https://twitter.com/
Methinks
Trudeau The Younger and his many minions know I can help Madame
Melanson with her Canadian citizenship a lot faster than Don Chapman can
but getting Medicare from Higgy is hard to do I have to sue the Crown
to get it N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-medicare-citizenship-1.5819912
Canadian woman denied full medicare because N.B. doesn't recognize her citizenship
Diane Melanson didn't know she'd lost her citizenship, and N.B. government doesn't know she has it back
· CBC News · Posted: Nov 30, 2020 9:00 AM AT
Diane Melanson, right, said confusion over her citizenship status is holding up approval of her health care coverage. And as a result, she and her family have had to pay thousands in medical bills for a surgery when she broke her hip last winter. (Submitted by Diane Melanson)
For Diane Melanson, the wait for medicare coverage in New Brunswick has been long and complicated.
Melanson, 75, said confusion over her citizenship status is holding up approval of her coverage. And as a result, she and her family have had to pay thousands of dollars in medical bills for surgery she had after breaking her hip last winter.
"The next morning after the operation, the doctor was at the foot of my bed with my fiancé here and asking him for his money, so medicare didn't cover it," Melanson said.
That's when Melanson's niece Susan Belliveau stepped in and paid the bills, which added up to nearly $7,000.
"I would have paid anything in order for my aunt to be OK," Belliveau said.
Melanson
was born in Minto in 1945 and lived there until her family moved to the
U.S. when she was 15. In 1969 she became a naturalized U.S. citizen,
and because of the laws at the time, she unknowingly lost her Canadian
citizenship.
Melanson's niece, Susan Belliveau, stepped in and paid the bills that added up to nearly $7,000. (Submitted by Diane Melanson)
"I thought once you were born in a country, you're in, you're in," Melanson said. "If I'm Canadian, I'm a Canadian. I became a naturalized American but I didn't denounce my Canadian citizenship."
But in 2009, that legislation was changed under Bill C-37, and Melanson's Canadian citizenship was restored and corrected so that technically, she had never lost it at all.
But Melanson, who moved back to Minto almost three years ago, said medicare is requiring proof of citizenship before it will cover her. Belliveau has been helping her through the process.
"In February, when she applied for her medicare," said Belliveau, "they asked for all of her documentation … and when they found the naturalization papers, they sent a letter saying, 'We can't give you (coverage) until you prove that you are a Canadian citizen.'"
Belliveau said they then sent in Melanson's birth certificate, but it wasn't accepted as proof. Medicare said it still required further proof of citizenship.
But with the help of a patient advocate, Melanson did receive a temporary medicare card in March, which helped cover about a third of her medical bills.
Don Chapman also lost his citizenship as a child when his family moved from Vancouver to the U.S. He's been advocating for citizenship rights for decades.
"This woman falls in the cracks, not so much as 'Is she a citizen?' as to interpretation, and somebody in the province is not understanding the federal legislation," he said.
Belliveau said she has been in touch with medicare several times since February but still hasn't been able to secure full coverage.
In early November, Immigration and Citizenship Canada wrote a letter confirming Melanson's citizenship. That letter was sent to medicare but still Melanson and Belliveau have not heard about Melanson's status.
"It's kind of hard on the nerves," said Melanson. "It tears at you after a while."
Melanson's temporary coverage is set to expire Dec. 7.
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88 Comments
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David Amos
Methinks
Trudeau The Younger and his many minions know I can help Madame
Melanson with her Canadian citizenship a lot faster than Don Chapman can
but getting Medicare from Higgy is hard to do I have to sue the Crown
to get it N'esy Pas?
Tim Apple
From the GNB website: "To be eligible for New Brunswick Medicare coverage you must be:
a Canadian citizen or be legally entitled to remain in Canada and a
resident who makes his/her permanent and principle home in New
Brunswick"
So citizenship is only the first condition that must be satisfied. Maybe the stumbling block is in the determination of proof of residency. Out of the country for 57 yrs straight, and if she has no valid NB drivers' licence or ID tying her to a fixed address here, then I can see why a civil servant might question a claim of residency submitted only after receiving medical care. On paper, it *might* look like a terribly unfortunate accident during a family visit over the holidays (remember: it happened almost a year ago). Also, we readers aren't privy to many details, e.g., her fiancé's residency status. I expect the paperwork is way more complicated than it might appear.
