Snowbirds now able to be away from B.C. for seven months
BC snowbirds or any long-term traveler will now be able to stay outside Canada for seven months while maintaining their provincial health insurance. Photo courtesy snowbirds.org.
Snowbirds in B.C., or any long-term traveller for that matter, will now be able to remain outside of the province for a longer period of time and still keep their provincial health insurance intact.
The change to provincial legislation came this week and will allow B.C. residents to stay outside Canada for a total of seven months in a year still keep their health insurance.
The changes were strongly advocated by the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) which is a 144,000-member association of Canadian snowbirds.
B.C. promised a change in the law in December, according to CSA president Bob Slack.
The latest changes have loosened residency requirements, and extended the period a traveller can be on vacation outside B.C. by 30 days.
“The Canadian Snowbird Association requested that we extend the six-month residency requirement for Medical Services Plan coverage,” said health minister Margaret MacDiarmid. “Our government listened to them, and we are making the change to permit more flexibility.”
Slack thanked the BC Liberal government for keeping its promise by introducing a change that will benefit approximately 144,000 snowbirds.
“On behalf of the members of the Canadian Snowbird Association, I would like to express our gratitude to Premier Christy Clark and the Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid for keeping their commitment, made in December, to introduce this legislation,” said the CSA president.
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Previously, British Columbians could remain outside the country for only a total of six months annually before losing their basic medical coverage.
This compared badly to Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario which have regulations that allow their residents to be outside their province for more than six months in a year while maintaining their coverage.
A consequence of the old law was that it often pushed up medical insurance costs for frequent travellers and those with homes in another country.
The latest changes will help many of them.
“This legislation and the related regulations, when passed, will allow the estimated 144,000 snowbirds, who call British Columbia their permanent home, to travel south during the cold months and still have time to visit family and friends in Canada and around the world without fear of losing their B.C. medical coverage,” said Slack.