Can I get health insurance if I’m not a permanent resident?
Ontario has a public health insurance system called the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP). You can apply for OHIP if you have a certain immigration status and meet certain residency requirements. For example:
- you're a Canadian citizen, , or a .
- You applied to be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that you're eligible to apply.
- You have a valid work permit, you work full-time for an employer in Ontario, and your work permit or a letter from your employer says you'll work for them for at least 6 months.
- You're the or child of the work permit holder described above. If you're their child, you must be under age 22 or dependent on them due to a mental or physical disability.
OHIP pays for many medical services in Ontario. Some of the services covered by OHIP include:
- going to the doctor for routine checkups or to see a specialist
- emergency medicine
- most of the cost of ambulance trips
- hospital stays
- medical or surgical abortions
OHIP can also pay for some:
- dental surgery in hospital
- vision care
- foot care
To have your services covered by OHIP, you must show your Ontario Health Card. If a service is covered by OHIP, the government will pay for all or most of it. In some cases, you will have to pay a part of the cost.
If OHIP does not cover the cost of a medical service or procedure, then you might have to pay the full cost. In some situations, there are community groups or charities that can help to pay for your treatment.
People can also use private health insurance to help pay for medical services that OHIP does not cover. There are many different insurance companies in Ontario. You can find a list of them here. For more information about health insurance for newcomers, see here.
Canadian Dental Care Plan
Depending on your situation, you might be eligible to have some dental costs covered through the Canadian Dental Care Plan. There are different rules about who qualifies.
Healthcare for refugee claimants
If you have made a claim for refugee protection in Canada, you may be eligible for health coverage through a separate program called the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).