Benefits
Eligibility for Health Benefits
Saskatchewan
Residents
If you make your home in Saskatchewan and you ordinarily
live in the province at least six months a year, you
are eligible for Saskatchewan health benefits. Everyone
must be registered with Health Registration at Saskatchewan
Health to be eligible for benefits.
Health benefits for members of the Canadian Forces,
RCMP and inmates of federal penitentiaries are covered
under federal government programs. But their spouses
and dependents are eligible for the provincial coverage
and must register with Saskatchewan Health.
Saskatchewan Health issues a health services card to
each family member once applications are approved. The
card is mailed just prior to the effective date of coverage.
If your card is lost or damaged, please phone or write
Saskatchewan Health immediately for a replacement. The
branch should also be contacted if any of this information
changes:
- Address and telephone number
- Incorrect spelling of name (s) or name change
- Incorrect date of birth (proof of age needed)
- Marriages, divorces and other marital status
- Births or deaths
- Other changes to family status
- Child attending school out-of-province
- Extended vacation or absence of three months or
more
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If you are moving to Saskatchewan
If you are new to Saskatchewan and have come from another
part of Canada, you must register
for health coverage. As a general rule, coverage
will begin on the first day of the third calendar month
following the date you established residency here. (This
excludes people who are eligible for benefits under
other Saskatchewan or federal programs).
For example, if you established residency in Saskatchewan
September 27th, Saskatchewan Health would begin to cover
you on December 1st.
You will have no interruption in health coverage if
you move within Canada, as your home province covers
you until your Saskatchewan benefits take effect.
Married/Common-law couples
A. If you arrive in Saskatchewan and your spouse doesn't
arrive with you, but joins you within 12 months of your
arrival, Saskatchewan Health begins coverage for both
of you starting the first day of the third calendar
month following the arrival of your spouse in the province.
B. If your spouse does not join you within the 12-month
period, coverage eligibility in Saskatchewan will differ.
For example, if you arrived in Saskatchewan January
1st, 1999 and your spouse joins you in June 2000, Saskatchewan
Health begins your coverage January 1st 2000, and your
spouse's coverage September 1st, 2000.
In both situations, your former province of residence
will continue to cover you while you're in Saskatchewan
pending the beginning of Saskatchewan coverage.
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Students (Residents of
Other Provinces)
If you are a resident of another Canadian province
attending school in Saskatchewan, your home province
covers your health costs. You should continue to maintain
coverage with your home province or territory.
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Special Classes of Newcomers
Saskatchewan Health covers health services for certain
special classes of newcomers from outside Canada who
move to Saskatchewan on or before the first day of the
third calendar month after arriving in Canada. If you
are among the groups identified below, you may be eligible
for benefits from the date you move to Saskatchewan:
- international students
- landed immigrants
- people discharged from the Canadian Forces and the
RCMP
- non-immigrants who are in Canada in connection with
their trade or profession
- returning spouse of a Canadian Forces member
- returning Canadian citizens
- returning residents
To register
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If You Move from Saskatchewan
If you leave Saskatchewan to set up residency elsewhere,
your Saskatchewan health services card is valid for
only the balance of the month you move plus the next
two full months.
For example, if you leave Saskatchewan to move to another
province September 27th, Saskatchewan Health ends your
Saskatchewan coverage November 30th.
You should provide Saskatchewan Health Registration
with your new address and the date you will be leaving
the province. In addition, you should register for benefits
in your new province of residence immediately upon arrival.
Married/Common-law couples:
A. If you leave Saskatchewan and your spouse does not
leave with you, but joins you within 12 months of your
departure, Saskatchewan Health covers both of you until
the end of the second month following the month your
spouse leaves the province.
For example, if you leave Saskatchewan to move to another
province January 1st and your spouse joins you on June
10th, Saskatchewan Health continues to cover both of
you until August 31st.
B. If your spouse does not join you within the 12-month
period, the coverage periods for both of you will differ.
For example, if you leave Saskatchewan to move to another
province January 1st, 2000 and your spouse joins you
June 10th, 2001, Saskatchewan Health covers you for
the period January 1st, 2000 to December 31st, 2000,
and your spouse for the period January 1st, 2000 through
August 31st, 2001.
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If you are Temporarily Away
from Saskatchewan
Under certain circumstances, you may retain limited
coverage while away for up to one year provided you
intend to return here to live.
In all situations where you will be temporarily absent
from the province for more than three months, you must
advise Saskatchewan Health Registration of:
- the date you intend to leave Saskatchewan
- the reason for your absence
- your intended return date
Following any extended absence from the province,
you need to contact Saskatchewan Health to ensure that
your card is still active and you are entitled to benefits.
If you obtain a work contract outside Canada for no
longer than 24 months, you may be eligible for limited
out-of-Canada benefits for the period of your work contract.
To retain coverage Saskatchewan Health needs your departure
date, the date you expect to return to Saskatchewan
and a copy of your work contract.
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Students (Temporarily
Away):
If you attend school full-time outside Saskatchewan
and plan to return here to live on completion of your
studies, you will qualify for limited out-of-province
or out-of-country coverage. To verify your student status,
Saskatchewan Health requires a statement of enrollment
from your school each year.
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