Many Canadian employers from different industries rely on foreign workers to boost their business, especially because Canada is facing serious labor shortages.
As an employer you have some important responsibilities and conditions that you have to meet, one of which is getting them private medical insurance that will cover them for any emergencies, while they work for you and reside in Canada.
Since many foreign workers are not eligible for provincial plans, at least for a few months after their arrival, they will need to be insured by a “Visitors to Canada” plan, offered by multiple private insurance companies in Canada.
Below you can find some of the most common questions we get asked by employers who are looking to hire foreign workers and our responses to them.
How much coverage should I get my employees?
While the sum insured is completely up to you, we recommend to get at least $50,000 coverage for young workers and at least $100,000 for employees above the age of 50. Emergency medical costs are quite high in Canada for those without provincial coverage, so you want to make sure they have adequate coverage in case something serious happens.
For example a day in a hospital in Vancouver can cost anywhere from $3500 to $14,000 if the patient ends up in an intensive unit. If your employee works in a labor intense position you might want to consider an even higher coverage amount.
Some of our plans for temporary workers go all the way to 1 million coverage so you can give yourself and your employees a peace of mind and a financial safety net in case of an emergency.
How long do they need to be insured by a private plan?
The rules vary from province to province so make sure to check with the province your worker will be employed in when you apply.
In British Columbia, for example the workers need to have a private insurance plan in place while they await for MSP. The waiting period in this case is two full months plus the reminder of the month when they arrived in Canada. In Ontario, on the other hand employers are required to provide insurance for six months as part of their employment package.
What do these private plans include?
The private medical insurance plans always cover medical emergencies, such as sickness, accidents and injuries. That typically includes coverage for hospital accommodation, ambulance transportation, medical and diagnostic services, surgical or anesthetic services when performed and authorized by a physician, as well as medications prescribed in an emergency.
Often these plans will also offer coverage for dental emergencies, such as tooth ache and dental accidents but the amount varies from policy to policy.
You can also usually find among the benefits the services of a legally licensed physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteopath, chiropodist or podiatrist when ordered by an attending physician as treatment of a covered injury.
Always consult with us or check the policy wording to find out the amount up to which these are covered and to see the list of included paramedical professions.
In addition to these, many of the insurance plans also cover follow up services, repatriation and emergency transportation to the home country and offer accidental death and dismemberment benefits.
How do I select a plan?
We have a fantastic calculator for foreign workers insurance quotes on our website that can display all the available options and allows you to see the full details of each plan. These are sorted by price, from low to high and offers you an option to add a deductible.
You can also compare between the various options and email the quotes to yourself. We are always happy to guide you and give our recommendations on products based on our expertise and experience, so please do not hesitate to contact us by email, phone or chat.
While it is crucial for employers to consult with immigration professionals who specialize in Canadian immigration law or with the official website to navigate the necessary requirements effectively and ensure compliance throughout the hiring process, Arbetov Insurance is here to assist you with the insurance related part of the process.
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