I hope Ms. Melanson makes a full recovery, and eventually receives all benefits to which she's entitled.
So citizenship is only the first condition that must be satisfied. Maybe the stumbling block is in the determination of proof of residency. Out of the country for 57 yrs straight, and if she has no valid NB drivers' licence or ID tying her to a fixed address here, then I can see why a civil servant might question a claim of residency submitted only after receiving medical care. On paper, it *might* look like a terribly unfortunate accident during a family visit over the holidays (remember: it happened almost a year ago). Also, we readers aren't privy to many details, e.g., her fiancé's residency status. I expect the paperwork is way more complicated than it might appear.
I hope Ms. Melanson makes a full recovery, and eventually receives all benefits to which she's entitled.
David Amos
Reply to @Tim Apple:
Methinks Higgy et al should at least agree that you sound like one of
their many minions who have been denying my right to a medicare card for
years N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: methinks you'll be gone soon enough.
Don
Chapman
One more thing:
Diane is at one end of the age pendulum. One the other side are children of Canadian-citizen parents who are currently being denied citizenship. In doing this, Canada is violating three UN Human Rights conventions, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. New Brunswick's John Peters Humphrey would be appalled.
Diane is being denied her right to healthcare- not because of something she did, but rather because the Province doesn't understand that she's a legal, legitimate, Canadian citizen. For the rest of us, we should be fighting for her rights- not blaming her. Seriously, one day the government could come after you since Canadian citizenship is simply a privilege- not a right.
Diane is at one end of the age pendulum. One the other side are children of Canadian-citizen parents who are currently being denied citizenship. In doing this, Canada is violating three UN Human Rights conventions, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. New Brunswick's John Peters Humphrey would be appalled.
Diane is being denied her right to healthcare- not because of something she did, but rather because the Province doesn't understand that she's a legal, legitimate, Canadian citizen. For the rest of us, we should be fighting for her rights- not blaming her. Seriously, one day the government could come after you since Canadian citizenship is simply a privilege- not a right.
David Amos
Reply to @Don
Chapman: Methinks you should have called me back years ago when you were
in Fredericton or at least put your email aside tonight when I tried to
explain things to you Now you have one of my emails N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: so how long do you think this account will last?
George
Smith
Another example that
Common Sense doesn't exist and Governments and their employees who don't
care. This is such a simple thing to fix but of course all those people
we pay to run our affairs couldn't see the light while sitting on the
Sun. I wouldn't doubt that someone's joking and laughing about this in
the provincial offices.
David Amos
Reply to @George
Smith: I know for a fact Higgy et al are laughing at me for not being
able to get a medicare card from them but methinks he who laughs last
laugh best N'esy Pas?
John O'Brien
If her lifetime taxes and donations have been to a foreign country, I don't feel we owe her anything
David Amos
Reply to @John O'Brien: Who is We? You and Higgy?
John Parker
We know for a fact
citizenship is not a prerequisite to receiving health, dental and
prescription care in New Brunswick as our many refugees testify to. So
the provincial government is not being honest.
Sue
Fillmore
Reply to @John Parker:
Sue
Fillmore
Reply to @Sue
Fillmore: She was in the country for 3 years and didn’t bother to apply
for Medicare, how is the government not being honest?
David Amos
Reply to @John Parker: Exactly
Chantal LeBouthi:
That’s what you get when you put conservatives in power
David Amos
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: Yup
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Chantal LeBouthi: let me guess you are a liberal poeples
Al Clark
Reply to @Ray Oliver: lenny is pure corcon. Stroke maybe ?
Michael
John
Writing as an
american who lives in maine, I find it hard to believe that she was not
aware that she was losing something (from an american perspective) when
she became a US citizen. Traditionally, applicants had to "renounce" any
allegiance to other countries, kings, etc. when they became US
citizens......The exception to this was for family members under a
certain age who automatically became citizens when their parents did.
Ian Scott
Reply to @Michael
John: Thats what I thought as well. We had friends that moved to Iowa
and eventually had to divest of everything if you become a US citizen,
not a green card or other. Yet we do have dual citizens so not sure how
it works now.
