2. Understand what is covered
Question & Answer
Can I get health insurance if I’m not a permanent resident?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
OHIP doesn't cover everything. For example, OHIP doesn't pay for:
- medicine that isn't prescribed at a hospital, for example, if your family doctor prescribes you antibiotics these are not covered by OHIP unless you are under 24 years old
- dental care at a dentist's office
- routine eye exams, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and laser eye surgery for anyone between 19 and 64 years old
- cosmetic surgery that is not medically necessary
- some mental health and psychological counselling
If OHIP doesn't 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 doesn't cover.
Private Insurance
When you have private insurance, you pay the insurance company a certain amount of money every year, often called insurance premiums. Then, if you have medical costs, your insurer pays some or all of the cost of the treatment.
Some employers give their employees private insurance. But you can also buy private insurance on your own. 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.
