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The Canadian Snowbird Association • www.snowbirds.org • 1-800-265-3200
PRESERVATION OF HEALTH COVERAGE FOR FREQUENT TRAVELLERS
D
(2006: D)
This category does not appear to be covered by the Canada Health Act. The CSA believes it should be in order to protect
the health of Canadian travellers.
The principles of universal and portable health care under the Canada Health Act should not be compromised by a
Canadian’s desire to travel outside of the province, territory or country. Unfortunately, some jurisdictions in Canada
restrict their residents’ ability to travel by limiting their access to continued health care.
To date, the federal government has not used the Canada Health Act or other policies to address the minimum
residency requirements necessary for eligibility for insured health care services. This absence of national leader-
ship has resulted in a patchwork of requirements across the country, providing residents of some provinces much
less freedom to travel than some of their fellow residents from other provinces and territories. Some jurisdictions
permit residents to travel freely for up to 12 consecutive months while others force their residents to be physically
in the province for a minimum of six months a year.
It is up to the federal government to enforce the Canada Health Act and set national standards for health insurance
eligibility. In the absence of national standards, the current patchwork across the country will be allowed to con-
tinue.
Change since last report:
None.
Recommendations:
Within the Canada Health Act, adopt a national standard guaranteeing access to continued
health coverage during extended trips (e.g., up to eight months) and during an unlimited number of short-term
trips (less than one month) anywhere in the world. Coverage would be conditional on the traveller maintaining a
principal residence within the province or territory. Continued coverage during even longer absences should be
permitted subject to government approval. The federal government should then protect and enforce Canadians’
freedom to travel by ensuring all provinces and territories adhere to the new standard.
ACCESS TO EMERGENCY HEALTH COVERAGE WHEN TRAVELLING
B
(2006: D)
One of the fve pillars of the Canada Health Act is portability. Sub-paragraph 11(1)(b)(ii) of the Act clearly establishes
that portability includes emergency health services provided to Canadian residents while outside the country. The
Act states that where emergency 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.”
The intent and purpose of sub-paragraph 11(1)(b)(ii) are clear. Unfortunately, the federal government has shown
an unwillingness to enforce the standard it has set in the Act. Court cases brought by travellers seeking to protect
their entitlements under the Act have been told by the courts that it is up to the federal government to decide
whether the Act has been contravened and whether to impose a penalty on the provinces. The failure of the fed-
eral government to act in this regard is a disappointment to travelling Canadians and undermines the credibility
of their own portability principle.
Government
2006 C
Grade
of Canada