Retiring Abroad: Interprovincial Travel

Travel in the year 2020 has been different than in any other year. Many snowbirds are approaching this winter with apprehension, not sure what their travel plans will look like. This winter, with the prospect of a continued closure of the US/Canada border, interprovincial travel will be more important than ever before.

However, it is important to understand how your provincial health coverage can be affected. We Canadians have the benefit of a great medical system and people are very familiar with purchasing travel medical insurance when leaving Canada. However, some are surprised to find that it can be important to have travel medical insurance even when traveling outside of your home province within Canada. Most provinces do have reciprocal billing arrangements (so make sure to always have your provincial health care with you); however, it is possible that some medical expenses won’t be covered while you are traveling.

Here is a great article on the topic: DO ALBERTANS NEED OUT-OF-PROVINCE MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR TRAVEL IN CANADA?

And here is a link to the Alberta Health website on this topic: HOW LEAVING ALBERTA AFFECTS HEALTH CARE COVERAGE

Please note that as of December 2013, Albertans are now allowed to be outside of the province for up to 212 days (roughly seven months) while still keeping their provincial health coverage intact. This could be a combination of leaving Canada and staying within Canada but leaving the province.