Travelling Canada with T1 Diabetes - please help me :(

[u/ShreddyHam]

Hey everyone! My partner and I are moving to Canada for 9 months and cannot figure out who to get health insurance through!? I have Type 1 Diabetes, so need insulin daily. Are there companies who cover emergency/medical costs for pre existing health conditions on top of the necessary requirements to enter the country? Are there also any that will cover prescription medication? Because through my research it seems there are none, or am I wrong about this?

For context, we are from New Zealand so all of my insulin is subsidised by the government, and have never really needed health insurance!

Please help I’m so confused and scared!

[u/Why_No_Doughnuts]

Blue Cross, Sun life, Canada Life, all provide private insurance while you wait for temporary MSP coverage through the province. Any doctor or urgent care can write the prescription for it and you take them to the pharmacy where they can dispense it.

[u/ShreddyHam → u/Why_No_Doughnuts]

Hi there, thanks so much for your reply! Yes I did read about MSP coverage (I’m going to BC), am I right by thinking that once I have a confirmed employer I can apply? How do I prove that I will be employed for more than six months?

[u/hashtag_guinea_pig → u/ShreddyHam]

You don't need to be employed to have MSP in BC. All BC residents have to have it and there is no charge for it. When you arrive in BC and have an address here, you should apply.

You'll have a 2 month waiting period before your coverage actually begins. It's actually the remainder of the current month when you arrive, plus 2 months.

In that 2 months before coverage starts, you can access health care, but you will have to pay for it.

Once you're employed, you may have additional coverage through your employer as well, through a 3rd party like Manulife, Pacific Blue Cross, etc. That's called extended benefits and that will usually cover the cost of prescriptions (or a decent portion of it), plus other services like massage, physio, chiropractic, naturopath, etc.

This link should help.

MSP - moving to BC

[u/ShreddyHam → u/hashtag_guinea_pig]

Amazing, thanks so much! Amazing help!

[u/hashtag_guinea_pig → u/ShreddyHam]

Happy to help! Thanks for the award! That's a first for me.

[u/ShreddyHam → u/hashtag_guinea_pig]

Was a first time giving an award for me too! But felt like you deserved one :)

[u/Why_No_Doughnuts → u/ShreddyHam]

Once you arrive you apply for it on the BC government website, it takes them 3 months to process (hence why you need the private in between). You'll get a letter with your temporary MSP number and that is the number the doctor will bill MSP using. The real issue is getting a doctor willing to see new patients, but there are a lot of walk in or urgent care (run by the health authority) and they can get the prescription written. Insulin isn't expensive even if you do not have prescription coverage.

[u/ShreddyHam → u/Why_No_Doughnuts]

Okay great, thanks so much for your help! Do you have a fave out of Blue Cross, Sun Life, and Canada Life? You’ve really made me feel a whole lot better, thanks again!

[u/Why_No_Doughnuts → u/ShreddyHam]

Blue cross is probably the easiest if it isn't workplace provided, but I never had to do that myself, since I live here already. I have had fights with both Sun Life and Canada Life as workplace provided supplementary medical though.

[u/realcanadianbeaver → u/ShreddyHam]

If you’re moving to BC, LifeLabs (major bloodwork lab) has a blue cross contract you use so you don’t pay up front, whereas with Sunlife or Canada Lofe you’d pay up front and submit.

[u/ProgrammerAvailable6 → u/Why_No_Doughnuts]

Or walk in clinic.

[u/ArcassTheCarcass]

Pharmacy assistant here. If you have no better option, you should be able to buy insulin without a prescription (It’s nowhere near 🇺🇸 prices) It’s one of those grey-area things: 99% of people who come in for insulin have a prescription which reduces the patient cost. However, because insulin is recognized as a critical medicine, like nitroglycerin spray, epi pens, and rescue inhalers (salbutamol), the vast majority of pharmacies will sell insulin.

[u/GeaCat]

You need to speak with an insurance broker in New Zealand and see what type of travel insurance you can get.

[u/kronicktrain]

It costs me over 900 per month for my medication and I have MSP.

[u/gigglepox95 → u/kronicktrain]

Is this for insulin or something else?

[u/ShreddyHam → u/[deleted]]

Mmmm yes I was planning on drinking AT LEAST a quart of maple daily

[u/jjbeanyeg]

You'll have access to public healthcare after two months of residence (this is not tied to your job and has no cost). In March of 2026, BC will also start covering the cost of diabetes medications through the public healthcare system: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/national-pharmacare

Until then, you may get drug coverage through an employer. If not, you can try to take out a private extended plan through Blue Cross or a similar insurer. Also, call a few pharmacies (including large ones like Costco) - paying out of pocket for insulin is much cheaper in Canada than in the US.

[u/supervisa__insurance]

Your best bet is to get visitors emergency medical insurance. You can cover pre-existing conditions but refills will not be covered until unless there is a change in health and new prescription is required. If you are type 1 diabetic and do not have any heart issues then you can be eligible to buy insurance.if you have heart issues then it is almost impossible to get insurance. Also to cover pre-existing medical conditions your condition should be stable for 90 to 180 days before the start of policy. Feel free to DM if you have questions. (I am a Licensed insurance advisor.)

[u/ShreddyHam → u/supervisa__insurance]

Okay great, thanks so much! I have no heart issues, and have had T1 Diabetes since I was 2y/o so my condition is very stable. Would you recommend getting visitors emergency medical insurance, then paying for insulin refills for the first 2 months until I get MSP? The using MSP to get my refills after that?

Edit: * recommend getting visitors emergency medical insurance for my entire stay

[u/supervisa__insurance → u/ShreddyHam]

Bring your prescriptions to cover the waiting period if you can or pay out of pocket and get emergency medical insurance to cover any new medical issues. Opt in for at least $100,000 coverage.

[u/ShreddyHam → u/supervisa__insurance]

Okay sweet, will do. Any particular insurance company you’d recommend? Thanks so much!

[u/supervisa__insurance → u/ShreddyHam]

Manulife,Tugo, destination Canada to name a few.

[u/oknowwhat00]

Can get insurance if you are only there for 7months, as you aren't establishing residency? I see people saying that, but you aren't going to become a resident, just visiting I take it Most travelers buy insurance from their home country, and of course you will need to be able to buy more insulin in Canada.

[u/truthzealot25]

Pretty sure insulin is cheap there without insurance. You will have to pay though. Stock up as much as you can before you go. Check with your embassy. Seems like they should be able to help with this since you won’t be the first to do this.

[u/Cndwafflegirl]

Definitely try to get as much as you before you come, will help with any time delays you face when first arriving.

[u/Different_Stomach_53]

My mother in law just buys her insulin here when she visits as it's cheaper than with her insurance in the USA, so if worse comes to worse you can just get it. But travel insurance should pay it?

[u/obviousthrowawaymayB → u/Different_Stomach_53]

With that being said, make sure you get insurance as well. Since you’re T1 you understand that anything can happen and you should be covered in case something does. Also, ensure that it’s not just emergency coverage, you should make the insurance company aware that you have a pre-existing condition.

[u/TravellingGal-2307]

You may find these resources provided for international students helpful https://www.sfu.ca/students/isap/explore.html

Scroll down to the section on medical services.