info from Canadians requesting extended leave from Medicare

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:
Every Province has their own rules. In BC and a few others we can be away for 7 months.

Also in BC we were out once for 10 months. just tool a phone call. I believe that we can do that every 5 years. Hey! The last time was 4 years ago! Hmmmmmmm. I wonder where . . . :h

Follow us to Europe. :)

Every Province has their own rules. In BC and a few others we can be away for 7 months.

Also in BC we were out once for 10 months. just tool a phone call. I believe that we can do that every 5 years. Hey! The last time was 4 years ago! Hmmmmmmm. I wonder where . . . :h

Province to province. In Alberta and I believe BC you can ask to be out of province for more than the 7 month limit on medicare coverage. I believe BC is once every 5 years and Alberta is a case by case but once every two years seems to be common. Remember, Canada health care is a federally funded provincially administered program.

For the US you need to talk to INS. Immigration and naturalization. There will be tax implications as well but accountsnts no what paperwork to submit to insure you are not double taxed. It may be helpful to break up your time by leaving the US for a month or so. Head out to Mexico or Costa Rica for a month or so. Do you have to be in the US the whole time?

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

I applied and was granted permission not to be in BC for the year 2013. You can do it once every 5 yrs. I had to give the dates I was out of BC for the past 5 yrs, and I did not have to provide proof.
I was covered while in Canada and I had no medical problems so did not get to test how it would be handled.

Manitoba has already added 1 month on for a total of 7 months Each province is different. As well in Manitoba you can apply for a year of coverage every 3 rd year by application.
As for the USA the Bill hasn't passed yet allowing 8 month stay w/o penalty so ask the US immigration and as well the IRS as there will be issues with them as well. Still will require travel insurance as now.

I should have explained I'm looking for info on applying for leave beyond the six months to be out of province. Understand we can get extended leave every three years in relation to Medicare. Also, need to apply to US for extension.

You might be interested in this thread running in the Snowbird forum.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27558859.cfm

I suggest you ask to have this thread moved to the section called RVing in Canada and Alaska.

I believe you can retain your medicare as long as you spend no more than 180 days outside Canada. My longest trip was only 3 months away and all I had was very expensive travel insurance.

:C