For a working holiday or study abroad in Canada, it is easier to decide if you first sort out when insurance is needed and how it relates to provincial public health insurance. This article summarizes the points to check when choosing, and finally introduces the steps for getting a quote with BestQuote.
When You Need Insurance
Japanese health insurance cannot be used in Canada, so medical costs during your trip are basically paid entirely out of pocket. According to the guidelines on the BestQuote official site, a clinic visit for a cold costs around 150 dollars, and there are cases where fracture treatment exceeds 25,000 dollars. For the working holiday visa, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes enrollment in medical insurance covering the entire period of stay a condition, and the insurance is required to cover three points: treatment costs, hospitalization costs, and repatriation costs. It is explained that if you cannot present proof of insurance, the visa period may be shortened or the visa may not be issued.
The same applies to the Super Visa for inviting parents or grandparents, for which IRCC sets three conditions: minimum coverage of 100,000 Canadian dollars, an insurance period of 365 days, and an insurance company that meets the standards. For study abroad, the treatment differs depending on the type of visa and the school. People who attend a language school on a tourist visa are likely to be outside the scope of student insurance, and in this case visitor insurance becomes the option offered.
Relationship with Provincial Public Health Insurance
Canada has a public health insurance system in each province, and the best-known are MSP in British Columbia and OHIP in Ontario. According to the BC government's official site, even if a person newly arrived in Canada enrolls in MSP, there is a waiting period of up to about 3 months from the arrival date before coverage begins. During that time, you need to fill the gap with private insurance.
While provincial insurance generously covers medical consultations and hospitalization within the country, it is said that prescription drugs, dental care, and medical costs during travel outside Canada are often not covered. Even for long-term students, it is premature to conclude that provincial insurance alone is enough. A realistic approach is to check the waiting period and excluded items in public information, and then decide how to combine private insurance.
5 Points to Check When Choosing
- Whether it meets IRCC's conditions: Check the conditions: for a working holiday, treatment, hospitalization, and repatriation; for a Super Visa, coverage of 100,000 Canadian dollars or more.
- Balance between deductible and coverage amount: Raising the deductible lowers the premium, but you also need to look at the coverage amount that prepares you for unexpectedly large bills.
- Handling of pre-existing conditions: If you have a chronic condition, the stability period requirements and the scope of exclusions differ from plan to plan.
- Refund terms for early return: Whether the unused portion is refunded if you return home earlier than planned differs depending on the plan.
- Whether you can apply and consult in Japanese: If you are anxious about communicating in English, it is reassuring to check in advance whether Japanese support is available.
