Rant: what would you do in this situation - a complex situation of immigration and healthcare

The Coffee Shop
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Rant on several levels, spectacular failings of government departments resulting in huge cost for me in healthcare.

I’m currently on work visa in Canada. I’m Australian. My wife is Canadian and three kids are Canadian/Australian.

My work permit was expiring 15th feb. submitted paperwork for extension early dec. was not reviewed until late March and then rejected due to incorrect form - asked to resubmit with correct form.

Gripe 1: Canadian website says submit 30 days prior but takes 3.5 months to review a submission.

Gripe 2: incorrect form (missing 1 field actually) - no chance for adjustment, had to resubmit.

As extension took so long, my first permit expired. So I had to apply for restoration and extension. Pay extra fees. Submitted late March. Still no response. ETA on website lists 99 days to review.

Gripe 3: as per above.

Although I’m allowed to stay in Canada whilst this is being reviewed.

I snapped my Achilles’ tendon Monday, surgeon Tuesday - clarified with two separate hospitals, 6 staff in various departments - that I was still covered for medical. They all went off to check, all confirmed yes. This was everyone from admin staff, admission staff (who checked very carefully - took her 30 mins), accounts staff, as well as surgical staff.

Decision to have surgery rather than go non-operative route was based on the fact that I was covered.

Got a call today to advise I was not covered and would be receiving invoices in mail. Unsure on amount as yet. Expecting a lot.

Gripe 4: obvious really.

Turns out healthcare is cancelled at expiration date of first work permit, which was expired well before government even looked at it and then I had to resubmit due to clerical error.

And I’m still on morphine for post operative pain so can’t even have a fucking scotch.

What a shit afternoon.

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I work for the federal gov’t (different department than you are dealing with).

Yeah - sorry about that. Paperwork is a bitch, even within the government.

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Rant on several levels, spectacular failings of government departments resulting in huge cost for me in healthcare.

I’m currently on work visa in Canada. I’m Australian. My wife is Canadian and three kids are Canadian/Australian.

My work permit was expiring 15th feb. submitted paperwork for extension early dec. was not reviewed until late March and then rejected due to incorrect form - asked to resubmit with correct form.

Gripe 1: Canadian website says submit 30 days prior but takes 3.5 months to review a submission.

Gripe 2: incorrect form (missing 1 field actually) - no chance for adjustment, had to resubmit.

As extension took so long, my first permit expired. So I had to apply for restoration and extension. Pay extra fees. Submitted late March. Still no response. ETA on website lists 99 days to review.

Gripe 3: as per above.

Although I’m allowed to stay in Canada whilst this is being reviewed.

I snapped my Achilles’ tendon Monday, surgeon Tuesday - clarified with two separate hospitals, 6 staff in various departments - that I was still covered for medical. They all went off to check, all confirmed yes. This was everyone from admin staff, admission staff (who checked very carefully - took her 30 mins), accounts staff, as well as surgical staff.

Decision to have surgery rather than go non-operative route was based on the fact that I was covered.

Got a call today to advise I was not covered and would be receiving invoices in mail. Unsure on amount as yet. Expecting a lot.

Gripe 4: obvious really.

Turns out healthcare is cancelled at expiration date of first work permit, which was expired well before government even looked at it and then I had to resubmit due to clerical error.

And I’m still on morphine for post operative pain so can’t even have a fucking scotch.

What a shit afternoon.

First step I suppose would be to review everything you may have signed, fine print and all. Second step, to the best of your ability write down the timeline from moment of injury to phone call…every single detail. Third step call these guys:

https://www.healthequity.ca/about-us/

They will likely have advice and resources to help you.

Sorry about your situation, Len on here is a Canadian doctor and may have some input.

Maurice

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Thank you for the link, will give them a call in the morning to see if they have advice.

Have pretty good time line for discussions with medical staff and associates evidence/witnesses to discussions so that’ll be easy to assemble.

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Personally, I’d go ahead and have that Scotch anyway. You’re tougher than the avg bear; the risk of liver damage from the occasional, non-chronic or excessive tag is minor, even though the risk managers have to buff up the disclaimers & warnings just as a CYA habit.

