Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Canada Expat Forum

BC Medical Plan (MSP) and Leaving the Country Temporarily

New Topic Newest First
BillyBright
  5/5/2010 05:11 EST

Greetings Expats and Fellow Wannabees!

Currently residing in BC (Canadian Citizen), I'm considering a long-term move to Mexico, with periodic trips back to Canada.

The rules to keep BC Medical coverage (MSP) in place are that one MUST spend NO MORE than 6 months of any calendar year outside BC.

!!!! Does anyone know IF and HOW the Medical Services people can KNOW just how long I am either IN or OUT of the country without ME informing them of the details? Do they have direct access somehow to this information from Border or Immigration-type authorities?

Many thanks for any feedback/insight on this!
~Billy Bright

pronto
  5/7/2010 03:12 EST

When your passport is scanned the dates are there, shared by the border control, in and out. They have tons of snowbirds doing this every year. They definitely pay attention.
All I can say is do everything legally. You don't want to mess up. However if you reside outside the country for longer than 6 months and return check to see if you only need to reinstate yourself. I think the biggest issue is if you have extended coverage then it may be up for a re-qualifying period. Basic coverage starts after you pay for it again..

GeoBlueGeoBlue
Get Quote

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!

GeoBlueGeoBlue

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!
Get Quote

BillyBright
  5/7/2010 15:39 EST

Thank you, Pronto!
So there's a direct reporting/sharing of this info between Border Control and BC-MSP. Are you able to tell me how you know this? Direct experience? or...? Not that I don't believe you, 'cuz, unfortunately, I guess you're probably right. Problem for me is, this completely kyboshes my plans. Absolutely crucial to be sure of this. It has other ramifications for me than just the obvious. Thanks so much for any other details.
~Billy

BillyBright
  5/7/2010 20:51 EST

Thank you, Pronto!
But can you tell me how you know this? Personal experience? or...? They say it's "basically based on trust" as far as reporting goes (related to EXACTLY how much time in a given calendar year is spent outside of the country - I called them --- but maybe they're just playing it that way to start with). Plus, there's no scanning of passport info by Canadian authorities on the way OUT, as far as I know. Your further thoughts? Thanks!!
Billy

BillyBright
  5/7/2010 21:26 EST

Thank you, Pronto!
But can you tell me how you know that? Direct experience? Or...?
THEY say it's "based on trust" regarding the reporting by me of exact amount of time out of the country in a calendar year. But maybe they're just PLAYING it that way to start with over the phone. Dunno. Plus, how and when is my passport info ever scanned by Canadian authorities on the way OUT of the country? I can't seem to remember that happening in any of my travels. (But you'd think it HAS to be so.) Your further thoughts? Thanks!!
Billy

BillyBright
  5/8/2010 02:33 EST

Thank you, Pronto!

But can you tell me how you know this? Personal experience? Or...?
(THEY say my reporting of actual time out of the country will be "based on a trust" -- trusting ME to report accurately to them -- when I called and inquired. But perhaps they're just 'playing' it that way for starters. I don't know.)

Plus, how and when is my passport info scanned on the way OUT of the country? I do not recall that ever being done by CANADIAN authorities... only on the way back IN, returning to Canada. Am I missing or forgetting something here?

Your further thoughts?

Thanks!!
Billy

GeoBlueGeoBlue
Get Quote

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!

GeoBlueGeoBlue

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!
Get Quote

BillyBright
  5/8/2010 02:39 EST

Hoo-boy! SORRY folks for what NOW looks like multiple same posts by me to this thread. In a DIFFERENT VIEW they weren't showing up AT ALL, no way, all freaking day long!!! So I was sure they weren't being posted. This was going to be my last try before just PM-ing you, Pronto.

regnatarajan
  1/31/2017 00:42 EST

Seven years later, I'm interested in the same question. :) How do they know? Do they know?

OldPro
  1/31/2017 12:41 EST

It is a funny thing but in forum like this one or travel forums, it is very common to see Canadians posting questions about other countries, in the Canada forum rather than in the forum to which their question applies. In the case of this thread, that would have been the Mexico forum.

You post in the forum of the country you are looking at going to, NOT in the forum of the country you are coming from!

I wonder why it is that so many Canadian posters can't seem to understand that? I am by the way a Canadian but I don't follow this trend.

Anyway, moving on, to me this issue is real simple to answer. There is a law. No forum allows the discussion of how to do something illegal and that is what this thread is trying to get at. 'Can I circumvent or ignore the law? Will they catch me.' That is not appropriate in this forum.

My advice to you regnatarajan, is not to concern yourself with how or whether they will know. My advice is to obey the law. If you do not, then you may have to suffer the consequences and then you will end up being one of those posters who post, 'how can I enter country X when I have a criminal record at home?'

OldPro
  2/1/2017 11:27 EST

Time was when very little info was shared between government departments or between countries. But it doesn't take a genius to know that it has become easier and easier for information to be shared in the computer age.

So planning to do something based on the hope that info will not be shared is not what I would call the brightest idea in the world.

It is also about planning to do something that you know to be illegal and fraudulent. If you are out of the country for more than 6 months, you are not entitled to coverage, end of story.

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Canada GuideLiving in Canada Guide

Expats from all over Canada have shared great tips about living in Canada - Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Beyond. Find out what makes it easy, wha

Canada Forum Canada Forum
Join our Canada forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Canada.

Contribute to Canada Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Canada.

Best Places to Live in Canada Best Places to Live in Canada

If you're considering a move to Canada, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Canada in 2023.

Expat Healthcare Advice in Canada245 Expats Talk about Healthcare & Health Insurance in Canada

Expats living in Canada talk about their own experiences with healthcare, hospital visits, emergencies, finding a doctor, buying health insurance in Canada and more.

Cost of Living in CanadaCost of Living in Canada

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Canada.

Moving to CanadaMoving to Canada Guide

Our guide to moving to Canada with lots of advice from expats on the ground.

Real Estate in CanadaReal Estate in Canada

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Canada.

Pros Cons of Living in CanadaPros & Cons of Living in Canada

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Canada.

Retiring in CanadaRetiring in Canada

Advice for people retiring in Canada.

10 Tips for Living in Canada10 Tips for Living in Canada

If you've recently arrived in Canada, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Canada.

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute to Canada Network Contribute
Help others in Canada by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Canada.

William Russell
William Russell

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal