If you move to Canada when you retire, how does the free healthcare work?
919758
It's very simple. Everything is FREE!!\nOnly one problem, if you get cancer, you usually die waiting in line to get treatment.\n\nYeah, great system!!!
1162707
haha.  that's funny. its all terrible. look at the economy crumble. booom. oh and don't try canada. that health system is going down hill too. clinics that do non insurance work are expanding. oh why? cause no one has insurance. whooot whoot.\nso try there\n\n50K as a file system? try a class in medial billing and coding. friggin awesome use of time. you might even get a pannel of cubile to call your own. maybe even two pannels.
1130803
Maine has to have some low or no cost clinics available for people with your situation.  You also lucky to live so close to Canada if you could.\n\nCheck out some Health insurance questions I have that are trying to address this situation that millions are in.
733351
the only moves the military pays for are  pcs  permanent change  of  station. and they will move you back to your hometown after   you finish your time. they dont pay when you decide to leave the service member. thats on you to foot the bill not them. the service member isnt moving so they dont care
715306
It is not free.  That's one reason why TAXES are so much HIGHER in Canada than the US.\n\nMany other countries such as Sweden have universal health care, too.
711806
You would have to apply in whichever province or territory you are moving to. The site I gave you will show you how to apply.\n\nAccessing Health Care\nAccessing Canada's health care system involves first applying for a provincial health card. Excluding inmates, the Canadian Armed Forces and certain members of the RCMP, the Canada Health Act requires all residents of a province or territory to be accepted for health coverage. There is a waiting period in place for new immigrants that cannot exceed three months.\n\nOnce a health card is assigned, it is used whenever visiting a physician or health care provider. The health card contains an identification number, which is used to access a person's medical information.\n\nAfter obtaining health coverage, one can register with a primary care physician. For routine visits to a physician, one needs only present their health card. There are typically no forms to be filled out or individual service fees.\n\nThe availability of physicians depends largely on the number of doctors and the current demand for medical services. Currently there is about 1 primary care doctor for every 1000 Canadians.\n\nHealth care in Canada is funded at both the provincial and federal levels. The financing of health care is provided via taxation both from personal and corporate income taxes. Additional funds from other financial sources like sales tax and lottery proceeds are also used by some provinces.\n\nAlberta, British Columbia, and Ontario also charge health premiums to supplement health funding, but such premiums are not required for health coverage as per the Canada Health Act.\n\nAt a federal level, funds are allocated to provinces and territories via the Canadian Health and Social Transfer (CHST). Transfer payments are made as a combination of tax transfers and cash contributions. The amount of funding provinces and territories receive is significant, and topped $35 billion in 2002-2003.\n\nIn 2000, the new budget injected an additional $23 billion of investment into the health care system.\n\nCanada's health care has a large impact on the Canadian economy. Here are a few facts and figures about the economy and health care:\n\nHealth care expenditures in Canada topped $100 billion in 2001.\n\n\nApproximately 9.5% of Canada's gross domestic product is spent on health care. In comparison, the United States spends close to 14% of its GDP on health care.\n\n\nIndividually, Canadians spend about $3300 per capita on health care.\n\n\nAt a provincial level, funding is between one-third and one-half of what provinces spend on social programs.\n\nAbout three-quarters of all funding comes from public sources, with the remainder from private sources such as businesses and private insurance. \n\nOne of the forefronts of debate in Canadian politics is its health care system. There are many factors in the debate, but some key issues are:\n\nFederal involvement in health care: Because provinces and territories are responsible for the actual administration and delivery of health care in Canada, friction is apparent whenever policies are set at a federal level.\n\nPrivate health care: While privately funded clinics do provide certain services with shorter wait times than the public system, there are those who object to any privatization of the health system. The arguments are that a "two-tier" health care system will unbalance the system and favor those with higher incomes.\n\nThe shortage of doctors and nurses in Canada: Some feel that Canada's health care system does not adequately compensate health care providers. This has led to a "brain drain" of Canadian doctors and nurses, which have left Canada to pursue careers in the United States. Attracting and keeping skilled medical workers is a priority if Canada is to be able to provide proper medical services.
