Travel Insurance or Provincial/Private Health Care for Canadian Working Visa IEC?

Part of the arrival into Canada when you enter first is proof of health insurance per http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/arrival.asp

The border services officer may ask you for proof of health insurance.

You may be refused entry if you do not have insurance.

Your insurance must cover:

• medical care,
• hospitalization, and
• repatriation (returning you to your country in the event of severe illness, injury or death).

When you arrive at the port of entry, you must have health insurance valid for your entire stay in Canada. Having a valid provincial health card is not enough. Repatriation is not covered by provincial health insurance.

If your insurance policy is valid for less than your expected stay, you will be issued a work permit that expires at the same time as your insurance.

If this happens, you will not be able to apply to change the conditions of your work permit at a later date.

Travel Insurance

This can either be some Existing Travel insurance you have , however it needs to be valid for your duration of your IEC , my IEC was for 2 years and most Travel Insurance only cover up to one year. I checked the prices

http://www.worldnomads.ca/

• Year Travel Insurance Standard – 511 GBP

However this is Canada …. So If I add Snowboarding and or Downhill Mountain biking ( this is oncourse stuff )

• Adventure Premium – £379.58

Total : £890.69GBP

Refund Policy 

If your policy has already started, then we’re sorry, it’s not possible to change this or get a refund on any unused part of the policy if you change your min *

Provincial health

If you come to British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, or New Brunswick you have to buy Canadian emergency medical health insurance for the first 3 month in Canada

If you get a job , e.g. in British Columbia

I’m on a working holiday program – what do I need to send to apply for coverage?

Persons on a working holiday program need to have:

– a working permit valid for at least six consecutive months or more,
– must be staying in British Columbia for at least six consecutive months, and
– be working a minimum of 18 hours per week.

To apply for coverage, those with a valid working permit on a working holiday program must submit the Application for Enrolment form with both of the following items to determine eligibility:

Confirmation of employment in British Columbia with:
– a copy of your employment contract indicating full-time status or the number of hours worked per week, OR
– a letter from your employer stating the date employment started and expected to end, and indicate full-time status or the number of hours worked per week.
– Departure date from British Columbia.

Benefits

• Easier to file a claim and receive your money back
• Canadian insurers mostly set up direct billing so that you don’t have to pay out of your pocket
• Coverage for sports related injuries (you don’t practice this sport as way of living)
• Local branches where you can come and speak with a representative

Provincial health insurance in Canada is not a substitute for travel insurance as it does not cover repatriation (i.e. cost of flying you home in the event of serious injury or death).

Cost for a year arbetovinsurance.com : $617.58 CAD which includes Sports. This also can be refunded for the months I don’t use , so when I get a job and switch to Provincial Healthcare I can get the unused refunded

Conclusion

Provincial healthcare seems the cheaper option , however remember provincial health car does not include repatriation!