Health coverage for Canadian drivers in The USA?

hey jd --good question and yes confusing--i am canadian--married to a us girl----i moved here --western pa--about a year ago---still waiting for work permit so i can go back on road--the time off is nice but starting to go stir crazy--hopefully only couple more months--------even as a vacation traveller in canada--you are advised to get blue cross or similar when going out of country---the health care is moderately ok if in canada--but very dismal while out of country--it now way compares to us health coverage as far as i have seen--true you have to pay here--but in reality you do as well in canada-with taxes and such--and even then most companies have supplemental coverage that comes off of your pay check

 

Welcome to the U.S. I'm U.S., married to a U.S. woman, but people that first meet me think I'm Canadian. I guess we're both screwed to a pointe, eh?. After spending a couple years driving with you guys, and living on the border all my life until recently, it sorta rubbed off. Could be worse, much worse.

So why the long wait for the work permit?

I wish I was still working, I could find the answer about both sides rather quickly.

Seems more complicated than it should be to have enough coverage no matter your citizenship. You can still be covered by Ca. can't you? But then the Blue Cross picks up in the U.S.?

 

yes has been long wait---trucking went for crap for a bit--when i was laid off last summer--so kinda took an extended holiday----then finally had 3 jobs lined up--and was going to keep it like was before-only getting home evry 6 weeks or so--but then was convinced to get married to wife and stay here--had to wait 3 months for medical from doctor---get all my shots over again--find a lawyer----getting kind of pricybut hopefully should be able get going again by oct/nov---still wouldnt mind driving for a canadian company--its more money --but in canadian dollars which go up and down faster than hookers dress--si i would think in all actuality should make more here--better buying power for the dollar--and lower taxes--wasnt a good feeling to come home and pay bills and lose 25 percent on exchange
how come you arnt driving now jd?
i am actually considering driving a pumpkin--then hopefully go on a one of the buy programs--still researching--but it doesnt look totally bad

 

O.H.I.P. covers very little outside of Canada. Even traveling outside of Ontario it's recommended to have some additional coverage. Most companies will provide insurance but many plans don't kick in until you have been with the company for a period of 3 or 6 months. Until then you can purchase travel insurance from any of the big banks for a small price or get Blue Cross.

 

I'm not driving due to my wife's health problems. I had a number of people tell me that should know, she needed 24 hour supervision, so here I am.

I don't know much about the laws regarding work between the U.S. and Ca., but think of this. SNI has a terminal over in Aberfoyle, x299 on the 401. Those guys there are Canadians for the most part. And I do know of some guys that are married to U.S. women, U.S. guys married to Ca. woman. It may be a way to get you going quicker, I don't know, but it's a thought. I was asked if I'd like to run on the Ca. fleet, oh yeah, I'd like to. But I would of had to come off the HomeRun program to do it. So I just did Ca. whenever possible with them.
Hey, how does it work for you as to pointe to pointe pickup and delivery in the U.S.? Would it work like any other U.S. driver due to the work permit?

 

So the health insurance is administered through the provinces? I thought it all came out of Ottawa?

 

sorry to hear about your wife jd
every province has there own medical coverage--i believe it it is pretty much the same--
i would go tho aberfoyle route except i cant leave US until paper work is all done----then will be a landed immigrant not an ice back--just still a canadian citizen ---want to do everything perfectly legal--too much to lose--didnt you have to do pretty much the same type of thing when you moved here? ???

 

Yes, each Province is a little different. More importantly, what they cover in Province is not the same as what they cover out of Province. So additional coverage of some sort is recommended even when traveling to other parts of the Country.

 

Oh, you thought I was Ca. at one time as well, ahh, you're just like everyone else!! No, I've been a citizen of Michigan all my life, notice I said Michigan!

The deal with me working in Ca. was the companies I worked for, did a lot of Ca. freight. I could drag a load in, get rid of it, pickup another load, then back to the U.S. Did that border thing at least three to four times a week.

You're certainly doing the right thing legally, playing games could get rather nasty I'd think.

Thanks for the thoughts on my wife

That kinda sucks you can't leave the U.S. until your permit. Why would that be?

 

Wow, you'd think it would be a national thing.

I wonder what would have happened if I had ever needed medical care.