$300-Ayuda from the Government

We're fortunate to be living in a first world country during this pandemic period. Maraming naging tulong ang gobyerno para sa mga nawalan ng trabaho, business owners, renters, students, etc. Kapag nababasa ko ang hirap ng mga Pinoy para makakuha ng ayuda sa gobyerno ng Pinas, di ko maiwasang maikumpara syempre sa naging sistema dito. May program nga dito na tinatawag na CERB (or Canada Emergency Response Benefit) kung saan makakapag-apply ng financial assistance ang sinumang nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa Covid-19. That's $2,000 per month ($500 per week) for up to 4 months. Anyone, as in ANYONE, who applies will be approved. Kahit obviously hindi eligible ha. Kasi nga wala na raw silang time magcheck at magverify, gusto na nilang maiparating agad sa tao ang tulong. Honor system na lang muna daw, later na sila mago-audit.

Luckily, hindi naman namin kinailangan talaga ng tulong mula sa gobyerno kasi hindi naman nawalan ng trabaho ang asawa ko. Sa totoo lang, noong bandang March-April ay nag-worry rin ako kasi nga baka magclose din ang office nila temporarily kasi hindi naman talaga sila "essential" business eh. Thankfully, hindi naman nga. 

The only "ayuda" that we are entitled to during this pandemic is the one time Canada Child Benefit (CCB) payment increase of $300. Dito kasi sa Canada, we receive a monthly child support from the government, depende sa income ng parents. They decided to give an additional $300 per child for the month of May to help families during these difficult times.

Noong una nga akala namin hindi fixed na $300, na maximum na yun at hindi namin makukuha ng buo. Katulad ng sentiments ng middle class sa Pinas, may bitter feelings din kami paminsan (normal naman siguro yun) na puro na lang lower class ang pinapaboran ng gobyerno samantalagang ang laki-laki ng tax na binabawas sa sweldo ng asawa ko. One income family lang kasi kami at marami ring gastusin buwan-buwan. Pero buti naman nga at across the board naman pala ang $300. Kaya ang swerte nung maraming anak haha (4 kids x $300 = 1,200!).

Anyway, I just checked our account online kanina at pumasok na nga ang $300 (every 20th of the month ang CCB payment). I am so happy!

Anong plano ko sa $300? Actually nagastos na namin siya kahit hindi pa dumarating lol!

We badly need a colored printer kasi nga nago-online schooling si Nathaniel ngayon, syempre may mga kailangang iprint. Bibigay na ang 6-year-old laser printer namin kaya kailangan ng palitan.

Pero ang mahal nito ha, inabot ng $337.67 (tax included) kaya paluwal pa kami kaloka.

Salamat sa ayuda, Canadian Government! Malaking tulong rin ang printer na ito for my sanity! I have a lot of projects in mind na sana magawa ko hehe.

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Ayuda = assistance

A book for Chicklet

I felt so excited when the nurse at West Jasper Place Public Health Center (where Nathan got vaccinated last January 22) handed me this bag containing a book, a cd, and some library information for Nathan. This is what I love about having a child here in Canada, alagang-alaga talaga ng gobyerno. Ang suwerte ng mga bata dito!

Ooops, I realized that I haven't really bought any book yet for Chicklet. I would have to start buying soon. I am currently a stay-at-home mom so I do not have any excuse to not teach my son well. I was an educator once upon a time, actually. Sa college students nga lang. I know that teaching a child is different but I promise to do my best. I love my son and I will make him a smart boy.

I told Ford that we should pay a visit to the library soon. I've been here in Edmonton for almost 1 year and 3 months now but I haven't been to one. I love reading, but I admit that in the last couple of years I don't get to read a lot of books anymore. I still read a lot -- sa internet nga lang. So I guess if I want to instill the love of reading to Nathan, kailangang magbasa din uli ako ng libro.

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It was my first time to see an actual public last January 16 at Mill Woods Town Centre. I was surprised that it was located in a 'mall.' Kung wala siguro akong anak, madalas akong tatambay dun.

