OHIP Eligibility of Canadian-Born Children of OHIP-ineligible Parents

Even if you are not eligible to obtain a health card, but you are a resident of Ontario, your newborn or child may be eligible if they were born in a Canadian hospital and are therefore Canadian citizens.

Children born in Canada may be eligible to receive a health card even if their parents do not qualify for Ontario health coverage because they hold either an OHIP-ineligible immigration status or they have no immigration status.

If your baby is born in an Ontario hospital or at home and attended by registered midwife …

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has a special registration process for babies born in Ontario birthing hospitals, or at home and attended by a registered midwife. Immediately after the birth of your baby, hospital staff or a registered midwife will give you an Ontario Health Coverage Infant Registration (form 4440-82) to complete. This form requests information regarding your baby such as the baby’s name, birth date and mailing address. Information is also requested regarding the parent/guardian who is completing the form. You will be asked to confirm that the child:

• has a permanent and principal home in Ontario.
• will be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days in any twelve-month period to retain health coverage.

The bottom of this form is detachable and should be retained by you. It is pre-printed with a health number assigned to your baby. You should keep this record and use it until you receive your baby’s plastic Ontario health card. Tourists, transients or visitors are not eligible for OHIP coverage.

If your baby is born in Canada, but not in an Ontario birthing hospital or at home attended by Ontario registered midwife …

Parents of children born in Canada, but not in an Ontario birthing hospital or at home and attended by a registered midwife, will need to visit an OHIP office to register the child for Ontario health coverage. You will also need to provide the ministry with proof of your child’s Canadian citizenship, your residency in Ontario and your identity.

• confirmation of the baby's birth, through either a letter from the hospital or attending physician, or a Certified Statement of Live Birth from a provincial office of the Registrar-General;
• a completed Registration for Ontario Health Coverage;
• your residency document; and
• your identity document.

If you visit an OHIP office more than 90 days after the birth of your child you need to bring all of the following documents :

• your child's Canadian citizenship document;
• a completed Registration for Ontario Health Coverage;
• your residency document; and
• your identity document.

For a complete listing of approved documents as required above, refer to the Ontario Health Coverage Document List. You may be asked for additional documents. The ministry only accepts original documents - photocopies are not acceptable.

If you have additional questions about your own eligibility for OHIP coverage, please refer to the fact sheet OHIP Eligibility. Ministry staff can also help you determine whether or not you or your child are eligible for Ontario health coverage.

May 2006