Whether you are a resident of Ontario or a Landed Immigrant, it is important to know what you are covered for by the Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan, and how soon your coverage will commence. Ontario residents should also be aware of how long they can be outside Canada without being subject to a waiting period for coverage following their return to Ontario.

Services Outside Canada : For people travelling outside Canada, the ministry pays a set rate for emergency health services. Emergency health services are those given in connection with an acute, unexpected condition, illness, disease or injury that arises outside Canada and requires immediate treatment. Ambulance services are not covered. Ontario residents are encouraged to purchase supplementary insurance when traveling outside Canada as many emergency health services provided outside the country cost much more than OHIP may pay. You can arrange temporary emergency medical protection for outside Canada by calling 1.866.809.6999.

Am I eligible for OHIP right away or do I have to wait ? There may be a three-month waiting period for your OHIP coverage. If you are a newcomer to Ontario, or a former resident returning here to live after being out of the country for more than seven months, the waiting period begins on the date you establish or re-establish residence in Ontario. You are also required to be present in Ontario for 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date residency is established in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6 months of residency). If you are an eligible resident moving to Ontario from another part of Canada, the health insurance of your former province/territory will cover you for up to three months. If you are not covered by another provincial plan, it is important to buy private health insurance to cover you until you receive your Ontario health coverage. You can purchase interim coverage by calling 1.866.809.6999.