Work permit holders in Ontario may be eligible for provincial healthcare coverage, depending on their current residence and working status in the province.
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) can cover medical services such as:
- Appointments with a family doctor;
- Visits to walk-in clinics and some other health care providers;
- Emergency room visits;
- Medical tests, and/or
- Surgeries.
This article will cover the details of OHIP coverage for work permit holders in Ontario, including eligibility, what healthcare services are covered, and how to apply for coverage and receive your health card.
This article will go over:
- What is needed to be eligible for OHIP as a work permit holder;
- What OHIP covers; and
- How to apply for OHIP.
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Am I eligible for OHIP coverage on a work permit?
To be eligible for OHIP coverage as a work permit holder in Ontario, you will need to meet several eligibility criteria.
At a minimum, you (a work permit holder in Ontario) must:
- Be physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period;
- Be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days after you begin living in the province; and
- Have your primary residence in Ontario.
In addition, you must meet at least one of the following conditions:
- You are in Ontario on a valid work permit and have been working full-time for an Ontario employer for at least six months*;
- If you meet this requirement, your spouse and dependents may also be eligible for OHIP coverage.
- You are in Ontario on a valid work permit under the Live-In Caregiver Program or the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program; or
- You have submitted an application to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR), which the department has received, reviewed, and confirmed your eligibility. You can apply for OHIP in this scenario before you receive a decision on your PR application.
*You can still apply for OHIP if your work permit has expired, as long as you have applied for an extension or a new work permit before the expiration of your prior one. In these circumstances, under Canadian immigration law, you will continue to maintain your old status inside Canada as long as you apply before the expiration of your prior permit and before you receive a decision on your new application.
OHIP no longer requires a waiting period, meaning that these eligible permit holders can receive healthcare coverage immediately once they apply and are approved by the Ontario provincial government.
How can I apply for OHIP?
All OHIP-eligible residents of Ontario must apply with the necessary documents, in person at a ServiceOntario center.
After you’ve been enrolled in the province’s public healthcare plan you’ll receive a health card. You’ll be expected to present this card to healthcare providers whose services will be billed to the provincial healthcare plan.
You can use ServiceOntario’s locator tool to find the nearest office to you.
Not all ServiceOntario offices provide a full suite of services. To be sure if your selected office can accept your application for a health card as a work permit holder, check on their office website or call ahead to confirm.
To apply, you will need four types of documents:
- A completed application form;
- An original document proving your OHIP-eligible immigration status;
- An original document proving your residency in Ontario; and
- An original document proving your identity.
Note: A single document cannot be used to meet multiple requirements. For example, a valid Ontario Driver’s License is an accepted document both to confirm identity and residency in Ontario, but can only be used to fulfill one of these criteria.
Approved documentation to meet these requirements is detailed below:
| Document type | Approved documentation to apply for OHIP |
|---|---|
| A completed application form | Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form |
| An original document proving your OHIP-eligible immigration status |
|
| An original document proving your residency in Ontario | Documents may be originals in print, or as a digital image (unless indicated otherwise). Photocopies are not permitted. You may provide a(n):
*Only original printed versions are accepted for these documents. |
| An original document proving your identity | The following documents must also include the applicant’s name and signature:
|
What is and is not covered by OHIP?
Services may or may not be covered by OHIP depending on both the type of service and your medical need.
While eligibility can vary depending your specific circumstances, the table below provides a general overview of what services are covered by OHIP (in whole or in part) and those that are not.
| Service name | Covered by OHIP? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor’s Visits | Yes | Fully covered for medically necessary in-person or virtual consultations, including walk-in clinics. |
| Hospital Care | Yes | Covers doctor/nursing services, diagnostic tests, in-patient medications, and accommodation (basic rooms only). |
| Laboratory Tests | Yes | Medically necessary tests in hospitals or community labs are covered. Specialized tests may require eligibility criteria. |
| Abortions | Yes | Covers surgical procedures in hospitals or clinics and Mifegymiso with a doctor’s prescription. |
| Dental Surgery (In-Hospital) | Yes | Covers medically necessary procedures like fracture repair, tumor removal, and approved tooth extractions. |
| Eye Health (Optometry) | In Part | Free annual eye exams for those 19 or younger, or for specific medical conditions. Limited coverage for seniors (65+). |
| Podiatry (Foot Health) | In Part | Covers $7-$16 per visit (up to $135 annually) and $30 for X-rays. Surgeries are not covered. |
| Ambulance Services | In Part | Coverage depends on the circumstances. |
| Northern Ontario Travel Assistance | In Part | Provides travel and accommodation support for specialized medical care in certain northern regions. |
| Prescription Medications | No | Not covered outside hospital settings, such as medications prescribed by family doctors. |
| Dental Services | No | Routine dental care in dentists' offices is not covered. |
| Vision Care | No | Eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgeries not related to medical conditions (e.g., laser surgery) are not covered. |
| Cosmetic Surgery | No | Procedures not medically necessary are not covered. |
| Experimental Treatments | No | Experimental or unapproved treatments are excluded. |
| Other Health Services | No | Excludes services by non-physicians (unless regulated) or virtual consultations via secure messaging (non-video/telephone). |
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