Perhaps one of Canada’s greatest assets to its residents is its universal health care system, funded by the government through health insurance plans like OHIP in Ontario. But in order to take advantage of this service, you have to apply for it! That means getting yourself a health card to prove to your doctors that you’re eligible for the service.
What does OHIP cover? A lot of things! A good rule of thumb is that most treatments or procedures that are medically necessary are covered, at least in part, by OHIP. Anything that isn’t considered medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery, will likely not be covered without special reasoning and permission.
There are a few requirements to getting OHIP eligibility in Ontario:
• You must be a Canadian citizen, or have immigration status,
• Your permanent and primary home must be located in Ontario, and
• You must be physically present in Ontario at least 153 days out of every year.
• You must also have been in Ontario for at least 3 months prior to being eligible for OHIP. It is recommended to purchase private health insurance during that waiting period in case something happens to you or your family.
To get more information on
OHIP or
getting a health card, just click on the appropriate links. You can also check out
our page on OHIP.