Graduating soon, need Insurance! Help!

[Maddogg]

Well for the last 4 years my medical supplies have been covered by my health insurance plan provided to full time students by my college. But once May rolls around my coverage will stop and i'll have to get my own insurance (or pay the consequences). I have an appointment with doctors in early april and hopefully they can point me in the right direction but i don't want to wait that long.

So how does one with T1 proceed to get insurance if its not offered by your employer? I'd love to get a government job (which would solve my problem) but the odds of that are slim right out of college. I've looked at a few insurance companies and none offer coverage to diabetics it seems.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because i really don't feel like forking over 3500$ a year to the man, just on diabetic supplies!

[Mark C]

I thought Canada had health care for all? (Seriously, notwithstanding slight note of sarcasm in my thoughts.)

[duck]

If CA is anything like the USA (again, not joking around, I'm not sure), then IF you have insurance now you should be able to "port" it if your circumstance changes...ie, you graduate, so you should be able to pay for the insurance you have now (as opposed to your school paying for it). Does that make sense? I'd call your current insurer and get info on what it would cost for you to pick them up and what the procedure is.

[Maddogg]

Yea Canada has free health care for all its citizens. Things like seeing a doctor, getting some tests done, or getting treated (such as surgery...) is all free, but you may still have to pay for medication and medical supplies, especially if you don't have health insurance. Diabetic supplies aren't covered by our federal or provincial health care system as far as i know.

And I cannot start paying for the insurance plan i have with my college, the policy only covers full time and some part time students. And i'm suppose to graduate in April.

Has anyone here been able to get health insurance after being diagnosed with T1? If your employer has a health insurance plan provided to you than forget about that question.

[Mark C]

There's my bubble burst... The doc is free, but the meds are outlandish as ever!

[Maddogg]

There's my bubble burst... The doc is free, but the meds are outlandish as ever!


Meds are still cheaper here than in the US, why do you think so many americans come up here to buy drugs, and not just legal drugs!

[KickStart101]

Hey Maddog: Good for you for being close to Graduation. You didn't
say what field. Yes, that has always been a sin as far as encouraging
a Student to Graduate from High School and College(looks good in their books) but not much help in getting a job in whatever field you have
chosen. It's always a plus that you are a Graduate, however.
You haven't said much about your circumstances, i.e. living at home
with Parents who can pay for your meds 'til you get a job, etc. Contacts
are Very important, friends, Family who work at Companies, Networking,
going to job fairs, getting to know people in business, etc.
From the little I know about you, you may have to go on Social
Assistance/Welfare/Ontario Works whatever you want to call it since you have no income or I assume. They or E.I. (I think they both
have a course for writing a good resume, how to present yourself professionately at an interview, etc. There are temp. jobs which can become
permanent(no one knows), apply at RHI in the field you are looking for, many are Govt. jobs. Do not expect the Big Salary that you expect, you have NO experience. Did you do any co-op? That is usually helpful in experience. Your Good salary expectation doesn't happen unless you are permanent a few years, increase into higher up courses, have contacts or Graduate from University(co-op more helpful). Of course, this does not apply to all jobs, depending on the field you have chosen and the Education needed.

Check these out: http://www.canada.ca, www.drugcoverage.ca, oh and
if youhave a Disability(Diabetes doesn't count, not sure why?) or have 1/8
at least Aboriginal in you you can qualify for free drugs and are tax exempt,
if you can prove it of course, since they were here first(:D I agree). Do the
best you can, apply everywhere, that you would want to work, many Companies do not even advertise that they need an employee, just knowing
some Lucky Dawg will leave them a resume. Best of Luck. :)
have Graduated from University wth high marks and again

[KickStart101]

I forgot to mention that we spent the week-end in Kingston last August.
Nice City. Of course, we took the ferry to Wolfe Island also. Had a Good time all around. :)

Sorry, it was too late to remove that last sentence in my first post. . Please disregard.

[Maddogg]

Thanks kickstart, i can tell you a little bit more about myself.
I live with in an apartment with my girlfriend, graduating in civil engineering, did 2 semesters of coop at the local conservation authority (one of 35 or so, in Ontario). Interested in the field of resource management, more precisely, land and water management, or lack thereof; certainly a rising and alarming concern for many nations. I still really don't know what position i would like in that field though.

My g/f is also in school, she works almost full time, i work part time but had plenty of money saved up from last summer and have been getting help from my folks a lot. I also have plenty of investements, mostly stockmarket; software, and oil; and i also invested in gold (always a safe bet). But those all have to sit and wait for now

[KickStart101]

Hi Again Maddogg: Been off for a while, hope that you are still around.
Your Welcome. :) Looks like I was in err about your info in 2 ways. Good
for you. You've done well.
As far as for Insurance(wasn't sure if you found any), I wandered over
to www.diabetes.ca and read some of it quick and I believe it said on the first page that the Canadian Diabetes Association and Ingle Health(website at bottom of page) got together so they can supply Insurance for Diabetics(I'm assuming cheaper than normal Companies or why
mention it. Manulife was mentioned also, I believe. I have to go back and read over the whole site when I get a chance.
I also came upon a site: http://www.cda.ca, I know it's about dams, but they are also a big part of land and water
conservation. Get yourself a $30.(Individual) or $5.00(Student since you are one)membership and do some networking there. They probably have meetings you could attend(hopefully in your area)and let people know who you are and what you're looking for. You might get some good out of it. There are many other companies also as you know aside from the one you did co-op at.
I hope that you are doing well and I applaud you for your Important
choice of careers. :thumbsup: Get involved and Best of Luck to you. ;)