OHIP Coverage Across Canada

An insured person leaving Ontario to travel or work within Canada can continue to receive Ontario health coverage for up to 12 months or until establishing residency in another Canadian province or territory, whichever is sooner.

If you plan to work or travel within Canada for more than 212 days in any 12-month period, you need to provide the ministry with a written confirmation of your extended absence. You should provide the ministry with the timing and details of your extended absence as soon as you know that you will be away from Ontario.

You should also advise the ministry of your new residential and mailing addresses if you establish temporary residence in another province or territory.

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 health 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 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 1^st day of the 13^th month.

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

If you are an insured Ontario resident who leaves Ontario to attend a university or other approved educational institution full-time in another province or territory within Canada, you are eligible for Ontario health coverage for the duration of your studies, provided you do not establish permanent residence outside Ontario.

If you plan to study in another province or territory, you need to provide the ministry 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 the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care 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 coverage.

If you establish temporary residence in another province or territory within Canada while pursuing academic studies, you should advise the ministry of your new residential and mailing addresses as soon as possible.

If you are an insured resident moving to another part of Canada you should apply for health coverage in your new province or territory as soon as possible. Your Ontario health 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 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 coverage.

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 a ministry office to apply for Ontario health 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 approved educational institution in Ontario, you are eligible for health 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 coverage.

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

June 2005