Health care costs for U.S. citizens in Canada? (health insurance, student loans)

[PeterDragon]

My family and I are looking at a possible migration to Canada in the next few years. We're a three person family, wife, husband, and young son.

What will health care cost for us if we make this move, and how will we obtain it? Will we need to purchase private insurance? Will we be allowed to "buy in" to the Canadian government health care system, for a fee? Either way, what might premium costs look like?

Our tentative plan is for my wife and me to both become students there, then get jobs in-country upon graduation, and work toward stable permanent residency or citizenship*. Are student health care options different than other health care options for U.S. migrants?

*The logisitics and feasibility of this are something I'll save for a later thread as I continue to investigate.

[Northbound81]

Do you already have a college degree and/or work experience? If so you may qualify as a skilled worker to immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident. Then you would pay the much lower Canadian tuition rates, and your entire family would get free health care. If you come as an international student you will pay much higher tuition rates and will have to pay for private health insurance. It may also be difficult to get student loans to pay the cost of that tuition if you are not a Canadian permanent resident. If you don't qualify as a skilled worker then the student route might be the only way to move there in the short-term.

[Gary Siete]

Canada has provincial government health care systems. Each one is different. You will be eligible & able to get a health care card in the Ontario system after 3 months residency. It is paid for through income & payroll taxes but every resident (tax payer or not) is covered. I'm not sure how international students are covered as they are visitors not residents.

[northstar22]

I may be wrong about this, but I always thought Americans could use Stafford Loans to pay for tuition at a Canadian university.

Also, are Americans considered international students in Canada? I know Canadians weren't considered international in Michigan (I only know about Michigan universities).

[NatashaH]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

I may be wrong about this, but I always thought Americans could use Stafford Loans to pay for tuition at a Canadian university.

Also, are Americans considered international students in Canada? I know Canadians weren't considered international in Michigan (I only know about Michigan universities).

Yes Americans are international students at Canadians universities and Canadians are also considered international students in the US.

Back to the OP- as an international student you won't be covered under the Provinical healthcare plan. In Ontario there is a special plan for non- resident students called uhip. I think you pay for it through tuition ( don't quote me on that) Uhip only cover the basics and you may need to buy private insurance.

The University Health Insurance Plan

[PeterDragon]

Northbound--- I have five years of ESL teaching experience, both at the adult and child level, and am currently getting my Masters in TESOL. I also have a Bachelors in Social Work and past experience working with the mentally handicapped. My wife is a former nurse's assistant and group home manager (with an SK BSW), and is finishing an American Associates Degree in Nursing.

My tentative plan is to go to whatever university I can get into (preferably in BC, but I'm flexible), and get a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (Canadian Teaching License), either in Special Education or ESL. Then I'd apply wherever Canada most needs teachers in my certification subject or school social workers (assuming my American BSW qualifies me) and ideally land a job that would allow me to stay as a long-term resident, while my wife got her nursing bachelors and searched for nursing work. This seems necessary to me because, as far as I can tell, Canadian employers don't hire you unless you're already in-country on a visa of some sort.

Everything I've read so far indicates to me that the only way to migrate directly to Canada as a skilled worker I need to have tens of thousands of dollars in the bank, making the student visa route more viable. Have I been misinformed? Where can I find reliable info about migrating as a skilled worker? Is there a way to get a job offer before I get a visa, or a visa before I get a job offer?

Kazoo--- I can both get my tuition paid for and sponsor my visa with Stafford loans. My wife is also eligible for Pell Grants. With the current gutting of all tuition subsidies in the U.S., tuition at UBC would actually be slightly cheaper than my own in-state tuition rate.

Gary and Natasha--- Thanks for the helpful info, an excellent starting point for my insurance research. While I'm still a poor college student in my first year in Canada, my son and I can remain covered for most medical problems through my home state. We'd have to travel back for treatment, but for certain problems it could be worth it. My wife has limited health insurance through the South Korean system as well. With whatever UHIP offers, we may be able to patch together a workable insurance plan.

[Gary Siete]

AFAIK a student visa is not a path to permanent residency. You wouldn't be any closer to residency after completing your studies.

This gov't site should answer many of your questions: Welcome to Citizenship and Immigration Canada

[sunshineleith]

Originally Posted by PeterDragon

...
Everything I've read so far indicates to me that the only way to migrate directly to Canada as a skilled worker I....

Okay . . . once I can let it go by, but you've said it twice now and want to teach English, so . . . birds migrate. People immigrate (or emigrate).

**oh my** seems I must correct myself. Apparently the term is also used for people!

[PeterDragon]

Originally Posted by Gary Siete

AFAIK a student visa is not a path to permanent residency. You wouldn't be any closer to residency after completing your studies.

This gov't site should answer many of your questions: Welcome to Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Gary, so far I don't see anything on the government site one way or the other about student visa to residency, but am continuing to look through it.

I do see from this link (site recommended to me via PM froma generous OP) that international students can potentially get a 3 year "Post Graduation Work Permit" upon graduation, and "are not required to have a Canadian job offer at the time of application." (Link: Post-Graduation Work Permits for International Students in Canada )

It also appears that if I can find prolonged, gainful employment under my Post Graduation Work Permit, I can apply for (and possibly enter) the "Experience Class Immigration Program". (Link: Canadian Experience Class Immigration Program )

This is consistent with what I've already heard form friends of mine who get degrees in Canada or lived there for extended periods of time. Is the above information inaccurate or outdated?

[sunshineleith]

Originally Posted by PeterDragon

Gary, so far I don't see anything on the government site one way or the other about student visa to residency, but am continuing to look through it.

I do see from this link (site recommended to me via PM froma generous OP) that international students can potentially get a 3 year "Post Graduation Work Permit" upon graduation, and "are not required to have a Canadian job offer at the time of application." (Link: Post-Graduation Work Permits for International Students in Canada )

It also appears that if I can find prolonged, gainful employment under my Post Graduation Work Permit, I can apply for (and possibly enter) the "Experience Class Immigration Program". (Link: Canadian Experience Class Immigration Program )

This is consistent with what I've already heard form friends of mine who get degrees in Canada or lived there for extended periods of time. Is the above information inaccurate or outdated?

Copyright at the bottom of the page says 2006-2011 - looks accurate.