Canada’s Universal Healthcare Does Not Cover All Visitors to Alberta
Alberta is perhaps one of the most beautiful provinces in all of Canada. Each year millions of visitors flock to the many man-made and natural attractions. The West Edmonton Mall is a popular destination. And, the Calgary Stampede is always packed with attendees. K-Days is also constantly growing. The natural attractions that garner the most visitors are Wood Buffalo National Park, Columbia Icefield, and Elk Island National Park. Unfortunately, for those who do not have Alberta visitors insurance, the trip of a lifetime can turn into a nightmare.
Universal healthcare in Canada is a beautiful thing. Through the various provincial plans, residents essentially have all of their medical costs covered. They never see a bill. Unfortunately, this free coverage does not always follow Canadian travelers as they go to other provinces or leave the country all together. For those instances when travelers are coming to Alberta from outside of the province, it is smart to get Alberta visitors insurance.
Canadians Visiting Alberta
When Canadians travel to Alberta, most of the time, they are covered by a reciprocal agreement between Alberta and your home province. The only exception is the Quebecois. But, we will talk about them later. So, why would anyone in Canada who is covered by their provincial health care plan want to get Alberta visitors insurance? This is because there are a variety of exclusions that the inter-provincial agreement do not cover. These include
Care from alternative care providers, such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, naturopaths, and massage therapists
· Routine dental care
· Ambulance services
· Medical transport back to your home province
· Prescriptions
Quebecois and Foreign Visitors to Alberta
Though Alberta has a wonderful healthcare system, it comes at a high cost. Residents pay for it with taxes. As a visitor from Quebec or abroad, you will be expected to pay for it out of pocket if you do not happen to have Alberta visitors insurance. These costs are no laughing matter. A hospital stay in Alberta can cost you upwards of $4,000 per day. This does not include the costs for the specialists’ services or for ambulance transportation. These are expenses that could haunt you for long years after your trip.
One way to put your mind at ease and guarantee you will be able to enjoy your trip stress free is to buy Alberta visitors insurance. There are a variety of plans available if you go through the right broker. pucherinsurance.com has the resources and relationships with insurance carriers to get you quotes that fit your needs. pucherinsurance.com takes your health history and coverage needs into consideration when they find a selection of policies for you to choose from.
Vacationers to Alberta are not the only ones who would benefit from visitors insurance. Anyone who is visiting Alberta, even if it is just for a day, can benefit from spending a couple bucks a day to be covered. This includes those who are travelling for a business meeting, new arrivals who are waiting to get enrolled in Alberta’s provincial health care, foreign students studying at the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, or any of the other world class schools in the area, or Canadian expatriates.
The beautiful thing is that pucherinsurance.com can find policies for just about anyone. For example, if you have preexisting conditions, you should still contact us to find out if we can find a plan for you. If your condition has been stable for a certain period of time, then in all likelihood, you will be able to sign up for a reasonable priced policy.