How do I get a health card for my baby?
To get an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card for your baby, you must be a resident of Ontario. And, you must agree that you and your baby will:
- live mainly in Ontario, and
- live in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12 month-period.
If you and your baby moved to Ontario recently, you do not have to wait before you apply. But you must also agree that you and your baby will live in Ontario for at least 153 days within the first 183 days after you move to Ontario. This is about 5 out of the first 6 months.
Your baby must also have an immigration status that makes them eligible for OHIP. For example, they can be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person. Any baby born in Canada is a Canadian citizen.
Your baby can get an OHIP card even if you do not have one. And if you have an OHIP card, your baby still needs their own card.
The process
The process to apply for your baby's OHIP card depends on whether your child was born:
- in Ontario, see Step 1
- in Canada but not in Ontario, see Step 2
- outside Canada, see Step 3
OHIP benefits
With an OHIP card, the Government of Ontario pays for certain health services, such as some medical tests and vaccines, and visits to:
- a doctor
- a health care specialist
- a hospital
OHIP does not pay for all your baby's medical costs. For example, it does not pay for medicines or visits to the dentist.
There are other programs that may pay for some of these costs. For example, if you have private health insurance through work or that you pay for, your insurance plan may pay for some costs not covered by OHIP. If you are not covered for dental costs at all, the Canadian Dental Care Plan may help.