Any Canadians on this forum living the Island Life year round (car rental, sales)

[Island Mouse]

Big Aloha to everyone - my first time posting here. Happy to have found this forum.

I'm wondering if there are any Canadians on the forum who have moved to the islands and living their dream full time. My questions revolve around health insurance costs and other considerations such as those imposed by the Canadian government.

I've been a regular annual visitor to Kauai and would very much like to 'settle' there 5+ years, or at least during my early retirement years starting November 2011. I'm not wealthy, just comfortable enough to think that I could pull this off. I've debated purchasing housing around the $300,000 price point, or renting and think renting a place would turn out to be a better way to go in the end.

Also, does anyone have information regarding purchasing a car, insuring it with a Canadian driver's license?

I am really trying to put the nuts and bolts together for considering this type of move....rather than just going for 5-6 months' time which is a hassle with airfare, huge dollar costs in car rental, always finding a suitable place etc. etc.

Kauai is my first choice by far. I know that there are other places in the world to plant yourself, but Kauai is where home feels like.

thank you for all for your kind responses.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

All of our Canadian friends are part-timers, for a maximum of six months a year. This is entirely due to the better health care coverage that Canadians get over what us Americans have. And that coupled with the limited health care options on the neighbor islands becomes a no-brainer for them.

Regarding the car insurance, just call one of the local insurance agents on Kauai.

[Island Mouse]

HMmmm...thanks for replying Dreaming of Hawaii. I can sort of understand about the six months (snowbird) thing tied to the Canadian health care system, however, I certainly do not agree that Canadians have the better health care system. It is failing in everyway.

At least if you can pay for an American health care plan, you get service and coverage and from what I can tell you get it on demand with very little wait time and you can see who you wish. By the time all is said and done, hubby and I pay approx. $250/month here, but that does not cover many drugs and for anything complicated you have to wait literally months. As a real example, a year ago, my hubby dislocated his shoulder in Sept. and had to wait until March for a MRI - that is not health care and there is no line jumping....just waiting for your turn. The wait to see a specialist (after being referred by our primary GP) was even longer, not to mention the wait after all that waiting for a surgery date that could be cancelled after your long wait.

Sure, we north of the border have health care of a sort, but at what cost to pain and suffering. I, for one, would rather anti up in the American sytem and see where that gets us. Perhaps I am naive and uninformed, but I am researching and hope to test the waters as a full time resident in the not too distant future....either the U.S. or a Latin country. Canada is not all that it is cracked up to be....and it is COLD....ha ha ha

Open to any further comments regarding moving to Hawaii. Great informational board.

[voicer]

My wife and I are Canadians, bought a house 5 years ago in Waikoloa BI. You cannot stay here longer than 180 days so forget about living here full time unless you invest $500,000 minimum and that does not include the price of a house or you can start a business and hire 3 or more employees. Another way is to become an employee and get a green card. You cannot retire here.

It's not the Canadian health care system that keeps people from staying here full time it's the Immigration Department. By the way don't even think about staying longer than 180 days!! They can ban you from entering the U.S. for 3 years.

[Island Mouse]

Originally Posted by voicer

It's not the Canadian health care system that keeps people from staying here full time it's the Immigration Department. By the way don't even think about staying longer than 180 days!! They can ban you from entering the U.S. for 3 years.

Thank you voicer. Ahhhaa - that explains that. Very succinctly said and I want to thank you very much for taking the time to reply. It is not that I haven't been asking the question, just not to the correct people or to U.S. Immigration. Even real estate sales people who are selling to more Canadians than ever these days, do not seem to know the answer...but then again, I understand why as they are eager to make the sell. If you don't do your due diligence before hand, that is your problem. It seems that for us the U.S. is out for permanent residency and that will now begin my search into Latin America. I know many Americans and Canadians are moving in retirement to less pricey countries/areas. If not, we will have to settle for only spending 4-6 months across the Canadian border each year. You are indeed fortunate to have made the move, although it may not have been without hassels or continue to be so. thank you.

[voicer]

It is frustrating for those of us who are very willing to pay taxes in excess of $100,000 a year (on top of our property taxes etc.) to the U.S. and Hawaii Gov't, especially with all the recent budget discussions.

It is far easier to obtain full time residency throughout the Caribbean if you are looking for an alternative. We checked out various islands but sincerely enjoy the people and islands of Hawaii, so we accept the immigration restrictions but continue to investigate options to become full time residents.

