This week I celebrated (I'm not sure if that is the right word) eight month anniversary of being in Calgary. Amazing to me how fast time has slipped by. While it has been an interesting trek, and at times, and expensive one, I had one more issue to take care of. After getting licences, plates, addresses, taxes changed over to an Alberta address, I had one more hill to climb, changing over my healthcare. Not that I didn't want to do this, but putting something like this off was truly the only way to deal with it. After what I went through just to switch my plates and car, I couldn't imagine what I would be faced with trying to do with my body.
I sent the info in Healthcare office about a month and a half ago. To give you an idea of how bad that is, OHIP covers you for three months after a move like this, I got here in August. You do the math, I was sure they would. Not that I meant to do, I just forgot...simple as that, I forgot! Oh well, about a week ago I received a letter from Alberta Healthcare telling me that I did not give them the full info that they needed and I had 15 days to get my info to them or I couldn't be processed. So yesterday, I finally had the time to go to the downtown office and take care of this problem. I was sure that I would be waiting for hours. When I walked in, not to say this in the wrong way, but I was the only person in the office speaking English, so, I thought, I came on the right day. After waiting a few minutes, I looked around, there were five counters dealing with people, one was closed (it being late afternoon), three working with people, and one trying her best to find something to do other than get trapped with someone so close to quitting time. I was glad to see that the government attitude of work is the same across the country - that's what brings us together. But a few mintues later, I was called, sat down in front of a very pleasant lady, who took my information and set everything up for me in around three minutes (that includes a call she received from her daughter while I was there). I was told that I would be backdated (which means I'll be paying for six months - which is what I figured) and she gave me my Alberta Healthcare Card. Card is a strong word, it is a piece of paper, no photo, no marks, just says your name, number and Alberta. I was even told I could laminate if I wished. You would think with the money that is paid, they may want to think about getting something a little more solid.
So that is my last step, now I feel like I live here, although with spring being here and summer around the corner, let's see how the living improves. And now that I have my healthcare set up, be damned with safety!
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