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I sent my daughters paperwork to Irish passport office in Feb

Heard nothing

Called Irish embassy in April to ask if they’d received it

They called back and said they stopped opening post in February so they didn’t know and they suggested if I had not heard from them by Sept to call back…

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I don’t know what the solution would be. It sounds like paying the bill will be substantial hardship for you. The surgeon might be sympathetic to your plight and offer discount but the hospital (where the major cost of the bill will come from) less likely to be so. It would be an outpt procedure likely so the bill may not be as high as you think have you got bill yet and what is the total? What province are you in?

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I sent my daughters paperwork to Irish passport office in Feb

Heard nothing

Called Irish embassy in April to ask if they’d received it

They called back and said they stopped opening post in February so they didn’t know and they suggested if I had not heard from them by Sept to call back…

The Irish Embassy in France? Oh boy

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Hey Len

Haven’t seen invoices yet. They wouldn’t disclose cost over the phone. This was when talking to lass from accounts at the hospital.

Living in BC.

I’ll be talking to the various departments and staff who advised I would be ok and seeing what comes of it, don’t expect much.

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Do you have any or all of these confirmations you were covered in writing? That makes your case much stronger.

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Also call the Australian Embassy or consulate and see if they can help
.

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Once you know the damages schedule a consultation with a Canadian lawyer. In the meantime start researching the theories of reasonable/detrimental reliance and negligent misrepresentation as applicable under Canadian law.

Alternatively, video yourself lighting the invoices on fire and email that to the billing department. See if they have the balls to sue you under these circumstances and vigorously defend that suit if they do.

  • non of the above should be construed as legal advice. Postings in slow twitch and other message boards are for informational purposes only. They are neither legal advice nor opinions and information acquired via the internet should never be relied on without the advice of a practitioner licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction.
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  • non of the above should be construed as legal advice. Postings in slow twitch and other message boards are for informational purposes only. They are neither legal advice nor opinions and information acquired via the internet should never be relied on without the advice of a practitioner licensed in the appropriate jurisdiction.

Not entertainment purposes?

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I don’t know what the solution would be. It sounds like paying the bill will be substantial hardship for you. The surgeon might be sympathetic to your plight and offer discount but the hospital (where the major cost of the bill will come from) less likely to be so. It would be an outpt procedure likely so the bill may not be as high as you think have you got bill yet and what is the total? What province are you in?

Does he not have inherent rights under the charter of rights re “security of person” ?

IE does he not have the right to informed choice or consent? It should have been easy for the hospital to verify beforehand if he was covered. If not covered then the hospital should have said “sorry you’re screwed, you can pay XYZ for surgery or do rehab, or get a quote from a private clinic”

Not sure, I’m in way over my head if we’re talking about charter issues.

Maurice

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Unfortunately not but several witnesses on each occasion.

I’ll drop the AUS embassy a note if it gets that far - don’t want to cause that much of an uproar (and it’ll prob take months for a response from them anyways)

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The only thing I know about the work visa health coverage thing is my experience with taking care of Jamacian farm workers. I am in Ontario. They have provincial health insurance coverage which I believe the employer pays for and I think it is a condition of them working here because the gov’t doesn’t want to get stuck with the healthcare bills if they have something major happen. If it did once out of hospital they likely would be on first plane home not because they are bad guys just couldn’t afford to pay.

If you were working at the time the injury happened there may have been an obligation for your employer to make sure you had coverage. From sounds of your story you were not because first work visa expired and you were applying for extension. As for being assured you were covered and later being told you were not I guess it would be a legal matter if it ever came to it.

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Unfortunately not but several witnesses on each occasion.

I’ll drop the AUS embassy a note if it gets that far - don’t want to cause that much of an uproar (and it’ll prob take months for a response from them anyways)

Yes, but imagine the War of Helliquin’s ankle being right up there with the War of Jenkin’s ear

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Ha, yep. The number of fucks they’d give would be minimal.

I was surprised to learn that whilst the countries have reciprocal tax systems, they don’t have reciprocal healthcare.

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Have query open with employer on health coverage.

Im in a grey area where I can stay here but whilst my status is being determined, Im not covered. Shame that determination takes forever with no way of expediting it. Cant even speak to a human at immigration (“we are experiencing higher than average call volume and cannot take your call at this time” for 4 days straight now)

I certainly dont want to take legal action, it didnt even cross my mind until my mother in law suggested it. I’ll be raising the issue with the appropriate staff at each institution but unlikely it’ll change. Cant imagine it happens that often.

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Damn emigrants. Stay in your own country and you would not have this problem… LOL

Seriously that sucks.