I am a mid-30's software developer wanting to emigrate from the US into Canada -- probably Ontario (having enjoyed a vacation to Toronto a few years ago). I speak and write English fluently, but as my only language. I have about $80k USD in retirement accounts and $25k USD in liquid accounts, as well as owning a home and car, with no other debts. I have no children, and have a bachelors degree in CS.
A difficulty is that I require a medication which is expensive (at least in the US), and there is no generic. I am only able to obtain a 2 week supply at a time, and may very likely die without it. The price via a Canadian pharmacy website is giving me $171/dose pricing (dosage is daily).
This leads to numerous uncertainties with how immigration would work:
- Does having a known medical need like this count as a mark against me?
- Is obtaining medical insurance as a resident alien plausible given a pre-existing condition?
- Am I going about this the right way? If not, what step am I missing?
- What is the actual order of operations for me?
- Is there ever a critical point where I do not have medical coverage through either the US or Canada, even if I have to purchase supplementary insurance myself?
My ultimate goal is to be able to work, earn an income, pay taxes, and live a life. In the US, I am very beholden to a particular employer, because health-care is inexorably tied to the employer. Knowing that I need this health care will sometimes cause them to treat me poorly at work, as quitting is much harder for me.