OHIP Coverage Across Canada Fact Sheet

If you plan to work or travel within Canada for more than 212 days in any 12-month period, you should provide your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office with a written confirmation of your extended absence. This should include the timing and details of your extended absence as soon as you know that you will be away from Ontario.

You should also advise your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office of your new residential and mailing addresses if you establish temporary residence in another province or territory.

Services Covered Within Canada

If you are an insured resident of Ontario and you are outside the province temporarily you can use your Ontario health card to obtain insured physician and hospital services. In most cases, the hospital or physician that you visit while outside Ontario will bill the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care directly.

If you are an insured resident and you are hospitalized in another province or territory while temporarily absent from Ontario, you are eligible for Ontario health insurance coverage for the duration of your hospitalization up to a maximum of 12 months. If you require hospitalization beyond the 12 month maximum, the province or territory where you are hospitalized will provide you with coverage from the 1st day of the 13th month.

If you have to pay for insured services that you receive in another part of Canada, such as physician services, you may be eligible for reimbursement from the ministry.

Academic Studies Outside Ontario

On April 1, 2009 changes were made to the OHIP eligibility rules under Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act that may impact you.  You may be affected if you are an insured Ontario resident planning on studying outside Ontario or Canada. 

If you are an insured Ontario resident who leaves Ontario to attend a university or other educational institution full-time in another province or territory within Canada, you are eligible for Ontario health insurance coverage for the duration of your studies -provided that :

• You do not establish permanent residence outside Ontario, and;
• You meet specific physical presence requirements prior to your departure from Ontario.

If you plan to study in another province or territory, you should provide your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office with a letter from the educational institution that you will be attending to confirm that you are registered as a full-time student. You should also notify your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office as soon as possible if you plan to complete an academic internship in another province or territory within Canada, such as a medical residency, to ensure that you maintain your Ontario health insurance coverage.

If you establish temporary residence in another province or territory within Canada while pursuing academic studies, you should advise your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office of your new residential and mailing addresses as soon as possible.

Moving to Another Province or Territory

If you are an insured resident moving permanently to another part of Canada you should apply for health insurance coverage in your new province or territory as soon as possible. Your Ontario health insurance coverage will remain in effect until the last day of the second full month after you establish residence in your new location. You can only obtain health insurance coverage from one province or territory at any time. Your new province or territory will notify Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care when you apply for your new health insurance coverage.

Working or Studying in Ontario Temporarily

If you have left your permanent residence in another province or territory temporarily to seek or accept employment in Ontario, the insurance plan from the province or territory where you maintain your permanent residence will remain in effect to a maximum of 12 months. If you plan to remain in Ontario beyond the 12-month maximum, you should visit your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office to apply for Ontario health insurance coverage. You can reapply for health coverage in your home province or territory upon returning to take up permanent residence.

If you are a student from outside Ontario who is in full-time attendance at a university or other educational institution in Ontario, you are eligible for health insurance coverage for the duration of your studies from the province or territory where you maintain your permanent residence. You should contact your home province or territory's insurance plan to confirm your intent to study in Ontario and to ensure that you maintain continuous health insurance coverage.

If you have any questions about maintaining your health insurance coverage while working or studying in Ontario, please contact your provincial or territorial health insurance plan.

If you have questions about your OHIP coverage, please contact INFOline at 1 800 268-1154 or visit your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office.

The above is only a summary of the OHIP eligibility provisions of Regulation 552 for your reference.  You should consult the actual regulation for the specific requirements applicable to you.  The provisions in Regulation 552 prevail over this summary.