What is OHIP?
OHIP is a health care plan in Ontario. This plan caters to health issues by providing health care services. The province (Ontario) also pays for the various health care services. To get these services you will need to apply for OHIP and after you apply for it you will also receive a health card.
Newcomers and immigrants moving to Canada can easily access the benefits of the health care system that is publicly funded. The health care system is reputed worldwide and class apart.
Each territory and province have a separate health care system. Similarly, Ontario provides world-class health care to immigrants.
Health Care in Ontario
You can access standard health care under Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan for free because its charges are included in the Provincial taxes. The provincial government issues you a health care card that you should carry with you. Having this card implies that you are eligible to receive health care for free while you’re staying in the province or planning to move to Ontario. Each individual, including children, has their independent health cards.
While you’re undergoing any treatment, visiting a doctor, or you have gone for a medical test, you will require to display your health card for each of these.
What all does Ontario cover under its health care?
Ontario Health Insurance Plan is liable to cover the entire cost of the following:
- Family-doctor visits or walk-in clinic.
- Medical tests for diagnosis, medications during the hospital stay, cost of your stay in the hospital, meals, and medical practitioners. All this excludes private or semi-private rooms.
- An Eye exam is conducted once a year for individuals under 19 years and above 65 years.
- Anyone in the age group from 20 to 64 years suffers from diseases such as diabetes and Glaucoma.
- Full coverage for any dental surgery taking place in a hospital.
- If you live in Northern Ontario but need to travel to receive health care facilities, OHIP coverage will apply.
OHIP to cover specific costs partially, and these are as follows:
- Ambulance service– To avail of this, residents need to have an authentic OHIP card excluding the co-payment charge of $45CAD.
- Podiatry services– Under a registered Podiatrist, $135 CAD per person every year with an additional X-ray cost of up to $30 CAD.
Is an OHIP card essential for hospital visits or ER?
The hospital will not necessarily ask for a health care card, but you will need to present the health card for reimbursing the treatment cost under Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan. You could even provide them with your health insurance plan number.
Things excluded from OHIP’s coverage
Usually, OHIP’s coverage includes only the basic medical facilities including hospital visits or doctor visits. There are specific things that don’t come under the coverage of Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan:
- Those who are under the age of 65 years would need prescription drug’s cost.
- Dental Care cost
- The cost of eye exams for those between the age of 20 to 64 years and also the prescription cost of the glasses.
- Any other alternative medical treatments (complimentary) such as Acupuncture, Chiropractor, Massage, Reflexology, and Physiotherapy.
- Treatments like Psychotherapy or Counseling (private)
- Immunizations for the purpose of traveling.
- Costs related to missed appointments
- Medical examinations that you might need to undergo while applying for permanent residence.
- Costs of Crutches or Casts
Eligibility standard of OHIP
Interested candidates need to match the following eligibility criteria for OHIP:
- You should have attained Canadian citizenship, permanent residency status, or you are a landed immigrant.
- You should have already applied for Canadian citizenship and permanent residence in Canada.
- You must meet all the eligibility requirements of the government.
- You should be a foreign worker having a valid and legal Canadian work permit. This also includes the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program and the Live-In Caregiver Program.
If you wish for your OHIP coverage to stay valid, you should have Ontario as your primary place of residence. You will also need to mark your physical presence 153 days in one complete year.
OHIP coverage time duration while staying away from Ontario
You are allowed to stay outside Canada or Ontario for 212 days in any one year to receive health care coverage. Make sure that your primary residence place is Ontario.
What is the starting period of OHIP coverage?
Initially, in March 2020, the coverage plan did not apply to newcomers until a waiting period of three years but the government (Ministry of Health) called off this waiting period due to the alarming health situation after the Pandemic broke out.
Essential documents for Ontario’s health card
Submitting the documents for Ontario’s health care is very crucial, they are as follows:
- Evidence supporting Canadian citizenship or your immigration status. It could be your PR card or work permit.
- Ontario’s residency proof – These could be Ontario’s driving license, utility bill, pay slips, rental agreement documents, etc).
- Identity proof such as a Passport or Credit Card.
- Copy of the registration form of OHIP.
The application process to get an OHIP card
The Service Ontario Centre is the right place where the applications for OHIP should be submitted.
- Firstly, you should download and fill out the Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form. With the availability of French and English language forms, you can also take a copy of the form and visit the Service Ontario Centre. Make sure each member of the family fills out a separate form.
- Minimum three identity proofs displaying that you currently reside in Canada, and the place of residence is in Ontario. Your identity should be confirmed with your ID proof.
- Make sure that you submit all the original documents required because copies of those documents will not be acceptable.
- You are recommended to visit the Service Ontario Centre physically with a completed form and three genuine and valid identity cards. To avoid long queues, you could visit the Centre in the early morning hours rather than the lunchtime. In the case of children or dependents under the age of 15 years, you could apply on their behalf.
- In the case of older children, above 15 years, they will require to visit there in person to sign and get a photo clicked. The service clerk will take charge of your photograph and he will further process your application too.
- You will receive your OHIP card through email and it might take 1 to 2 weeks to arrive.
- Your OHIP card will be devoid of any charges.
