New to Fulltiming

[bgsc]

We sold our sticks and bricks home last Nov.15/10 and started our fulltiming in a new to us 2008 Winnebago Tour (WD) we still have not really woke up to the fact that we are truly fulltiming as we have spent the winters in Florida for the last 4 years and this winter seems the same except for the new coach. We are Canadian (Ontario residents) and in 2011 we are planning a dream trip across Canada starting in August 2011 and returning to Ontario April 2012 we will go first to the west coast of Canada and then work our way through Washington-Oregon-California-Nevada-Arizona- Texas-Louisiana-Alabama and then back into Florida for the winter and then work our way back to Ontario in April 2012. My question is re Ontario Health insurance I have heard that we cannot be out of Ontario/Canada for more than 6 months how could we get around this if possible? anyone done a similar trip or been out of Ontario/Canada for more than 6 months, we both are over 65, appreciate any input

[Arch Hoagland]

How would they know you are out of Canada?

My health insurance company doesn't have a clue where I am located at any given time.

[LPryor]

hi bgsc,
as residents of BC, we're running into the same questions. I know if you have a military pension that you would lose it if you stayed over 6 mo in the US, by reason of residency, and you'd have to do US taxes. I'll have to check to see what our medical coversage is. So our plan is to travel Canada for 6 and a bit, then be able to go south for the remainder. We only decided to become fulltimers last Oct too, but we didn't get off the starting block. We put our property up for sale, and sales are only starting to pick up now. Perhaps an idea would be for you to really enjoy the trip from Ont to BC and don't head down south until late Oct, and just before your 6 mo's is up head for the border. perhaps we'll meet up some day LP

[Hawley]

My husband and I are also new to fulltiming it. We are both over 65. We left our home in Saskatchewan last August 15th and travelled East to the Atlantic Provinces and then south to Florida. We returned to Canada via the West Coast. We stayed in the USA for the 180 days and are now sitting in British Columbia. Due to weather and snow we do not intend to return to Saskatchewan until after May 15th. We have truly had the trip of a lifetime and enjoyed every second of it. But, now we have a huge concern! One that is not making us very happy.

Our problem is that we are only now becoming aware that we may be in contravention of the rules re Healthcare in Canada. IF we are reading the rules correctly we cannot leave Saskatchewan for more than 180 days or the Province could revoke our right to Provincial Healthcare Coverage. We also carry extra Insurance for travel outside the Province through GMS (Group Medical Services) and we wonder how they would react should something happen to either of us at this moment? Would they immediately jump through the loophole (out of the Province for longer than six months) and refuse to cover? Even though they have accepted our Premium(hefty premium) knowing full well that we intended to stay away for almost a year.

I would appreciate any input from anyone on this matter. It seems rather despotic that the Province can tell us now, in retirement, how and when we can leave a Province where we have paid taxes and resided fulltime for most of our lives. In fact, it makes me very very angry. We might only have a few years left in which we will be healthy enough to travel and they would like to constrain us. Highly unfair IMO. My husband and I downsized our assets in Saskatchewan to make this journey but are still taxpayers in that Province.

This explains the problem we have as fulltimers and Canadians:

How Long Can A Canadian Snowbird Stay Out of the Country? | Travel Insurance File

[Hawley]

They know. Every time you cross the border between Canada and the USA it is documented and easily checked. IF you cannot prove you were NOT out of the Province for more than six months you are liable to run into this problem. The onus (apparently) is on YOU to prove you have remained in the Province for at least six months per year. This can be easily checked through Credit Card receipts, etc. Trust me, if they don't know, they can easily find out.