Canada Health Insurance

Ottawa health insurance is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which provides a wide variety of health services to its residents, such as health insurance, drug benefits, medical devices, nursing assistance, care for the mentally ill, and much more. Those under the Ontario health insurance plan (OHIP) possess a health card that must be presented when receiving health services. It should be carried with you at all times.

Eligibility
In order to be eligible for health insurance in Ottawa or the rest of Ontario, you must be a citizen of Ontario or have immigration status. Moreover, you must have been physically in the province for 153 consecutive days within a 12-month period with your permanent physical place of residence being in Ontario. Those new to the province are subjected to a three-month waiting period, and it is advisable that they register for a private insurance plan during this time. Your waiting period officially starts on the day you establish residence within the province of Ontario.

Services
OHIP covers a broad range of health services, but it does not include such services that are deemed medically unnecessary, such as cosmetic surgery. Essentially, OHIP will cover all insured medical services that are provided by a physician. However, a physician may bill you for uninsured services that are rendered, and you will be charged if your health card has expired.

Health services provided by podiatrists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals may be partially covered by OHIP, in which case you must pay the difference. Dental surgery that is performed within a hospital setting will be covered by Ottawa health insurance, but any other dental work performed in a dentist’s office must be paid by you. Annual eye examinations are covered by OHIP for those under 20 years of age and those over 65 years of age.

Ontario health benefits will cover you across Canada. The province or territory you are visiting will bill the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for any hospital or physician-related charges incurred outside of your province (Quebec being the only exception). Should you have to undergo medical treatment in Quebec, you would be charged and would subsequently have to submit receipts for reimbursement yourself. For more information concerning benefits, please refer to the OHIP website.

How to Obtain an Ottawa Health Insurance Card
In order to obtain a health insurance card in Ontario, individuals must visit an OHIP office to fill out an application form. Those wishing to register for health insurance in Ottawa must provide original documentation proving their identity, residency in the province of Ontario, and their immigrant/citizen status. In certain circumstances, you may be asked for additional documents, such as in the case of a name change. Individuals over 15-years-old must have their photo taken for their card and provide a digital signature.

Read more about Ontario health insurance.