[mountainrose]

"It's not the Canadian health care system that keeps people from staying here full time it's the Immigration Department. By the way don't even think about staying longer than 180 days!! They can ban you from entering the U.S. for 3 years.[/quote]"

LOL--Then the best answer for the OP may be to enter the US illegally from Mexico. By being an "illegal" (especially from Mexico) you will then be treated to free medical, free schooling for your children, and instant citizenship for any children you have while here in the US, plus instate tuition to college (which even US citizens from another state don't get). There are also many other advantages we are happy to fill your coffers with, and we will NEVER deport you even if you commit crimes as long as you are illegal and from Mexico. Too bad you are honest and from Canada.

[KonaKat]

Thanks for the honest answer about health care in Canada. I do know many people from Canada and the notion that their socialized healthcare system is superior to ours is a joke. Sure it's practically free if you live long enough to get into to see that heart specialist! <sigh>

But to address your original question, yes it's the Immigration laws that you must consider. We have sold many properties to Canadians but they just come out for a few weeks or that 3 months at a time. The rest of the time they may have us manage it as a rental, or just leave it empty and let friends/family come out when they are not here. You might consider looking at a nice condo with an ocean view in a community with a few amenities in case you decide to buy. Easy to lock it up and be away for months, or perhaps easy to have a realtor manage it for you as a rental when you are not here. If you decide to do that, be sure the condo (or house) has plenty of storage so that when you leave, you can put all your personal belongings in a closet and lock it without sacrificing storage that a guest or tenant might need.

Originally Posted by Island Mouse

HMmmm...thanks for replying Dreaming of Hawaii. I can sort of understand about the six months (snowbird) thing tied to the Canadian health care system, however, I certainly do not agree that Canadians have the better health care system. It is failing in everyway.

At least if you can pay for an American health care plan, you get service and coverage and from what I can tell you get it on demand with very little wait time and you can see who you wish. By the time all is said and done, hubby and I pay approx. $250/month here, but that does not cover many drugs and for anything complicated you have to wait literally months. As a real example, a year ago, my hubby dislocated his shoulder in Sept. and had to wait until March for a MRI - that is not health care and there is no line jumping....just waiting for your turn. The wait to see a specialist (after being referred by our primary GP) was even longer, not to mention the wait after all that waiting for a surgery date that could be cancelled after your long wait.

Sure, we north of the border have health care of a sort, but at what cost to pain and suffering. I, for one, would rather anti up in the American sytem and see where that gets us. Perhaps I am naive and uninformed, but I am researching and hope to test the waters as a full time resident in the not too distant future....either the U.S. or a Latin country. Canada is not all that it is cracked up to be....and it is COLD....ha ha ha

Open to any further comments regarding moving to Hawaii. Great informational board.

[forumpersonality77]

If you have 20 million dollars or so, then, spending your lives in Hawaii may not be so hard a task to accomplish. About cockroaches in Canada, there are many cockroaches here and you can find rattle snakes in the Okanagan Valley. There are pros and cons wherever you live in this world.

[Murphee]

Originally Posted by Island Mouse

HMmmm...thanks for replying Dreaming of Hawaii. I can sort of understand about the six months (snowbird) thing tied to the Canadian health care system, however, I certainly do not agree that Canadians have the better health care system. It is failing in everyway.

At least if you can pay for an American health care plan, you get service and coverage and from what I can tell you get it on demand with very little wait time and you can see who you wish. By the time all is said and done, hubby and I pay approx. $250/month here, but that does not cover many drugs and for anything complicated you have to wait literally months. As a real example, a year ago, my hubby dislocated his shoulder in Sept. and had to wait until March for a MRI - that is not health care and there is no line jumping....just waiting for your turn. The wait to see a specialist (after being referred by our primary GP) was even longer, not to mention the wait after all that waiting for a surgery date that could be cancelled after your long wait.

Sure, we north of the border have health care of a sort, but at what cost to pain and suffering. I, for one, would rather anti up in the American sytem and see where that gets us. Perhaps I am naive and uninformed, but I am researching and hope to test the waters as a full time resident in the not too distant future....either the U.S. or a Latin country. Canada is not all that it is cracked up to be....and it is COLD....ha ha ha

Open to any further comments regarding moving to Hawaii. Great informational board.

At least you aren't one of the 45,000,000 Americans who don't have health coverage. Too many Americans go broke, lose their savings, go bankrupt to cover health emergencies.
You don't sound like a Canadian to me, or at the very least, a very grateful or informed one. I've never had to wait more than a half hour to see a doctor when I needed one. So some specialists may take a little longer to see, quit your griping and count your blessings. Nothing wrong with the Canadian health care system, honey.


Canada cold? Well, yes, in winter, dear. Oh, and we can choose our doctors as well. haha.

Get informed.