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🥳🇨🇦 Canada Connect family is finally over 150 members strong 🇨🇦 🥳

In our last newsletter we mentioned that we are close to 150 members. Well, we have finally crossed that number and achieved this milestone, thanks to readers like you🤘🏻🤝. We can’t wait to cross many more milestones like this, with you, in our journey🏁. Read on👇🏼

We're back with another informative edition of our newsletter! This time, we're diving into a crucial aspect of your life in Canada: navigating health and wellness services. Staying healthy and taking care of your well-being is essential for a successful journey as an international student. Let's explore the resources and tips that will help you navigate the field of health and wellness.

While healthcare is free in Canada, it is only free after you are on your PGWP. As a student, you might have to pay a monthly fee in your province to access medical services. For instance, in BC it is called Medical Services Plan (MSP). The medical services are used when you need to go to the hospital due an accident or you are sick and need medical attention, need to get x-ray reports, ECG reports, etc. You do have an option of cancelling this coverage and saving the monthly fees. However, make sure that you have an alternate third party medical coverage ready. The cost of accessing even the basic medical services and obtaining any report is very very expensive. At the Abbotsford hospital, if you don’t have MSP coverage, the cost of a doctor consultation is over $355 plus whatever reports will be required. In our opinion, it is best recommended to include the monthly medical fee in your monthly budget to avoid any last minute major expenses. Check out your province’s health services here: Canada’s Provincial Health Plans - What Does Your Province Cover? (sbis.ca)

Many provincial health plans like BC’s MSP, offer the option of deferring your monthly fees and letting the amount collect in your account. For example, if you are unable to pay $75 fee every month, you can select the deferred payment option by logging into your account and navigating to the payments section. This means that $75 will be added to your outstanding dues every month and the amount will keep getting bigger. There is no rush for you to pay the amount immediately. The government will still provide you all the services as if you were paying the monthly fees. Once you have enough money, you will need to clear out the outstanding dues. If you don’t pay the dues, you will not be allowed to update your account when you move from study permit to work permit. Use this option very carefully as the amount could increase very fast if you don’t regularly pay it off.

There are many walk-in clinics throughout the country that offer free consultation. All you need is your PHN number found on your health card. For example, website like 123clinic is local clinic website that provides services in Abbotsford and Surrey. There also other websites/apps like My health access which connect you to your local medical centre or hospital regardless of where you are in Canada and hence can be used by anyone. To find out such services in your area, simply google “walk-in clinics near me”. Remember, walk-in clinics are funded the government and they should not be charging you a single dollar, even if the service includes getting reports. The only thing you need to pay is for prescription medications that you buy from pharmacies.

As you might know, almost every grocery store has a pharmacy inside where you can pick your prescriptions from. But did you know that there are also other pharmacies that provide generic medicines at a much lower price? Universities all over Canada have tie ups with such pharmacies where you can use your student ID and get a discount on already affordable medicines. Start by looking up on your university’s website to see what pharmacies does it have tie-ups with. Then while consulting with the doctor, ask for you prescription to be filled at that pharmacy. Done! Just walk in into that pharmacy and your prescription will be ready.

Extended medical services mainly include eye care, dental and hearing solutions. If you need powered glasses, you certainly know how expensive they are in Canada. Tests alone are between $50-$100. However, most university plans have this expense covered. The insurance type is retroactive, which means you need to pay upfront and then submit the receipt along with your test results to get the money back. Same for glasses, your university’s extended plan will cover up to $200-$300. Another good idea is to always check what benefits does your workplace offer. Even if you work full time at a grocery store or warehouse, eye exams and prescription glasses up to certain amounts are covered. Make sure to take advantage of these benefits while you are still working at your current job. You can start by asking your supervisor/manager to simply guide you on where to find updated information regarding the extended benefits.

Remember to always ask questions for doubts/concerns you have, be it at the university or workplace. Your health and wellbeing is your top priority and you need to make use of every resource you have available. As always, DM us anytime on social media with your questions @canada__connect.

Featured place of the month

With the transit finally opening up in Abbotsford, we decided it’s time to broaden the location of our featured places. Deer Lake Park is situated in a peaceful natural environment that serves as the cultural centre of the city. Leisurely walking trails with scenic views connect the lake and there are boats and kayaks available on rentals. It is truly a fun experience if you are in the city. For more information click here: Deer Lake Park, Burnaby

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Immigration services

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