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Canada snowbirds fight travel health cut

 

Members of the Canadian Snowbird Association are Angry Birds these days over a proposal by the Ontario government to eliminate insurance coverage for out-of-country travelers.

The cut is scheduled to take place on October 1st, just as the snowbirds, who summer at home in Canada begin their migration to warmer climates. Although it is the snowbirds who are campaigning against the cut, it would also affect Canadians crossing the border to shop or vacation.

The plan currently covers $200 to $400 a day for emergency inpatient services and up to $50 per day for emergency outpatient treatment. For most travelers, it does not fully replace a travel medical policy.

Photo: Snowbirds at an earlier protest against health insurance cuts

The best part of every trip is realizing that it has upset your expectations

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Many -- probably most -- Canadians already buy or have supplemental health coverage when they travel abroad because of the already poor reimbursement provided by their provincial health plans (eg. these plans often pay less than 10% of emergency medical bills one might encounter in the USA or Mexico).  Many of Canada's larger employers provide these plans as a perk for their employees.  

As provinces wrestle with rising health costs due to an aging population and new technologies, I expect that Ontario is just the first province to introduce this change.

Twitter: @DrFumblefinger

"We do not take a trip, a trip takes us".  John Steinbeck, from Travels with Charlie

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