George
Smith
Reply to @Ian Scott:
Canada allows dual citizenship as do many Countries. The USA does not
recognize dual citizens if one of their citizenship's is American.
David Amos
Reply to @George
Smith: Methinks it should prove interesting to see you explain real slow
Obama's dual citizenship or how he created FATCA in order to have his
fellow dual citizens around the world pay decades of back taxes even
though they didn't live or work in the US of A. Better yet I bet that
you will never explain to me why two of my children came to be dual
citizens of Canada and the US of A byway of their birthright just like
Obama N'esy Pas?
Al Clark
Reply to @George Smith: How soon American Andy is forgotten......
Shawn Hickey
Unfortunate situation. But if you're not Canadian, not much else to say
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn Hickey: So you say EH?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: I for one am glad you have no card I find it humorous
Buford
Wilson
Government healthcare is becoming a nightmare.
David Amos
Reply to @Buford
Wilson: Methinks everybody knows why your hero Higgy has made healthcare
a nightmare for me in recent years N'esy Pas?
eddy watts
"In 1969 she became a
naturalized American citizen, and because of the laws at the time, she
unknowingly lost her Canadian citizenship". She unknowingly lost her
citizenhip. Does anyone believe this? It's not like she unkowingly
bought Moosehead instead of Alpine. She would like the benefits of our
great Canadian medicare system as would millions of others. In 1969
keeping her Canadian citizenship was not her priority.
Amelia Butters
Reply to @eddy watts: She was 15. Who would know anything about that at 15. Give her a break.
Joe Dunn
Reply to @Amelia
Butters: doing the math stated in the article she would be 24 when she
became a US
citizen. Born in 1945, naturalized citizenship in 1969. Not
that I agree with this at all by the way.
Amelia Butters
Reply to @Joe Dunn:
Right. They moved there when she was 15. Even still, I'm not sure that
at 24 I would have known all the ins and outs of that stuff. They
certainly didn't have information at their fingertips in 1969 like we do
today. It's sad. She obviously came back to be near family, and it's
not like a hip replacement is a frivolous ask.
Joe Dunn
Reply to @Amelia Butters: Totally agree with you
Sue Fillmore
Reply to @Amelia
Butters: If you move from province to province you have to apply for
health benefits at each province you take up residence so why did she or
any of her relatives assume that she automatically was entitled to
Medicare? If you didn’t notify them that you were living here then how
does the government know to give it to you?
eddy watts
Reply to @Amelia
Butters: ahhhhh (give me a break) she didn't have the legal right to
change her citizenship...someone else did though. Enablers need to find
the right persons when enabling!
eddy watts
Reply to @Amelia
Butters: who would know?...let's see umm ummm her parents.."they" made a
decision then; Canadians need to stop being a nation of whiners and
enablers..
Reply to @Sue
Fillmore: She did notify the Province, and as per the story we just read
she had secured an interim medical card from the Province prior to the
surgery.
Sue
Fillmore
Reply to @Brent
Berens: The article states she applied for Medicare in February but has
been living here for 3 years and “assumed” she was covered. How can the
government be responsible for this situation if she never applied?
Brent
Berens
Reply to @Sue
Fillmore: I was responding to this specific remark in your comment "If
you didn’t notify them that you were living here then how does the
government know to give it to you?" I then pointed out that she had
informed the government, and had applied for a medical card and been
issued a temporary one prior to her surgery.
You are now saying "How can the government be responsible for this situation if she never applied?" As per the story she DID inform the government (yes it was in February and she moved here before then and it appears the surgery happened after she received the interim medical card). Then the stroy says:
"Belliveau said she has been in touch with medicare several times since February but still hasn't been able to secure full coverage.
In early November, Immigration and Citizenship Canada wrote a letter confirming Melanson's citizenship. That letter was sent to medicare but still Melanson and Belliveau have not heard about Melanson's status."
So, even though the Canadian Federal government has confirmed she is a Canadian, the Provincial Government has not completed her application for coverage.
You are now saying "How can the government be responsible for this situation if she never applied?" As per the story she DID inform the government (yes it was in February and she moved here before then and it appears the surgery happened after she received the interim medical card). Then the stroy says:
"Belliveau said she has been in touch with medicare several times since February but still hasn't been able to secure full coverage.
