Can I get Ontario health insurance with a work permit?

Ontario work permit holders may be eligible for provincial health insurance depending on their current residence and work status in the province.

The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) may cover health services such as:

• Family doctor appointment;
• Visits to clinics and some other medical institutions;
• Emergency room visit;
• Medical tests and/or
• Operations.

This article will review the details of OHIP coverage for work permit holders in Ontario, including eligibility, what health care services are covered, and how to apply for coverage and obtain a health card.

This article will cover:

• What is required 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 under my work authorization?

To be eligible for OHIP coverage as an Ontario work permit holder, you must meet several criteria.

At a minimum, you (the Ontario work permit holder) must:

• Be physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period;
• Be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days out of the first 183 days after you begin living in the province; And
• Have a primary residence in Ontario.

In addition, you must meet at least one following conditions:

• You are in Ontario, have a valid work permit and are working. on an ongoing basis For Ontario Employer 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 in accordance with Live-in care program or Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program; or
• You submitted an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR), which the department received, reviewed and confirmed your eligibility. In this case, you may apply for OHIP before receiving a decision on your PR application.

*You can still apply for OHIP if your work permit has expired, as long as you apply for an extension or a new work permit before your previous one expires. In these circumstances, under Canadian immigration law, you will continue to maintain your old status in Canada as long as you apply before your previous authorization expires and until you receive a decision on your new application.

OHIP no longer requires a waiting period, meaning these eligible permit holders can receive health insurance immediately after applying and receiving approval from the Ontario government.

How do I apply for OHIP?

All Ontarians eligible for OHIP must submit an application with the required documents in person at ServiceOntario.

Once you enroll in your provincial health plan, you will receive a health card. You will need to present this card to health care providers whose services will be billed to the provincial health plan.

You can use the ServiceOntario search tool to find the office closest to you.

Not all ServiceOntario offices provide a full range of services. To ensure that the office you choose can accept your application for a medical card as a work permit holder, please visit their office website or call ahead to confirm.

To apply you will need four types of documents:

• Completed application form;
• Original proof of your OHIP-eligible immigration status;
• Original document confirming your residence in Ontario; And
• Original document proving your identity.

Note: One document cannot be used to satisfy multiple requirements. For example, a valid Ontario driver’s license is an accepted document for both proof of identity and proof of residence in Ontario, but can only be used to meet one of these criteria.

Approved documentation that meets these requirements is detailed below:

Document type	Approved documentation for filing an OHIP application
Completed application form	Ontario Health Insurance Form Registration
Original proof of your OHIP-eligible immigration status.	Work permit; or Status check (IMM 5716 or IMM 5715); And Proof of full-time employment for an employer in Ontario: – Must be an original or digital document (contract or letter) on official company letterhead, dated by the employer and indicating: – that the employee works full time; – Position/position of the employee; – start date of employment; – The employer intends to employ the employee for at least six months. – Letters may also indicate that the employee is “permanent”, but this does not count towards the “full time” calculation.
Original document proving your residence in Ontario.	Documents may be original printed copies or digital images (unless otherwise noted). Photocopies are not permitted. You can provide: Valid Ontario driver’s license*; Temporary driver’s license* – Only if you have a license card with a photo and the same address; Valid Ontario photo card*; Utility bill (cable TV, hydro, gas, water); Monthly bank statements – Applicants should not enclose receipts, bank books, letters or ATM receipts; Employer information (for example, a pay stub or a letter from the employer on company letterhead); School, college or university report card or transcript; Child Tax Credit Application; Recent Income Tax Assessment Notice (for the latest available year); Insurance policy (such as home, renter’s, auto or life); Mortgage, rental or leasing agreement; Ontario Motor Vehicle Operator’s Permit (plate or vehicle parts)*; Property tax bill; Telephone bill (home phone, cell phone); Credit card statement; Direct Deposit Application for Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP); Employment Insurance Benefits Paid Report (T4E); Application for Old Age Insurance (T4A) or Application for Benefits under Canada Pension Plan (T4A) (P); – Any of the following statements by a bank, trust company or credit union: – Registered Retirement Plan (RRSP); – Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF); or – Registered Home Owner’s Savings Plan (RHOSP). Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Benefit Statement (T5007); or Canada Pension Plan Contribution Report. *Only original printed versions are accepted for these documents.
Original document proving your identity	The following documents must also contain the applicant’s name and signature: Credit card; Valid Ontario driver’s license or provisional driver’s license; Valid Ontario photo card; Canadian Immigration Identification Card; Certificate of Canadian citizenship (plastic card); Certificate of Indian Status (paper or plastic card); Proof of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292) – Only with a signature; Valid employee identification; Current professional association license (if required); Old age security card; Ontario Motor Vehicle Permit (license plate only); Passport (Canadian or foreign); Permanent Resident Card – Only with a signature; Landing Record (IMM 1000); student ID; or Map of the Union.

What is and is not covered by OHIP?

Services may or may not be covered by OHIP depending on the type of service and your health care needs.

Although eligibility may vary depending on your specific circumstances, the table below provides a general overview of which services are covered (in whole or in part) by OHIP and which are not.

Service name	Covered by OHIP?	Details
Doctor visits	Yes	Full coverage of medically necessary in-person or virtual consultations, including outpatient consultations.
Hospital care	Yes	Covers doctor/nurse services, diagnostic tests, inpatient medications and accommodations (base rooms only).
Laboratory tests	Yes	Medically necessary tests in hospitals or public laboratories are covered. Specialized tests may require eligibility criteria.
Abortion	Yes	Covers surgical procedures in hospitals or clinics and Mifegymiso with a doctor’s prescription.
Dental surgery (in hospital)	Yes	Covers medically necessary procedures such as fracture healing, tumor removal, and approved dental extractions.
Eye Health (Optometry)	Partially	Free annual vision exams for those 19 years of age and younger and for certain medical conditions. Limited coverage for seniors (65+).
Podiatry (foot health)	Partially	Covers $7-$16 per visit (up to $135 per year) and $30 per x-ray. Surgeries are not covered.
Ambulance services	Partially	Insurance depends on the circumstances.
Northern Ontario Travel Assistance	Partially	Provides travel and accommodation to provide specialized medical care in selected northern regions.
Prescription drugs	No	Outside the hospital, for example, medications prescribed by family doctors are not covered.
Dental services	No	Routine dental care in dental offices is not covered.
Vision care	No	Glasses, contact lenses, and surgeries not related to medical conditions (such as laser surgery) are not covered.
Cosmetic surgery	No	Procedures that are not medically necessary are not covered.
Experimental treatments	No	Experimental or unapproved treatments are excluded.
Other medical services	No	Excludes services provided by non-physicians (unless regulated) and virtual consultations via secure messaging (no video/phone).

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