An Example of an Ontario Health Card, issued under the OHIP System

SickKids Hospital one of the best know childrens hospitals in Toronto

Note that all provinces in Canada have a public health system which entitles you to have free health coverage after a particular waiting period. However, there is no waiting period for refugees but permanent residents are usually expected to wait for 3 months before they are entitled for the free health coverage that the province administers.

Toronto belongs to the province of Ontario and its public free health care service is known as the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). For you to be entitled for free health care you should first obtain the OHIP card which you will present to a doctor, nurse, emergency service such as ambulance staff etc.

Waiting Period

You should apply for OHIP as soon as you arrive in Ontario. Generally, there is a three-month waiting period from the date you arrive until you are covered. You are also required to be present in Ontario for 153 days of the first 183 days after the day you apply for health coverage.

There are several ways that you can cover the 3 months waiting period and one option would be for you to visit an Insurer in Sri Lanka such as Ceylinco, Janashakthi, Union Assurance, CTC Eagle or Senaratne brokers at Liberty Plaza who has a UK travel plan. You have to make sure that they will settle the hospital directly and in most cases you’ll have a phone number attached to your policy that you or a family member can call to report a claim in case you are admitted to hospital. Please check with your Insurance representative and have a clear understanding on what is covered. Alternatively you may buy a health plan here in Canada but it may prove to be costly.

Some Insurers may not cover pregnancy. If you are buying from Sri Lanka, be sure to read the policy to ensure that you are still eligible for coverage as someone who is migrating to Canada. Be sure that they cover one-way travel and ask the Insurance representative for all the details.

Applying for your health coverage

Once you’re eligible, you can get an OHIP card by completing the Ontario Ministry of Health application form called: “Registration for Ontario Health Coverage.” Application forms are available from local Service Ontario OHIP Offices. Some doctors’ offices and hospitals also have application forms. You can visit the Ministry of Health Web site to obtain an application as well.

Once you have completed the application, take it to the nearest Service Ontario OHIP office with your immigration papers, and an original document with your address details to prove that you live in Ontario (eg: your telephone bill or bank statements with your name and address) and other documents as proof of identity (such as your passport, social insurance card, credit card that has your name and signature on it).

After you submit the papers with the required identity and the photograph that a staff member would take at the location, your health card will be mailed to you in a couple of weeks. Until you receive your original card the department will issue a temporary document entitling you and each of your family member who submitted their application coverage at any of the public hospitals, family doctor clinics etc.