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Health Insurance for Canadian Immigrants
One of the first things you'll want to do after arriving is
apply for health insurance cards for every member of your
family. Applications are available in many places, including
doctor's offices and pharmacies. These cards allow you to
receive care through the Canadian health insurance program for
the following services:
· Examination and treatment by physicians and most specialists
· Many types of surgery
· Hospitalization
· X-rays and laboratory tests
· Immunizations
You will not have to pay for these services, these expenses are
covered by the taxes that you will be paying as a working
Canadian permanent resident.
In most provinces in Canada , you can begin receiving medical
coverage as soon as you apply. In Ontario , Quebec , New
Brunswick , and British Columbia , however, you must wait
3-months from the date you apply for your coverage to begin. In
the meantime, short-term health insurance is available through
private companies.
You may also want to ask potential employers about their health
coverage options as well. Many employers provide additional
health insurance benefits that cover expenses, such as
prescription drugs and dental care.
Social Insurance Number
Before you begin working in Canada , you need to have a Social
Insurance Number (SIN). This 9-digit number is used to help you
receive the social benefits you are entitled to as a Canadian
permanent resident and to ensure that you are paying taxes to
help support those benefits.
To apply for a SIN, you should visit a local office of the Human
Resources and Skills Development (HRSD) to complete an
application. You should also bring along your Permanent Resident
card to proof your identity and your residency status.
The cost of application is $10, and it takes about three weeks
for you to receive your card.
You can begin working before your receive your SIN card,
however. You simply need to provide your employer with proof
that you have applied.
Employment
In most cases, you will also want to begin searching for work
almost immediately. It is possible to have a position lined up
even before you apply for permanent resident status, but chances
are that you'll be unemployed when you first arrive.
Depending on the type of work you are searching for, you may
first need to apply for permission to engage in that profession.
In Canada , some careers are classified as regulated fields.
These fields included doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. In order
to obtain work in these areas, you will need to contact the
regulatory office in the province where you intend to work. The
regulations vary from province to province. The regulatory board
will have to evaluate your experience and credentials then
decide whether you need to take further steps to meet their
standards.
Some trades, such as carpenter or plumber, are also considered
to be regulated. Therefore, you must make sure that you have the
appropriate licensing before attempting to work in those fields.
Carpentry and plumbing, as well as 43 other trades, are
considered Red Seal Trades. This means that the regulations for
that trade are the same in all provinces. Therefore, if you are
a licensed welder in Quebec , you can also do that type of work
in New Brunswick without having to go through another
assessment.
Fortunately, the majority of jobs in Canada are non-regulated,
so you can begin searching for a position in your chosen field
as soon as you arrive.
One of the best ways to find a position in Canada is to use the
Job Bank service. This online site allows you to post up to 3
employee profiles that can be viewed by employers. You can also
view postings placed by employers throughout Canada . The daily
newspapers in all of the provinces also include job listings.
About the author:
Alex Berez is author of Step-by-Step Immigration to Canada.
Download your free Canadian immigration report from:
http://www.stepbystepimmigrationcanada.com
For Detailed Health Insurance Plans Facts:
2003 Act California Health Insurance
Student Health Insurance Plan California
Childrens Health Insurance Plan
Low Cost Health Insurance Ga