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C S A M E M B E R H A N D B O O K
The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) is a 70,000 member
national not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to actively
defending and improving the rights and privileges of travelling
Canadians.
The words “snowbird” and “travel” are almost synonymous. It was
the love of travel that, in 1992, brought one thousand and ninety-
two dedicated Canadians together in a show of absolute unity
to stage a rally in Lakeland, Florida outraged at the reduction of
payments by our provinces for out-of-country emergency medical
care.
Many were seniors living on fixed or limited incomes. Some held
property in the United States while others rented a vacation
property from year-to-year. Some were simply on vacation. All
believed in the
Canada Health Act
, and the basic right of Canadians
to receive the same treatment abroad as Canadians receive at home.
The CSA always has and will continue to defend the principles of
the
Act
which states,
“…where the insured health services are provided
out of Canada, payment is made on the basis of the amount that would
have been paid by the province for similar services rendered in the
province, with due regard, in the case of hospital services, to the size of
the hospital, standards of service and other relevant factors” Canada
Health Act,
sec. 11(1)(b)(ii)
Currently, a number of provinces are paying just $100 for each
out-of-country hospital day – an amount that is far less than the
provincial rate.
The CSA believes that all Canadians should be allowed the freedom
to travel – within Canada at any time – even after being absent from
the country for up to 182 days allowable in most provinces and
territories. Some of the provinces are co-operating with us and we
continue to work to ensure all provinces recognize our freedom to
travel.
What started as a crusade to find affordable emergency out-
of-country travel health coverage has grown into a national
organization, dedicated to preserving the rights of all Canadians, the
Canada Health Act
and our national medicare system.
The CSA
Who we are