As an international student, a lot of your life is centred around the following: ensuring all your immigration documents are up to date, going to classes, writing exams, trying to find healthy (or sometimes not so healthy) ways to deal with your homesickness, attempting to make and maintain new friendships and or/relationships, and all while trying to adapt and familiarize yourself with your new home-away-from-home.
Once you've finally hit the milestone of Graduation day, some of student-centered worries and responsibilities may come to an end, especially if you decide to return to your home country after your graduation/convocation ceremony.
However, if you're like me, and the other international students who wanted to extend their stay in Canada, and went on to the next step of applying for a (Post-Graduate) Work Permit, having your status changed from an international student, to a foreign worker here in Canada, comes with new stresses, and new responsibilities.
Paired with these new stresses and responsibilities, do come an extra perk or two. One of the major ones, is that once you land that first full-time job in Ontario, there is a possibility that you can finally apply for OHIP.
For us former international students now turned foreign workers in Ontario, if you were someone who had to frequently visit the doctor's office, or even the emergency room, then you likely have experienced the dreaded health insurance related frustrations we've all probably experienced as international students; the pain of trying to find out if the walk-in clinic, doctor's office or emergency room closest to us will accept our international student insurance.
Finally getting access to OHIP however, helps push aside a number of those frustrations.
In this post, I'll be highlighting the following:
Tap on any of the selections above to be taken to that section of the post.
What is OHIP?
Coming from the background of being an international student, for many of us, health insurance is mandatory in most, if not all schools.
(I have an entire post dedicated to health insurance and managing your physical health as an international student in Canada, specific to Ontario, which can be read here.)
The most popular health insurance options as students, are UHIP (Universal Health insurance plan) used by schools such as York University, and Toronto Metropolitan University (former Ryerson University) or MorCare, used by schools such as Humber College, and Durham College.
Overtime you learn that these insurance plans do carry a number of limitations, notably not every clinic accepting them, or having to pay co-pay fees in others.
When it comes to OHIP however, with this being the provincial-wide insurance coverage, it means you have an increased number of available clinics you can walk into for more basic services, without having to worry about paying any out-of-pocket fees.
Now what is OHIP essentially?
OHIP, which stands for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, is the provincial wide health insurance coverage that every Ontarian/Canadian citizen living in Ontario has.
It's essentially a 'basic' health insurance coverage plan, which covers aspects such as general doctor's visits, free prescriptions (till the day you turn 25) and a number of other health services throughout the province of Ontario.
To learn more about OHIP in its entirety, you can take a look at this link here for a better expansion from the Government of Ontario's website.
OHIP is accepted province-wide, which means that having a valid OHIP health card allows you to receive health-related services in almost any clinic in Ontario, doctor's office, hospital, and more.
Typically when you visit almost any doctor's office or clinic on Ontario, they will ask for your health card, or health card number. This is a piece of your identity in Ontario.
The health card looks like this:
What you should remember, is that once your international student insurance has ended, (which is usually just before the start of the new academic year that you'll no longer be enrolled) you won't have any insurance coverage until you either apply for private insurance, or apply for OHIP.
Note that a number of the private insurance companies require you to have some form of insurance already, which is usually OHIP.
However, there are also Community health centres, which are non-profit organizations that may provide primary health care services to those without OHIP or health insurance. For more on this, you can tap here to check out a link with more information.
How do I qualify for OHIP as a foreign worker?
Is this your current scenario? (Or similar to it?)
You've recently graduated, applied for a (Post-Graduate) Work Permit, sent out a number of applications and had some interviews while waiting for it to be processed. You FINALLY landed your first full-time job in Canada, got the news your work permit was approved and would be arriving in the mail, and your status has officially changed from that of an international student, to now a foreign worker in Canada.
Well, one of the very first things I would recommend you do, (aside from renewing your SIN number as soon as possible, more on that in my blog post here), is then applying for OHIP.
According to the Ontario.ca website here: foreign workers can apply for OHIP, but only if you meet the following conditions and qualifications.
The minimum qualifications according to the Ontario.ca website are (note that these were taken directly from their website):
You must;
↠↠ be physically in Ontario for 153 days in any 12‑month period.
↠↠ be physically in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after you began living in the province.
↠↠ make Ontario your primary residence.
In addition to these qualifications, you also have to meet at least one of the following additional requirements:
↠↠ are a Canadian citizen.
↠↠ are an Indigenous person (registered under the federal Indian Act)
↠↠ are a permanent resident (formerly called a “landed immigrant”)
↠↠ are applying for permanent residence in Canada and:
↠↠ have submitted an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and;
↠↠ IRCC has confirmed they have reviewed the application and that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply (see document requirements);and
↠↠ you have not yet been denied
Note: The main additional qualification that will apply to you as a former international student turned foreign worker will more than likely be this one:
↠↠ are in Ontario on a valid work permit and are working full-time in Ontario, for an Ontario employer, for at least six months.
