Health Insurance for Returning Canadians

East or west, home is best! We offer a great selection of individual medical emergency insurance plans for citizens and permanent residents returning to Canada from abroad or a different province or territory in Canada.
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Insurance for Returning Canadians:

Coming back home from an adventure is always wonderful as you feel completely refreshed and ready to get back to your usual routine.

However, don’t let this feeling of excitement allow you to forget about your personal safety as your Provincial Health Insurance may have been put on hold while you were away. It is especially the case with residents returning to SK, YT, NU, QC or BC, where a 2-3 months waiting period may apply before your government health coverage is reactivated.

Hence, getting a suitable insurance plan for citizens and residents returning to Canada will take care of any emergency medical treatment before your provincial coverage is reactivated.

How does Insurance for Returning Canadians work?

If you are a Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Canada and your provincial medical care plan has been deactivated due to your absence, you can protect yourself from the costs of any urgent health care needs with a medical emergency insurance plan for Returning Canadians.

If you are returning to live in BC, YT, NU, QC or SK your provincial health insurance plan may take about 2-3 months to begin once you arrive and re-establish your residence.

Such coverage is active while you are in Canada or taking a short side-trip to other countries across the world (excluding the country of your previous residence) as long stay within Canada is longer than the duration of a side-trip.

Who needs Returning Canadians Insurance?

In case you reside in Saskatchewan, Yukon, Quebec, Nunavut or British Columbia and your government health insurance plan is on hold due to a long term stay abroad, you may be a subject to a waiting period of approximately up to 90 days before your government health care plan kicks in.

For all other provinces and territories across Canada, the above condition does not apply.

By purchasing private health insurance for Canadians returning to Canada you can secure your finances and avoid paying unnecessary medical expenses in case of an emergency, while your provincial health insurance is being re-activated.

How to Calculate Returning Canadians Insurance
Cost and Apply?
Planning to return to Canada? Don’t forget to purchase an insurance policy before you travel! Just follow the steps below to see the list of available insurance options from the top Canadian insurance companies we work with!
Get a Quote

Calculate a personal quote for Returning Canadians Insurance using our free online tool above. From the options provided, you will see a list of private Canadian health insurance plans with different deductible amounts.

Deductible amount is what you will have to pay yourself, before the insurance company takes care of the rest if there happens to be a claim.

Select a Plan

Select a quote and proceed with clicking on “Plan Details” button for any particular insurance plan on the right-hand side.

You will be re-directed to a web-page, where you will see your initial quote, plan description as well as other important information regarding the particular insurance policy suitable for Returning Canadians.

Review Your Coverage

Please take a look at the Summary of Benefits as well as other policy highlights on that page. Keep in mind that in order to see the official plan description you will need to review the Policy Wording that is available for download on the same page.

Once you have decided that the chosen Returning Canadian insurance plan suits your needs, you may proceed by clicking “Buy Insurance” or “Buy Online” button.

Application/Purchase

The last step is to complete an online application form as well as pay using your credit card. It will only take a few minutes and requires basic personal and contact information about the applicant. Once you finish typing in the needed information, take a moment to review your application before you enter your credit card details.

Once your payment is processed, you will receive your health emergency Returning Canadians insurance plan by email in a couple of minutes!

What does Returning Canadians Insurance cover?

Each emergency health insurance offers their owns features that may not be included in another policy, and therefore, it is important for you to examine your options carefully and read plan description documents.

Insurance for Returning Canadians will ONLY cover medical emergency treatment of sudden sicknesses and accidental injuries excluding routine medical care.
Summary of Foreign Workers Insurance Benefits:
– Emergency Health Care
– Hospital Accommodation & Services
– Ambulance Services
– Emergency Dental Repair
– Dental Pain Relief
– Prescription Drugs
– Laboratory Diagnostics/ X-ray
– Services of a Medical Specialist
– Follow up Visits to a Specialist
– Services of a Registered Nurse
– Rental or Purchase of Medical Appliances

For a detailed coverage description please read the Policy Wording of the insurance plan you select.

 

Provincial Insurance Coverage: Waiting Period

Government health insurance eligibility varies across Canada. In certain provinces, returning Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be able to use their provincial health care coverage only 2-3 months after re-establishing your residence.