In early November, Immigration and Citizenship Canada wrote a letter confirming Melanson's citizenship. That letter was sent to medicare but still Melanson and Belliveau have not heard about Melanson's status."
So, even though the Canadian Federal government has confirmed she is a Canadian, the Provincial Government has not completed her application for coverage.
David Amos
Reply to @Joe Dunn: Me Too
Al Clark
Mimi Amos not chiming in ?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Al Clark: They permanently closed both his accounts! Christmas came early!!
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Sounds like you got the inside track? Day job kicking in? Keep rolling Aces.
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: try his Twitter. Again. You're as far off base as he was
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @Ray Oliver: ok. Boinger
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: how was work today? Whoops
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @Ray Oliver: lol. I've done more today than you will all week.
Al Clark
Reply to @Ray Oliver:
I saw him on yesterday using a new name but I felt that not using one
of the many combinations of David ,Raymond, or Amos was wrong, so I
plonked him :-)
Ray Oliver
Reply
to @Al Clark: him screaming my harley my Medicare care my wiretap tapes
just doesn't have the same effect to the fellas burning their underwear
for heat under the Fredericton overpass bridge. I miss him
David Amos
Reply to @Al Clark: They say that Mark Twain never said:
“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt” However...
Methinks I just did N'esy Pas?
Methinks your Fed friends have not informed you of a rather interesting coincidence the other night that I have been busy dealing with on both sides of the 49th for a couple of days or you would have not bragged so much today while I chuckled at your malicious nonsense N'esy Pas?
“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt” However...
Methinks I just did N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: They say that Mark Twain never said:
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” However...
Methinks I just did N'esy Pas?
“The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” However...
Methinks I just did N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Ray Oliver: Oh My MY Where did your middle name "Hamish" go? Methinks your Fed friends have not informed you of a rather interesting coincidence the other night that I have been busy dealing with on both sides of the 49th for a couple of days or you would have not bragged so much today while I chuckled at your malicious nonsense N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: My superiors asked me to remove it hahaha
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: if you truly believe that then how sad a state of affairs it is
Johnny Jakobs
Reply to @Ray Oliver: You have no idea. You seriously don't. You're gig is up.
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: ?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: you are gig is up??
Al Clark
Reply to @David Amos: Yes you said a mouthful there. Obviously oblivious lol
Darren Croft
Better then paying that same bill from an U.S hospital
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Darren Croft: If she'd stayed in the States, she would have qualified for US Medicare because she was over 65.
David Amos
Reply
to @SarahRose Werner: Methinks the same holds true for you and me too
Heck we could still be qualified for US Medicare today if we were to
cross the Medicine Line. You could do so as a citizen if you did not
revoke it because of FATCA I could do so as permanent resident who sued 3
US Treasury Agents for not collecting taxes and is still married to a
Yankee lady and the Proud Father of 2 Yankees who secured their Canadian
birthright immediately after Harper was sworn in as Prime Minister
However i have no doubt whatsoever we both will remain here in our
senior years as we look forward to pushing up daisies N'esy Pas?
SarahRose Werner
Something very
strange is going on. Access to NB Medicare has never been based on
citizenship. It's based on residency in the province and is available
to permanent residents who aren't (yet) Canadian citizens. I know this
because I was one, 1998-2001.
David Amos
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: BINGO
John Parker
down in the United
States if you can get into the country and get to New York City if your a
citizen or not the city will give you free medical and education and
even allow you to vote.
New Brunswick is so unprogressive , the last in Canada for many things.
New Brunswick is so unprogressive , the last in Canada for many things.
David Amos
Reply to @John Parker: Surely you jest
JOhn D Bond
Classic bureaucratic
nonsense. "But in 2009, that legislation was changed under Bill C-37 and
Melanson's Canadian citizenship was restored and corrected so that
technically, she had never lost it at all. " If that is the case it is
between the feds and the province to correct this issue. Not the
citizen. The provincial office should be apologizing to this lady.
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @JOhn D Bond:
Does she hold a Canadian passport?
Once upon a time I remember my father having trouble proving he was a Canadian, so he turned himself in to the RCMP, and they soon sorted it out and gave him a letter of proof.
Does she hold a Canadian passport?
