subject: Covered by the Manitoba Health Services Commission [print this page] Covered by the Manitoba Health Services Commission
He sighs whenever he thinks about the skyrocketing cost of travel health insurance. There is nothing that this 72 year old retired physician can do about it. An enjoyable retirement may not be the case for you even though you have earned it especially if you have a fixed income. The physician, who with his wife has spent winter in Barbados since retiring from the civil service six years ago. In the same way as with other seniors, he is upset over the changes in health insurance for retired Canadians who spend winters in warmer climates or the so called snowbirds.
Not only have the changes in Ontario's health insurance program put the squeeze on national travel health insurers but the decisions by many credit card companies to restrict benefits for card members have done so too. Rates have jumped dramatically with a six month coverage for a couple over 60 costing as much as $5,590 or more with a $2,000 deductible in this case. As a result, a travel health insurance committee was created by seniors in Manitoba and according to their chairman, Ontario's changes have driven health insurance costs through the roof.
As mentioned by the manager of the individual health sales at a Manitoba insurance company, a policy that topped up such credit card coverage which was a popular product was lost due to the change. She said changes in Ontario, similar to changes in Manitoba many years ago, have sent shockwaves through the health insurance business across Canada. Based on the restrictions by the Manitoba Health Services Commission, in turn affecting coverage from private insurers, there will be no government coverage for people who have been out of the province for more than six months.
For him, since he lived here for more than 40 years, he should be able to spend the winter away. Calling airlines for departure and arrival dates, even if this seems rather excessive, he said that the Manitoba Health Services Commission really clamped down. With regard to the doctor who has had hip replacement surgery, travel to a warmer climate carries a greater significance considering how no snow means better mobility.
He insists he isn't looking for a free ride. In Manitoba is where he spent the better part of his career, he pays federal, provincial, and municipal taxes, and he lives here during the summer. Always carry health insurance coverage when you travel for a broken ankle can easily amount to $15,000 in medical fees. He said it's important to understand what treatments are excluded from coverage and what benefits are included. When it comes to this, the balance is eligible to be claimed on income tax as a medical expense if the total medical expenses including the cost of private insurance exceed three per cent of net income or $1,570 whichever is less. Necessary in this case is knowing the distinction between insurance with a deductible and co-insurance. Taking most co-insurance plans into consideration, 80 percent of the total claim is covered by the insurer while 20 percent of the total claim is shouldered by the client. Considering the Manitoba Health Services Commission, if Manitobans undergo treatment abroad, the commission pays for the cost of the procedure considering the prices charged in Manitoba and the traveler picks up the difference.