In case you are returning to Saskatchewan, Quebec, Yukon or British Columbia, your medical plan will only begin 2 to 3 months following your arrival due to a waiting period.

Yet, while your provincial coverage is reactivated, it is highly recommended to apply for a private insurance in order to secure your financial well-being against the costs of emergency medical treatment you may require.

BC, SK, YT, QC Waiting Period:

The waiting period applies to Returning Canadians coming to QC, SK, BC or Yukon.

In Quebec and Yukon you should be eligible for provincial insurance (3) three months after you have arrived and re-registered for the health care plan in one of these provinces.

In comparison, British Columbia calculates the duration of the waiting period in a slightly different way. Your waiting period will be based on the remainder of the month when you arrive and establish your residence in BC plus 2 additional months. It is highly recommended to notify BC MSP office of your arrival in order to commence insurance activation process.

Similarly, in Saskatchewan your provincial insurance coverage will begin on the first day of the third month after your arrival there.

Provincial Insurance: Eligibility Requirements

The Ministry of Health affairs in your province of residence will determine the date your residency is established through a number of factors.

In addition to providing necessary documents (if required), you must also physically reside in a province that grants you government health care benefits for a certain number of days within a calendar year in order to remain eligible for such insurance.

Learn More About Provincial Insurance coverage across Canada by using the links below:

Visit the officialHealth Care System website for more information on medical insurance coverage in each province and territory.

Frequently Asked Questions
Have a specific question about Returning Canadians insurance? Here is a list of what people usually look for. Just click on the appropriate question box to see the answer.

 

Q: Who needs medical insurance for Returning Canadians?

A: If you are returning to live in British Columbia, Quebec, Nunavut, Yukon or Quebec, the government of Canada official strongly recommend that you purchase a private insurance policy. There is one exception – Saskatchewan. If you return to live in Saskatchewan within the first 2 months following your arrival in Canada, then the waiting period will no longer apply.

When you have a private insurance you can use it to cover possible medical emergency expenses while your provincial insurance is not active for the first 2-3 months of arrival.

Q: Do I have to buy medical insurance for Returning Canadians?

A: While it is not necessary to purchase private insurance when you are returning to Canada, it is highly recommended to do so in order to cover possible medical emergency expenses in case of an unforeseen sickness or an accidental injury while your provincial insurance is reactivated.

More specifically, it is recommended to get a private insurance if you are a returning resident to NU, BC, YT and QC as it will take from 2 to 3 months before your can use government insurance plan. Conditionally, you can avoid the waiting period in SK if you arrive prior to the 1st day of the 3rd month following your return to Canada.

Q: Should I buy Returning Canadians insurance before arriving in Canada?

A: Ideally, you should purchase your insurance policy before you leave the country of your current residence.

It is strongly recommended to allow a few business days before you travel to buy your insurance in order to avoid the waiting period, during which you will not be able to use your insurance policy.

The waiting period ranges from 2 to 15 days depending on the insurance policy you select, if you purchase it after you arrive in Canada.

Q: Does Returning Canadians insurance cover routine health care?

A: While private insurance for Visitors and Citizens of Canada will not cover routine healthcare such as check ups, such treatment is still covered if you find yourself in a medical emergency situation.

In case you suddenly fall ill or get injured, your insurance policy will take care of the costs for clinic visits, physician’s services, hospitalization, emergency dental care, prescription drugs, laboratory tests and much more!

Q: Can I cancel my policy if I receive provincial insurance before the expiry date?

A: Yes, you can. If your provincial insurance plan starts before the expiry date of your private insurance policy, you will be eligible for a pro-rated refund, provided you did not have any claims.

Your refund will be calculated based on the number of days left unused following the date your provincial insurance plan begins less the cancellation fee of $25-$50

Q: Will my insurance only be valid in a province of residence?
A: No, your Returning Canadians policy will cover you across Canada and even on short-side trips across the border (excluding the country of your previous residence), provided that you spend the majority of your coverage period in Canada.

If you couldn’t find what you were looking for, please take a look at our General FAQ for more information, or talk to our advisors and we will be happy to assist you!