Once upon a time I remember my father having trouble proving he was a Canadian, so he turned himself in to the RCMP, and they soon sorted it out and gave him a letter of proof.
JOhn D Bond
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: No idea but she has a Canadian Birth Certificate, not everyone
has a passport. The birth certificate should suffice.
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @JOhn D Bond:
(no) Service NB is, well, goofy in many such things.
If it was me, first on my list would be getting a Canadian passport, (no) Service NB would have a hard time arguing with a Canadian passport.
For me, the "tough one" was a driver's licence? Go figure.
(no) Service NB is, well, goofy in many such things.
If it was me, first on my list would be getting a Canadian passport, (no) Service NB would have a hard time arguing with a Canadian passport.
For me, the "tough one" was a driver's licence? Go figure.
JOhn D Bond
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: So when I moved from Ontario and dealt with SNB, they wanted
three types of ID. 1, passport or gvt id with photo like a drivers
license. 2, Birth Certificate and a few other similar type docs and 3
An invoice from a utility that shows your name and address on.
I haven't updated my passport since back in the 90's but had no problem providing the other documents and they gave me my medicare care.
I haven't updated my passport since back in the 90's but had no problem providing the other documents and they gave me my medicare care.
Terry
Tibbs
Reply to @JOhn D Bond:
I was out of NB for 3 years and was forced to renew my drivers licence there. Upon my return it was a (no) Service NB nightmare. In fact, they could see my past NB licence on their computer (and picture), but I was forced the full 9 yards in pursuit of that licence.
I was out of NB for 3 years and was forced to renew my drivers licence there. Upon my return it was a (no) Service NB nightmare. In fact, they could see my past NB licence on their computer (and picture), but I was forced the full 9 yards in pursuit of that licence.
JOhn D Bond
Reply to @Terry
Tibbs: Wow that is terrible, I moved here in 2018 from Ont, my
experience with Service NB was great, In a 30-45 minutes a series of
interactions at the various windows all in 1 visit , I had my drivers
licence taken care of, my medicare card done and the re registration of
my vehicles switched to NB from Ont. So am sorry to hear the challenges
you have had. My experience seems to have been quite different.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply
to @Terry Tibbs: Methinks you must recall my comments on the very
topics you discuss within this thread without my boring you with
needless redundancy N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: BINGO Larry Larson
So, Canada wasn't
good enough for you until you needed health care and you decided to move
back here?? My heart almost bleeds for you, but not quite!
Leslie Russell
Reply to @Larry Larson: Your toxicity will only poison yourself.
Tony Mcalbey
Reply to @Larry
Larson: well said. People who haven’t paid taxes for decades expect the
same as if they did, I’d say let her pay for the care.
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Larry
Larson: "her family moved to the U.S. when she was 15" - What was the
15-year-old supposed to do? Put her foot down and refuse to go?
SarahRose Werner
Reply to @Larry
Larson: Ms Melanson was 72 at the time she returned to Canada. That
means that in the States, she would have been entitled to US Medicare.
If she worked during her 57 years in the States, she would have paid
into US Medicare. By returning to Canada, she lost those benefits.
Doesn't sound to me like heath care was the reason she returned to
Canada.
Anne Bérubé
Reply to @Leslie
Russell: In reality, NO. Because you are born in a country does NOT make
you a citizen if you spend most of your life in another. Apparently,
some think laws should be amended. The only exception is for refugees
and immigrants, no problem for them, Medicare cards handed right at the
airports' terminals along with the addresses of social services.
Theo Lavigne
Reply to @Anne Bérubé: Don't you think she has more right than a Refugee, she was born here....
Theo Lavigne
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: What about a new born that may need Heart surgeries did they pay taxes for decades?
Larry Larson
Reply to @SarahRose Werner: Move back to Canada when she was 18????
David Amos
Reply to @Theo Lavigne: Both questions were well put sir
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Tony Mcalbey: Methinks your comment easily proves that you are definitely not me N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: WOW
rayma allaby
get on the phone....call them ...that letter went somewhere and i hope you kept the original.
David Amos
Reply to @rayma allaby: Methinks Higgy et al will never tell folks why I have been there done that but to no avail N'esy Pas?
Ray Oliver
Reply to @David Amos: no one is going to call you back. On anything. Keep it up
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