Renewing Your Photo Health Card

A photo health card has an expiry date that is linked to your date of birth. If you are older than 15½ years, you will need to visit an OHIP office or Outreach site to renew your health card and have a photo taken.

Renewal notices for photo health cards are mailed approximately two months prior to the expiry date shown on the front of your card, but you can renew up to six months prior to this expiry date.

If you are 15½ years of age or older, to renew your Ontario photo health card, you must :

1. Go in person to your nearest OHIP office or Outreach site.
2. Complete a Health Card Renewal (form 4297-82).
3. Bring with you an original document that proves your residency in Ontario and an original document with your name and signature to prove your identity (refer to the Ontario Health Coverage Document List (form 9998E-82).

You may be asked for additional documents, for example :

• If your name has changed you will need to provide a marriage certificate or a change of name certificate.
• If your citizenship or immigration status has changed you will need to present an original citizenship or immigration document.
• Children older than 15½ years of age must renew in person and have their photo and signature taken. They will need their own original documents (refer to the Ontario Health Coverage Document List (form 9998E-82).

In most cases, children younger than 15½ years of age can have their health card renewed by their parent/guardian completing and signing the Health Card Renewal - Child (form 4258-82), on the back of the child's renewal notice, and returning it to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in the pre-addressed envelope that is included with the notice. You will receive your child's renewed health card in the mail approximately six weeks following the ministry's receipt of the completed application. The child's renewal notice will advise the parent/guardian if they must visit an OHIP office or Outreach site to provide their own proof of residency and identity to support the renewal of their child's health card.

October 2005