If an American is in desperate need of health insurance, can they move to Canada, become a citizen and get the insurance?
What all does it take to become a Canadian citizen?
Well, theoretically, it could happen.
However, in order to become a citizen there are quite a few hoops you have to jump through.
Certain amount of $$.
A job lined up that couldn’t be performed by a Canadian - so McDonalds is out. Some sort of technical or professional training would be key.
Canadian relatives.
I’m afraid, that if someone is in a position financially and employment wise in the US where-by they can’t pay-for or receive insurance, they probably don’t have much chance of Canadian citizenship.
Well - they could marry a Canadian, I suppose…
In order to qualify for healthcare coverage in Canada you must be a citizen, or have “landed immigrant status” or be a “convention refugee” and have residency in one of the provinces.
Example: For OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan), not only would have have to be a citizen or landed immigrant, you’d also have to be an Ontario resident (which means you have to have a home here and be living in the province for at least 153 days of the year.)
For immigration issues, visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s site at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/.
Note: It’s still not quite that easy. Even then, your spouse must be prepared to sponsor you for at least three years from the time that you move to Canada and become a permanent resident.
Here’s a link for a test to determine if you’re a skilled worker.
http://cicnet.ci.gc.ca/english/skilled/assess/index.html
I took it, and am pleased to report that I passed. 
I don’t know the specifics of the residency requirements…
Oh wait. Google. “Becoming a canadian citizen”
First hit, thankfully, is: “Citizenship and Immigration Canada”
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizen/howto-e.html
First thing on the list:
If you desperately need help, this may mean you can’t get it.
However, does this prevent you from getting provincial health insurance?
Let’s see.
The Ontario health ministry (keep in mind that, while frequently called ‘national health care’ by Americans, Canadian public health insurance is a matter of provincial jurisdiction.):
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/eligibility.html
It says you can be a
Or simply have applied for the ‘Landed’ status.
Or
And a few other things.
Also:
So, You need to be a citizen, and that takes three years, at least. Or you can be a landed immigrant. I doubt the average American could qualify as a refugee. Or a clergyman. Or most of the other things.
I’m having trouble finding the right information on the landed immigrant status. (most of what comes up is new American regulations restricting the movement of Canadian Landed Immigrants in the US.) I’ll go look some more and come back with an update.
Humm. I’m trying to remember if my SIL had any medical coverage after she and my bro were hitched.
She’s pretty healthy so there’s a good chance that she just didn’t go to the Dr., or paid for it.
I know before they were married I took her to the Dr because of a really bad skin rash and she had to pay. About $250 if I recall correctly.
Cecil himself has written a column in which he adresses the chances of a young American getting Landed Immigrant status in Canada.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_141.html
And from what I can tell, the Landed Immigrant thing may just be a catch-all term for spouses and workers and such. I’m not sure.
A Landed Immigrant is someone who’s legally alowed to be in the country, assuming they’re not a tourist, visitor or refugee.
Basically, if you’re here, you need to be healthy, gainfully employed and not cause too much trouble for law-enforcement and such.
I can’t imagine how a US citizen would get refugee status unless they were an immigrant to the US from somewhere like Pakistan, and I’m pretty sure even that hasn’t beed dicided.
So I think, Purple, that whomever this ill person is, is gonna have to find a different source of health care.
A Landed Immigrant is someone who’s legally alowed to be in the country, assuming they’re not a tourist, visitor or refugee.
Basically, if you’re here, you need to be healthy, gainfully employed and not cause too much trouble for law-enforcement and such.
I can’t imagine how a US citizen would get refugee status unless they were an immigrant to the US from somewhere like Pakistan, and I’m pretty sure even that hasn’t been decided.
So I think, Purple, that whomever this ill person is, is gonna have to find a different source of health care.
A Landed Immigrant is someone who’s legally alowed to be in the country, assuming they’re not a tourist, visitor or refugee.
Basically, if you’re here, you need to be healthy, gainfully employed and not cause too much trouble for law-enforcement and such.
I can’t imagine how a US citizen would get refugee status unless they were an immigrant to the US from somewhere like Pakistan, and I’m pretty sure even that hasn’t beed decided.
So I think, Purple, that whomever this ill person is, is gonna have to find a different source of health care.
This board is so bizarre.
Hey! I passed the test, too! I don’t think the ill person would actually consider a move. He just wanted to know.
Oo! That was impressive! golf clap