VANCOUVER, B.C. (CN) - A federal meteorologist who was diagnosed with colon cancer has sued Canada, which denied him medical coverage because he lives in the United States. After he paid premiums for 18 years, Richard Joseph says, the Public Service Health Care Plan Trust informed him that he is no longer eligible because he voluntary lives outside of Canada.
Joseph says he moved to Blaine, Wash., after being transferred from Ottawa to Vancouver. He says he paid monthly premiums of $44.50 to the Public Service Health Care Plan Trust for extended medical benefits.
He says that since being excluded from the health plan, he's been turned down for life insurance because of his cancer, and had to take out "vastly inferior" coverage from a private insurer for more than $300 a month.
His appeal of the decision was unsuccessful, his complaint states, and he's been unable to find similar, affordable medical coverage because of his health history. Joseph is represented by Derrill Thompson of the Main Street Law Group.
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