398135
depends how close you are to canada. you'd spend money going there and back and maybe have to spend the night. That all adds up. My blood work is about $220 (total) when I have it done, but it might be different for gastric. Explain to your doctor that you don't have insurance and they might be able to send you somewhere.
881724
You worked a long time and paid a lot of money into your Social Security account.  You can get the checks sent to you wherever you decide to live.  Before you relocate in another country, please check out the other country very well!
713499
The Canadians I know are living in the US but love their health care system so much that whenever they have a baby they go back to Canada for the free maternity care.
705793
Contrary to what some people above have said, there are several countries outwith the EU which have reciprocal arrangements with the UK, for medical care, New Zealand being one I can think of.  You would not be charged for medical and hospital care there, but you would of course still have to pay for any emergency medical flight back home. \n\nAlso contrary to above, the E111 is now obsolete, you need a European Health Insurance Card  (EHIC) to receive free treatment in the EC. It should be noted however that there are still often some medical charges to be paid, not all countries within this arrangement cover every charge.  \n\nI would suggest you check online to find if the country you went to, is covered by a reciprocal agreement with the UK.  This site might be a good place to start.   Good luck to you  :) \n\nhttp://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en
391456
Health care is never free.  Someone has to pay doctors, nurses, and paramedics.  We can either have (much) higher taxes and the government can try to pay for it, or we can pay for it ourselves.\n\nAnd did you know that some people with cancer in Canada have to wait six weeks before the can get treatment.  It is free, but very inefficient.\n\nThis article discusses all the problems with Canada's health care system, and why some Canadians would prefer to pay for health care themselves: http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/health/article.jsp?content=20060501_125881_125881
898468
A FSA is a tax-free account where you set aside dollars to spend on health care or child care or both.\n\nYou can use your health care FSA for non-insured visits to the dentist, doctor or chiroprator.  You can use it to pay for your deductible for Dr. Visits or for prescriptions.  It can be used to pay for vision care and glasses.  It can even be used to pay for lasix surgery.\n\nThe benefit is that it is tax-free money.  So, say you decided you might need to spend $1000 on health care this year.  If you are in the 15% tax bracket, without the FSA account, you would have paid uncle sam $150 in taxes on this money so your "take home" would have been only $850.  But with the FSA your "take home" spendable dollars on your health care expenses are $1000.\n\nThis money is kept in a savings account for you by your employer.  Another good benefit is that you can spend it "up-front" whether you actually have it stashed away in savings or not.  If you spend it ahead of saving it, and then quit, you will owe this money back to your employer.\n\nThe down side of these accounts is that you must "use or lose" the money.  In other words, if you don't spend all you save, Uncle Sam get to keep the dollars . . . \n\nSo plan wisely.
918181
You would have to have your mother declared a dependant in order to access health care insurance.  I don't know what country that you live in but in the USA there is medacaid and if you live in Canada all her services would be covered anyway.
969555
If your spouse has family medical coverage through employment, I would think you could be covered under that policy upon your marriage.  Here's hoping that policy has good drug coverage - some policies don't. If that's not a possibility, then read on.  \n\nYou have some homework to do before you leave Canada and (I presume) lose your Canadian benefits.  The US program that you might eventually be eligible for is called Medicaid.  Each state administers its own Medicaid program and states may have some different rules although some Federal rules also apply.  \nTo illustrate this, I offer one passage quoted from the web page that I am giving you below:\n\n"For example, legal resident aliens and other qualified aliens who entered the United States on or after August 22, 1996 are ineligible for Medicaid for 5 years. Medicaid coverage for most aliens entering before that date and coverage for those eligible after the 5-year ban are State options..."\nhttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo/03_TechnicalSummary.asp\n\nI interpret this to mean that you can't just move in and get benefits. It can be a very complicated matter.
461733
If you are in the states, you should call your health care service and find out.  Even with Blue Cross, there are tiers of service depending on your contract (or your employer's contract).  You need to find out from them directly.  Good luck!
529984
Yes.  In Hollywood Florida, near the beach, its majority Canadians.  They have their unemployment checks forwarded here, and only go back to Canada for the free health care.\n\nBeing a foreign national will only affect your mortgage.  World Savings used to have a mortgage for foreign nationals that required bi-weekly payments.  Any descent mortgage broker should be able to find you something.
831402
No.  If you have a medical need and are referred by you GP it is free...;