Proposed Immigration rules for Snowbirds
US Immigration supposedly will be changing some of the regs re snowbirds. This has been discussed here previously. BUT, according to USA Today the new 8 month rule will only apply to those who own hom...
Forum Discussion
Elizabeth24 wrote:
Medical coverage is something to think about also wonder if it would effect CPP and OAS, don't think that my company pension would be a problem. Also the cost of additional insurance might get very expensive.
Let's not confuse totally different things. 8-months US rule has nothing to do with Canadian restrictions.
- Provinical plan is a problem - you can't have more than 7 months total absence in calendar year. In BC plan I don't think they give a slack to people who cross the border often - not in official texts anyway
- CPP is not a problem
- "Company pension" - don't know about this, but probably not a problem either
- OAS is not a problem, assuming you lived 20 years in Canada after 18th birthday
- GIS is not a problem, but you have to return briefly to Canada after 6 months, and also to make sure that you remain "tax resident" for CRA
- Private medical insurance outside Canada is not a problem term-wise, you can have it as many months as you like, though many companies only sell maximum 6-months coverage. But it is a problem age-wise, because after the age 69-75 the coverage limits are usually low. It also becomes VERY expensive if it includes US when you are over 69-75.
Luckyd - Canadians don't have same health coverage in Mexico as US citizens. US Medicare is valid no matter where you are, but only covers treatment in the US if I'm correct. Canadians abroad lose their "Medicare" after 7 months in calendar year, and it can only be reinstated after 3 months stay in Canada. Canadian Medicare does cover treatment abroad, but the amount is laughable, barely enough to cover hospital stay in the cheapest Mx hospital, and not enough to cover a decent private hospital in Mx. Trying to use Canadian Medicare in the US would be a disaster, the amounts are 1/10 or even less of the US treatment costs.
Mexican public plan that some resident foreigners use/abuse, is apparently worse than Canadian Medicare in Canada. Longer waits, fewer good specialists. I wouldn't count on it. It only works for their public hospitals - not private ones. I also wouldn't count on personnel speaking English in MX public hospitals.
