5 things to be planned for healthcare in Canada when in WHV
The steps to come to Canada for the time of a working holiday visa are pretty long. Even when you are in the host country, there is a whole world to understand. The culture, transports, the health system… This article will provide you from falling into the Quebecer health system traps who can really put you in trouble!
1. Public or private insurance?
Only a few European countries have an equivalence deal on the social security. However, in a WHV, you must contract a private insurance. Before making your choice, shop for the right company and the coverage to maximize the services offered regarding the cost. You must have a proof of insurance in your entrance to the country.
2. Read attentively your insurance contract
Insurance contracts differs from one company to the other and can contain bad surprises. Take the time to read it so you can distinguish what is covered from what is not. It is also important to understand the modalities of your insurance coverage. It is best to know forward if you have a franchise to pay or if you will have to pay the fees first and then ask the insurance company for a refund. You could also be subject to a limit of the covered amount.
3. keep your receipts when visiting the E.R.
Some insurance companies can require that the client pays the fees and then do a claim to get a refund. In that case, you will need the originals or copies of your receipts for your health problems. It is also possible that the company demand to be advise forward to a visit at the E.R. so they can open a claim file. Whatever your case, if you have health related fees keep some written traces of them with the detail of the care receive and their cost.
4. Favor private clinics
For people that are not covered by the public regiment, it is strongly suggest going to clinics instead of the E.R. The costs that will be charged to you in a private clinic will be much inferior to the fees imputable at the E.R. In a hospital, you will have to pay not only for the care and the exams you receive, but also for the administrative fees of the establishment. Besides, the waiting time in private clinics is lesser!
5. Get informed before you need medical care
The best way to save time and money is to get information on procedures and the functioning of the health system. It is not when you will need medical attention that you will be at your best to analyze information. Better be prepared before!
5 things to know when you consult in another Canadian province
Your taking vacation out of the Quebec province and you have prepared weeks in advance. However, some contingencies are uncontrollable. If, during a trip you need health care, you’ll be more informed with this list.
1. Your health insurance card should be following you everywhere.
If you go in a clinic or to the office of a health professional, present right away your health insurance card. Some professionals accept the card, so you can receive the needed treatments without having anything to pay. They are directly remunerated by the Quebec Health Insurance Plan (RAMQ) with whom they sometimes take agreements. For hospitals, there’s an interprovince agreement which gives you the access to the same measures as in Quebec with the public plan card.
2. keep all your receipts.
In the case where your health insurance card is of no use when you need healthcare, you will need some documents. Be sure to have the originals of the receipts you will get. If you make payments with your credit card, keep a copy of the payment slip. When it is made by paycheck, save a picture of each sides of it with the professional’s or the establishment name. In brief, keep all the documents that details the interventions, the received services and their price. This will give you the opportunity to reclaim them to the RAMQ.
3. Get inform on your coverage.
The health insurance card does not cover every charge you could have in a health-related incident. It is giving you the same limited coverage as in Quebec. You are only covered with the doctors, dentists and optometrists. Any other healthcare is not insured and what is covered is in the precise beacons and in the same fees as in Quebec. If you spend more, the fees are at your charge.
4. Do not forget about your medication.
If you take prescribed medication, bring enough for the duration of your trip. You can consult your pharmacist before your leaving to obtain the needed quantity for period of your absence. Medicines, prescribed or not, bought out of the province of Quebec, is not covered by the Quebec Health Insurance Plan.
5. Prevent the worse.
Before leaving, get a private insurance. You will be more reassured that you will not have surprise fees that you will have to pay on the spot. Or else you could at least get them reimbursed quickly.
5 errors not to be made at the emergency
A visit at the emergency is often a synonym of stress and frustration. To make it easy for you, we made a list with the errors that’s going to slow you down when you’re sick. We could just stop there, but we’re also giving you a solution per error, because for every problem there’s at least one solution!
1. Go to the E.R.… without a serious medical emergency.
Emergency is the option when your life is in danger, are that you have a serious and urgent medical condition. A large amount of people rushes to the emergency to be classify as non-priority cases. The most effective way to get answers and an evaluation of your symptoms is to call Info-santé at 811.
2. Be unpleasant with the medical team.
A visit at the E.R. is a stressing experiment for the patient. The professionals must work in that environment permanently. They have to deal with all the stress and they live an enormous pression to perform. An aggressive or violent patient slows not only his care, but also the one of the people waiting behind him. It’s more difficult to evaluate and help somebody that isn’t cooperating. Be patient with the medical team!
3. Rush to the emergency for an issue that another service settle.
Certain specialized services aren’t available at the hospital E.R. A broken tooth or a toothache must be settle at a dentist clinic. Psychiatric issues can be followed in one of the specialize emergency working in the field. Doctr’s app actually gives you the occupancy rate of mental health E.R. Those are often less busy then at the hospital. Once more, a call to 811 will prevent you from going to several places for medical care.
4. Expect that immediately after the visit at the E.R. you’ll recover.
The E.R. doctors have the task of eradicate any life-threatening condition. Some situations require an uninterrupted treatment or one over a certain time. In that case, the monitoring will take place in a clinic. It’s a better idea to seek help at a clinic from the beginning to have the care you need. The best solution is to take a rendezvous with your family doctor. If you don’t have one, register to get one thru the family doctor finder.
5. Go to the emergency without checking first the occupancy rate on Doctr’s app.
Instead of going directly to the emergency, use Doctr before to verify the occupancy rate of the nearest hospital. If your life is not in danger, the clinic is a more adequate choice for non-urgent health care. Then again, Doctr have the list of the services near you.