I have been eager to have regular health care again and will finally be able to apply for OHIP! I know that there is a 3 month waiting period, but I'm confused about what they mean by 'residency'. My husband and I have been married since Sep 2009, and I've been in Toronto since March 2009 (over a year) under a visitor extension I filed alongside my PR app. I applied outland, so there is no AIP or some such. Will I be able to count my time here towards the 3 months or will it only count from the day I land? I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience with this.
OHIP eligibilty information generally:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/publ...ility.html
I am pretty sure you have to wait until three months after landing. Note, though, you should apply soon after landing -- I applied within a few weeks of landing (well, actually it was right after I received the PR card, so more like five weeks), and then they mailed me the OHIP card so that it arrived literally the day I was eligible to begin using it.
Last April 1 (well after I landed and applied) Ontario made some revisions to its OHIP eligibility policies, including to some extent regarding persons who have PR apps in process. (see link above for current eligibility policy)
I don't know the full extent of those changes, but it is my impression that the changes did away with the medical exam requirement for inland PR applicants who had AIP, and did not affect so-called "outland" applicants.
Basically, it is my impression anyway, that if you are "visiting" you are not "residing" in Canada, even if your visit is for a very long time (you may be "living" in Ontario, but not "residing" in Ontario one might say), and as an outland applicant you do not commence "residing" in Ontario until you land. So your landing date commences your beginning to reside date. (Unless you had other status, such as a TRP, pending the processing of the PR app.)
You might want to inquire directly when you go to a OHIP office -- see ServiceOntario site for a search portal to find particular service locations
(it is more cumbersome than it should be but follow links):
http://www.ontario.ca/en/services_for_re...L02_186323
. . . but, I think you will have to wait the three months . . .
Unless you already have a pressing health issue, the time flies by quickly enough . . . I will use my health card for the first time in a little over a week, almost a year to the day since I received it. (and fortunately it is merely me finally getting around to an intake appointment with the doctor who will be my family physician)
For what it's worth, and to reinforce the difference between living somewhere and residing somewhere: While I was a grad student living in Ontario, my New Brunswick healthcare card was set to expire. Instead of trying to renew it over the phone/via mail, or with my mom's help, I decided I'd just get on OHIP instead. When I went to the office, she asked me when I had decided to move to Ontario permanently. I just randomly picked a date, more or less coinciding with when I had bought my first car and switched over my driver's license. My OHIP coverage didn't start until 3 months from the more or less random date I had given her. She told me I would still be covered by New Brunswick's medicare in the meantime.
So I gave them a call today because I had the same question. They told me that I can apply for OHIP once I show them the letter from Immigration Canada stating that I am approved for PR AND a document showing a local address as well as my passport. So from what I understood I don't have to wait until I have the physically PR card in hand. Hope this helps!
dpenabill Wrote:OHIP eligibilty information generally:
. . . but, I think you will have to wait the three months . . .
Unless you already have a pressing health issue, the time flies by quickly enough . . . I will use my health card for the first time in a little over a week, almost a year to the day since I received it. (and fortunately it is merely me finally getting around to an intake appointment with the doctor who will be my family physician)
yeah, I figured as much. ah well! I don't have any
pressing health issues, but my husband and I eager to get pregnant, so we'd rather have coverage sooner rather than later :) wishful thinking on my part lol. thanks!
thanks also, monkeyface, that's good to know! I'll go ahead and apply at the my local office since I have the proper documents
(04-12-2010 02:18 PM)monkeyface Wrote: [ -> ]So I gave them a call today because I had the same question. They told me that I can apply for OHIP once I show them the letter from Immigration Canada stating that I am approved for PR AND a document showing a local address as well as my passport. So from what I understood I don't have to wait until I have the physically PR card in hand. Hope this helps!
So you don't even have to land? You basically just show them your PPR and passport and proof of a Canadian address?
Quote:So you don't even have to land?
You have to land. You do not need to have PR Card which can come 8 weeks later.
Monkeyface, when you say \"approved for PR\", does that mean once your spouse has been approved to sponsor you? Or does that mean once you actually land? Also, can you officially \"reside\" in Canada (Ontario specifically) while the PR application is in process or is that considered a visit? My husband has spoken with OHIP representatives several times and we have never received a clear answer.
Lucy, it would mean once you actually land as a PR. :) 90 days from your landing date is when you are eligible for OHIP, but you can apply for it at any time during that 90 day period.
Technically, it\'s only called visiting when you\'re not yet a PR. So no, that won\'t count as residing.