, we are limited to the 183 days or so. What the Ontario gov`t does to your medical coverage happens in most if not all provinces. I too pay taxes in Canada.....I agree Snowbirds are less of a burden on our medical system. The law is what it is , like it or not.If I want to spend time out of Canada then I`m willing to pay the additional cost of medical coverage to do so. Just part of living the life.

naysmitj wrote:

Flyboy320 wrote:
If you are playing by the rules and not trying to screw the system......not a problem!

I'm sorry but snowbirds are not screwing the system, it is the other way around.
So as a retired Canadian by birth who may prefer to reside outside Canada more than 180 days annually I do not understand why Ontario puts my medical coverage in jeopardy.
I do not contribute less to either the Canadian Government or the Ontario Government as I still pay my income and municipal taxes.
I pay for out of country medical insurance to cover my time out of the country, so I am actually less of a liability to the Ontario health costs.
Yet, there is a complex calculation allowing them to discontinue my coverage, which I paid for since my early twenties and continue to pay for now.

Who is screwing who to cut costs

Very well put!!!

Flyboy320 wrote:
If you are playing by the rules and not trying to screw the system......not a problem!

I'm sorry but snowbirds are not screwing the system, it is the other way around.
So as a retired Canadian by birth who may prefer to reside outside Canada more than 180 days annually I do not understand why Ontario puts my medical coverage in jeopardy.
I do not contribute less to either the Canadian Government or the Ontario Government as I still pay my income and municipal taxes.
I pay for out of country medical insurance to cover my time out of the country, so I am actually less of a liability to the Ontario health costs.
Yet, there is a complex calculation allowing them to discontinue my coverage, which I paid for since my early twenties and continue to pay for now.

Who is screwing who to cut costs