Nathan's first check

We received yesterday Nathan's first check from the Canadian government. This benefit is called Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB), a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under the age of 18.

Ford and I were so excited haha! The amount (which is for two months: December 2014 - January 2015) is not that big actually because it's computed based on the family's annual income. In fact, in can only buy a box of diapers. But it is still a benefit that we Canadian residents are entitled to nonetheless.

We are still waiting for another check, that of Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) which is given to families with children under the age of six years regardless of income. It is paid in installments of $100 ($160 starting January 2015) per month per child.

These child benefits are one reason why it's awesome living in Canada! =)

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POSTSCRIPT: We already received the UCCB check last January 23 (Friday)!

Thank you, Saskatchewan Blue Cross!

I had my first check-up with a diabetes specialist Dr. Lawrence Lim last August 28, 2014 at the Misericordia Hospital Diabetes Center. I was happy because "my numbers" (i.e. blood sugar test results) were all within the normal range. Sino ba naman ang gustong mag-insulin?

Dr. Lim instructed me to keep on testing my blood glucose level at least twice a week (six times a day). He issued me a prescription for my supplies. They already gave me a free glucometer when I took the diabetes session the week before. Nakakatuwa kasi sa Pilipinas kailangan mo pang bilhin iyon. Dito libre lang pala.

There are so many pharmacies here in Edmonton but we ended up buying the supplies in Walmart Pharmacy. Nandoon na rin naman kasi kami.

When you buy prescription medicines here, they will ask you first if you have an extended insurance. Luckily, we do! My husband's company gives good employee benefits so we are thankful.

Though health care is free, an extended health insurance is necessary for medicines, dental, etc. which are not covered by Alberta Health.

My name (as a dependent) is at the back lol!

We were confident that we could get my supplies for free (or at least we'll just pay 20% of the total cost). But then the pharmacy assistant informed us that we have to pay in full because our insurance does not cover it.

Ha? How come? We've checked Blue Cross Saskatchewan's website and it states there that diabetes supplies are covered. I also remembered that majority of my classmates in the diabetes class have extended health insurance that covers these supplies. Bakit kami hindi? The pharmacy assistant told me that it has something to do with my "non-insulin use" which I didn't understand.

We had no choice but to pay $90+. I was so disheartened. Unexpected expense eh.

My husband told me not to worry. "It's just $90," he said. But he couldn't pacify me. One of the reasons why I like it here in Canada is their health care. We are not supposed to pay $90! My husband is paying so much tax and insurance fees already. $90 is still $90. That could buy a lot of things na for our Baby Chicklet noh.

In my mind, naisip ko na na kailangan kong magtipid sa paggamit ng test strips. Grrr.

When we got home, Ford immediately checked on Blue Cross' website and later filed an online claim. He'll know the results daw in five business days. August 29 noon (Friday).

Yesterday noon while having lunch, I asked Pod kung ano na ang balita sa 'claims' namin. Sabi ko lagpas na sa five business days, dapat my sagot na sila by that day kasi five days na (holiday ang September 1). Wala pa raw.

But then that night, pagdating na pagdating niya sa bahay, he was excitedly shouting: "Sige Bimbim magtusok ka na ng magtusok!" 

He received the refund check na pala for the $90!

Whoaah, that was fast! Agad-agad! And they reimbursed the full amount, not just 80%. We've already tried claiming for my medicines in the past and we had to pay 20% as 'participation fee.'

Now I am at peace haha! Bumalik na ang trust and confidence ko sa magandang health care system dito sa Canada! And I am impressed with the very fast and non-hassle mode of claiming from insurance companies. Kung nasa Pinas ito, aabutin ka ng santo-santo.

Thank you so much for being so reliable, Saskatchewan Blue Cross! You made my day! =)

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NOTE: Next time sa ibang pharmacy na lang kami bibili, Medyo parang kulang sa knowledge and malituhin yung taga-Walmart eh.