Health insurance

Health insurance programs in Canada are operated by the provinces and territories, under the conditions and criteria of the Canada Health Act. Employers often offer as part of their employee benefits group extended health insurance and dental insurance. Such group insurance plans are a top-up to existing provincial coverage.

Travel coverage
Most snowbirds acquire added insurance that augments their basic coverage at home. They can acquire them from a number of insurance companies or through credit cards that offer basic travel insurance. Most cover some basic number of days (30-33) for multiple trips, and then sell added coverage at a daily rate for extended trip that depends on your age and your state of health. There are certain exclusions, so if you are not healthy, you might not be able to get insurance.

Out-of-country coverage
Medical coverage ceases for Canadians if they are absent from their home province or territory for periods extending more than six months (182 days) in any year (e.g., ). The exact limit on number of days out of province (or territory) are under the jurisdiction of your home province (or territory). Some provinces provide out-of-country coverage for 212 days (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario), while Newfoundland and Labrador allows 240 days.

If your travel plans exceed your provincial (or territorial) limits then international health insurance is needed, and it is available from a number of carriers. These policies are really for medical disasters because they have high deductibles and copayments. So you are essentially paying for all your own routine costs. Coverage is available with low deductibles for younger retirees, but after age 60, the annual deductible is $5000 or $10000 and costs around $300/month (all USD). Such insurance usually terminates at age 75 unless the insured has been a client for ten years or more.

For retirees who move to the snowbird location permanently, there are added options. In Mexico, they have a national medicare program called IMSS, and here is an account of one retiree's experience with it.

Provincial and territorial websites
Visit your provincial or territorial website for details about policies and procedures:
 * Alberta
 * British Columbia
 * Manitoba
 * New Brunswick
 * Newfoundland and Labrador
 * Northwest Territories
 * Nova Scotia
 * Nunavut
 * Ontario
 * Prince Edward Island
 * Quebec
 * Saskatchewan
 * Yukon