Shiba Inu
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 09:42 ET

Has anyone had any luck getting the shots covered in Ontario?
Which insurance company was it?

nickns2
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 09:49 ET

It all depends on your companies benifits.....some companies have better plans than others so you may have Standard Life and so do I but it doesn't mean that because mine is covered yours is as well.

I think there have been 1 or 2 on the boards who have gotten it covered. I personally wasn't able to like the vast majority of people on here.

Michelle
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 11:55 ET

Nick is totally correct.  I have Sunlife and not covered while I have heard of Sunlife covering for others - it all depends on what your particular company decides to cover or not cover in their benefits pkg.  It all comes down to the $ the company wants to spend on benefits for their employees.  When negotiat bing enefits programs with a provider such as Sunlife, the company will basically have a 'menu' of things that can be covered and the more they cover, the more it costs.  Most companies will opt out of covering something such as 'weigh loss' programs because it can cost them a lot of money but only benefit a few employees.  

I have mixed feelings about whether 'weigh loss' programs should be covered or not.  On one hand, covering weight loss programs would cut down on other health related expenses in future but at the same time, I think those who actually have to pay to complete a program such as this are more apt to succeed long term if they have 'ownership' in it.

Stella
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 12:42 ET

On the upside, you can still deduct from your taxes if not covered

Ada
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 12:55 ET

Quote (Stella @ Nov. 19 2007,12:42)

On the upside, you can still deduct from your taxes if not covered

That's great news.  Do you have any more info. on that Stella?

Leisa
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 13:27 ET

I am actually very lucky.... my insurance covers 50% and then my husbands covers the other 50%.  My insurance is Great West life while my husband has a psp

Michelle
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 15:14 ET

Quote (Ada @ Nov. 19 2007,12:55)

Quote (Stella @ Nov. 19 2007,12:42) On the upside, you can still deduct from your taxes if not covered That's great news.  Do you have any more info. on that Stella?

Medical expenses are tax deductable on your annual income tax return if they are greater than 3% of your gross income.  The period that you can deduct the expenses for is any 12 month period ending during that year's income tax return so for example if you started last fall, you might be better to deduct medical expenses from Sept. 06 - Sept. 07 rather than the calendar year that the actual tax return is for.  

Whatever period you decide to deduct for, you should also collect any other medical related expenses you have to bump up the amount you are claiming ... sometimes this can even get you over that 3% of income threshold.  Things that are deductable are: the portion of prescriptions you have to pay for whether it be a $2 fee per script or if you are on a plan where you pay 20% etc., the portion of dental that you pay for without being re-imbursed, vision care such as eye glasses or contacts if your plan doesn't pay, the premiums for health care that are deducted from your pay cheque every pay... etc.  If it is for medical reasons and you are not reimbursed for it, it can go into that claim.

Now don't get your hopes too high though.  The year that I spend the bulk of the money on Dr. B and did claim it as well as some other things - my medical expenses totalled nearly $6000 but I only got back $800 of it.  Definately better than nothing - just don't want people to get the wrong impression and think they are going to get all of the money spent back from the government.

Ada
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 15:30 ET

That's great info. Michelle....thanks very much. !

Spiboy
Posted: Nov. 19 2007, 18:18 ET

Quote (Michelle @ Nov. 19 2007,15:14)

Now don't get your hopes too high though.  The year that I spend the bulk of the money on Dr. B and did claim it as well as some other things - my medical expenses totalled nearly $6000 but I only got back $800 of it.  Definately better than nothing - just don't want people to get the wrong impression and think they are going to get all of the money spent back from the government.

Unbelievable I just looked at Rev Cda site and its pathetic just how little one can claim . thanks for the info as I was somehow under the impression I would be getting pretty close to 40-50 % back....not even close...

I hate our Tax system...