Healthcare (insurance)...

[leetchisgod]

I just checked out my health/dental/vision and travel insurance program with Alberta's graduate student union. $329 a YEAR. Holy schniiikes! As someone who hasn't been able to afford US healthcare insurance, I love Canada already!

[Minnesotan]

You pay for it three or four times over when you pay Canadian taxes. You're better off staying in the states and buying real insurance, instead of the grad student "hope I'm covered" policy.

[timuralp]

You're better off staying in the states and buying real insurance, instead of the grad student "hope I'm covered" policy.

Right... depends on the school and the "real" insurance in the states can be quite pricey, when you have actual bills and discover you have to pay 30% of things like an MRI that run around 2-3k. Luckily, my university has an awesome grad student "you're covered for everything, ever" insurance, so I don't have to worry anymore

[kahlan_amnell]

You pay for it three or four times over when you pay Canadian taxes. You're better off staying in the states and buying real insurance, instead of the grad student "hope I'm covered" policy.

Real insurance can be very hard to get if you aren't in absolutely perfect condition. In states that don't have laws against this sort of thing, just being overweight can get you rejected from most insurance. Grad student insurance is much less picky, it accepts pretty much every student that applies.

[leetchisgod]

You pay for it three or four times over when you pay Canadian taxes. You're better off staying in the states and buying real insurance, instead of the grad student "hope I'm covered" policy.

The way I see it, as some of the money I'm getting from the school isn't taxed, and the rest coming from my ra/taship doesn't come anywhere close to the 41,000+ minimum for the second tax bracket, federally I'll be paying around 15%. Unfortunately, the province of Alberta is not a fan of poor people and imposes a 10% provincial flat tax in addition to that. 25% altogether isn't too bad, would be better if I were studying in a more progressive taxing province where it would be closer to the 20% in the US (if you include the state taxes). The high gas prices might be a concern though.

[ogopogo]

Don't forget that as a student you probably won't be paying much (if anything) in taxes by the time you have applied your education (tuition and text book) and personal amounts.