Get a Quote and Compare Insurance Plans for Returning Canadians

 

Testimonials

Mel HampshireMel Hampshire
11:10 21 Dec 24
Lea was amazing!I can’t recommend Arbetov enough - Even using on-line messaging over different time zones, my customer service experience was excellent.If you’re looking for a really good service and unbeatable rates for IEC health insurance - these are the guys to use!Thank you Lea for all your help x
Penelope FlutePenelope Flute
18:21 26 Nov 24
Very responsive, very knowledgeable and Lea made the whole process incredibly easy and answered all my questions professionally and politely with lots of patience! Great service, thank you!
Oliver Bal-otOliver Bal-ot
22:05 04 Nov 24
Leah a representative for Arbetov Insurance & Wealth Management Inc is an exceptional person. We Thank you very much for your time and effort. I’ll be honest. You were the only person out of all the insurance agents/brokers that I dealt with, that did all that leg work for my wife, her mother(insured) and her family. You take pride and integrity into your work and it shows. We can’t thank you enough. My family has peace of mind going forward. Now our Mother/Sister/Grandmother now has her Visitors to Canada insurance with her Super Visa. We forward in working with you again in the future, now her visit with will be great! We thank you again!
K. Ay (Sara)K. Ay (Sara)
19:01 04 Oct 24
They have the best deals, very responsive staff. It only takes a minute, highly recommend especially for Super Visa applications! No fuss!
Jap BondocJap Bondoc
19:11 27 Sep 24
Great insurance provider! Leah is amazing!
malek javedaltafmalek javedaltaf
16:43 09 May 24
Best option for visit visa holder. Really great team, very supportive and responsive. Will recommend Arbetov as first option.
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14:26 06 May 24
Excellent customer service, considerate and passionate insurance provider in resolving your issues and ensuring every party is happy in providing services.
SalmanSalman
21:55 23 Apr 24
Excellent service from Lea.
Dhananjaya NeelkantDhananjaya Neelkant
20:01 09 Apr 24
Excellent customer service! Thanks Lea.
James EnsorJames Ensor
23:33 18 Mar 24
Fahim SaberFahim Saber
22:07 17 Dec 23
I have had the most seamless smoothest experience ever with this insurance company. Every change I had to make regarding my parents supervisa medical insurance was processed quickly with no complications. They have been understanding of my situation through all the ups and downs over the last few years including the difficult and complex covid periods. Particular kudos to Lea for making this complicated insurance experience a siimple and stress free process for me.
Igor KiselyovIgor Kiselyov
19:59 23 Nov 23
Great service, efficient communication, and a really easy way to get insurance with lots of help and support to get the right deal.
Colin TaylorColin Taylor
18:34 21 Nov 23
I have purchased a few policies with Lea, and each time the service was great! The last one took less than 10 minutes to complete!The polices itself are also good, as we have not had any problems with claims so far.
A LA L
00:18 15 Nov 23
I have purchased parents visitor insurance twice from Arbetov. I got fast and patient response from Lea. Her professional attitude makes me confident to trust Arbetov. I will repurchase from this company.
Salinda RathnayekaSalinda Rathnayeka
19:26 10 Nov 23
I have been purchased travel insurances for my parents multiple times and they are super friendly and very helpful. Mainly, in contacted with Lea, helped me to find the correct cost effective products.
Anastasia YakubovskaAnastasia Yakubovska
17:12 08 Nov 23
Great fast service, have been with them for a few years now. Good options for insurance!
Natali ChizikNatali Chizik
18:08 06 Nov 23
Extremely nice and efficient staff! My go to for insurance
Gina BautistaGina Bautista
20:41 19 Jun 23
We purchased Supervisa insurance through Arbetov Insurance many times and they have been very helpful since the very start, especially Eugene and Lea.Highly recommended!!
Lai ReyesLai Reyes
22:31 15 Mar 23
My whole experience with Arbetov was very pleasant. From the purchase and payment down to the refund request. Credits and many thanks to Lea as she was the one who assisted me with everything. She was just so responsive and very helpful all throughout! 🙂
yasir aliyasir ali
15:02 03 Nov 22
Lea was very helpful and friendly. It was a great experience.
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