Health Insurance Matters in Canada
350-2083 Alma Street V6R 4N6 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Wishing all our newcomers to Canada, international students and visitors to Canada, a wonderful July 1 Canada Day holiday! DCIS staff will be available for calls and emails Thursday, July 2 from 9:30am.

Medical Services Response during COVID-19. Click on link for the latest information from the Province of BC regarding temporary coverage, waivers on wait-perio...ds, changes to enrolment eligibility, etc. Contact us at DCIS if you have questions or concerns. For updates on other provincial medical plans, please visit the specific government website for each province or territory. https://www2.gov.bc.ca//msp/bc-resid/msp-covid-19-response >>UPDATED APRIL 9, 2020 See more

OFFICES TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO VISITORSbut DCIS is still here to help you! On March 23 our Vancouver and Nanaimo offices were closed to visitors until further ...notice. Please note that all DCIS staff are working remotely and we remain here to help. DCIS serves individual and corporate clients around the world and across Canada, so we are no strangers to supporting our clients over email, telephone, and conferencing over internet. WORKING HOURS: 9:30am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday. Closed weekends and holidays. Please note that the hours of availability can vary by staff member. As our team continues to attend to inquiries and requests for assistance relating to COVID-19, we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience if our response time is delayed. These are trying times for all of us, and we are all in this together. HOW BEST TO CONTACT US WHILE OFFICES REMAIN CLOSED EMAILS We recommend contacting us by Email. Write to [email protected] or directly to the DCIS representative you have had prior correspondence with. PHONES Telephones remain open: Vancouver 604-228-8816 and toll free 1-800-818-3188 Nanaimo 250-924-4429 and toll free 1-888-509-7642 If necessary leave a voicemail message with your name, a brief description of the assistance you need, along with your call back phone number and your email address. Updated 30 October 2020

CANADA ISSUES OFFICIAL GLOBAL TRAVEL ADVISORY On March 13, 2020 Global Affairs Canada published the advisory to Avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada until further notice. This new advisory will have significant implications on most travel / health insurance policies across the marketplace. We recommend regularly monitoring government travel advisories (which change daily) at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

Our friends at the PCHC - Museum of Migration - have let us know about a special event "Philippines Historama | Birth of a Nation" at the Fredric Wood Theatre (UBC campus) on May 25, 2019. Details and ticket info available through the PCHC-MOM website here: https://pchc-mom.ca//feature-event-philippines-historama-/

Jason Cummings interviewed on the Canadian Immigration Podcast, hosted by Mark Holthe, regarding 'must-know' information about Canada's health system for prospective immigrants and temporary residents. Check it out - https://www.canadianimmigrationpodcast.com/be-prepared-for/

It's flu season here in Canada and newcomers are advised to watch for severe symptoms and know when or if you need to see a doctor. See this helpful link for more info. https://www.interiorhealth.ca//Seasonal/Pages/default.aspx

Contact us today if you - or someone close to you - is arriving in Canada for a visit. We'll provide you with thoroughly professional service and advice; helping you avoid a circumstance like this recent one in BC.

CAN INTERIM MEDICAL INSURANCE COVER MY EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION? All travelers, and especially seniors, should take special care to understand insurance terms regarding pre-existing medical conditions. You may feel great and be medically fit to travel according to your doctor, and yet be faced with insurance implications due to health history. Within the same travel plan the terms and conditions can differ according to age, trip length, and classification of medical conditi...on. Some policies exclude pre-existing conditions no matter how long they have been stable. Most plans for Canadian travelers cover an unexpected emergency relating to a pre-existing medical condition, if that condition was ‘stable’ (as defined in the policy) for a specified number of days prior to each date of departure from your home province. The number of days prior to departure that your condition must meet the policy definition of stable ranges from plan to plan, and depend on age, length of trip, and answers to a health questionnaire. Common stability requirements range from 365 days, to 180 days, to 90 days, and a few plans feature a stability requirement as low as 7 days. In any case, a medical change occurring between purchase date and a future travel date can affect coverage, even if you buy a ‘multi-trip annual plan.’ What constitutes a medical change? It can be a bout of new or worsening symptoms, the need for medical consultation (other than a routine check-up), a change in treatment/medication, or having a medical test (or test results) pending on the return from your trip. Get the full story about coverage of pre-existing conditions, select the plan with the best possible terms, and inquire with our team of David Cummings Insurance Services professionals if concerned about how a ‘medical change’ affects coverage on your next trip.

Mabuhay! DCIS is delighted to be a sponsor for the 120th Philippine Independence celebrations at Richmond City Hall Plaza on Saturday, June 9th, 9am to 12pm.

Which immigration program is the best fit for you? Answer a few questions to explore your options with our Come to Canada tool: https://goo.gl/DHGsSf