The website states that once you meet all of these qualifications and requirements, you'll also need to provide some specific documentation (which I'll go into below) to your nearest ServiceOntario office/centre.
Everyone's situation will differ, but once you meet the above conditions, you shouldn't run into any major issues. If you do however, or if there's anything you're unsure about, you can always go into your nearest ServiceOntario and ask.
How do I apply for OHIP?
If you compare the OHIP application to others, such as your study permit, or work permit application, the OHIP one is actually pretty simple.
Also something to note: the application is FREE.
As a foreign worker, according to the Ontario.ca website as of October 2022, you'll need to ensure you bring the following documents to your nearest ServiceOntario Centre:
(2) ↠↠ Three separate documents from the list of qualifying identification documents below (photocopies not accepted):
↠↠ One original document that proves your Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status.
↠↠ One document (original, printed or digital/electronic document as noted on the list) that proves your residency in Ontario.
↠↠ One original document that proves your identity.
(3) ↠↠ Proof of full-time employment for an employer in Ontario:
According to the Ontario.ca website, this must be an original or digital document (contract or letter) on employer company letterhead signed and dated by the employer and state the following: (Very important drop down checklist below!)
You'll more than likely have to request the proof of full-time employment letter from your place of employment's HR office/department, so I would recommend doing this within your first month of landing the new full-time job, so you can get that OHIP application in, and out of the way sooner, rather than later.
It's a shaky thing moving through a country that you are not a citizen of, and having no health insurance, so have this be high up on your checklist of things to do once your status changes from that of an international student to a foreign worker.
My first time applying for OHIP, I distinctively remember the letter of proof of employment I got from HR was a document that was digitally signed, so when I printed out the letter, the signature was fading on a physical copy.
When I took that letter to ServiceOntario, they spent quite sometime taking a look at the document (I'm assuming to ensure that I didn't forge the signature.) It made me panic a little, at the thought of them not accepting the letter, especially after they had to pass it around to about three different colleagues to double check it.
My recommendation in this case, if you run into a similar issue (of the signature looking faint or faded when the proof of full-time employment letter is printed out) is just following up with the HR representative who provided you with the letter originally, and asking if they can sign it again.
The proof of full-time employment letter is also the one you may end up waiting the longest for, since this is something you'll have to request, while all the other required documents are ones you can get on your own.
Here's my reminder again, to try and request that document from your employer as soon as you can.
Once you've gathered all the required documents, your next step is to book an appointment at your nearest ServiceOntario.
Not all ServiceOntario locations provide the same services, so when in doubt, always check before hand.
The main ServiceOntario website can be found here. From there, you can select what service you want, or you can tap here to be taken instantly to the page about applying for OHIP and getting a health card.
You don't have to book an appointment per say, for example if you run into an issue of not finding any available time slots online for the intended period you are looking to go in.
In this case, you can still make your way to your nearest ServiceOntario, you just run a much higher risk of not being able to submit the application without an appointment, because ServiceOntario and ServiceCanada offices are notorious for their long lines and long wait times (depending on what you need to go in for.)
Booking an appointment just saves you the hassle and disappointment of not being attended to and having to come back another day, so always try to do that first.
If you're not able to book an appointment, and have to do a walk in, I would recommend avoiding busier times like lunchtimes, or busier days like Mondays and Wednesdays. Aim to go as early in the morning as possible (you may have to book a day off/half day off from work to do this) or depending on where you work, you can try to go after work.
Note that most, if not all ServiceOntario offices close by 5pm, so if you end work around 4pm-4:30pm, it'll be a bit of a squeeze, but it's not impossible (I got through at 4:45pm on a Wednesday afternoon after work when I went in to renew my OHIP card.)
I can 'quickly' detail my experience visiting the ServiceOntario location at Bay and College. This was the first time I went to register for OHIP, and I was able to book an appointment.
The entrance was split in two lines, one for persons with an appointment, and one for persons without.
Once you enter your designated line, it eventually leads to the main reception, where you inform the staff member there what you came to get done, and they hand you a number and have you wait for it to be called.
I want to say I waited for about 30 minutes before they called my number, and I made my way to the desk number the announcement told me to go to. The numbers go by a bit quickly, so make sure you're checking the screens regularly. If you miss your designated call time for more than a few minutes, they will move onto the next person in the queue, and you'll likely have to start over the process from the beginning, in terms of booking an appointment again (or re-joining the walk-in line.)
At the desk, they took a look at all my documents and my application form, taking an extra long time on that proof of full-time enrollment letter since the printed signature was faded, but they ultimately accepted everything (allowing me to let out the biggest sigh of relief.)
I should note that if you are a full-time employee working on a term or contract basis, it is possible that your employer will note the end date of your employment on that letter.
Should this happen to you, note that your OHIP card's expiry date will match that end date of employment from your proof of full-time employment letter. They can't issue a card beyond that date.
The most important aspect about your employment, is that you have to be working on a full-time basis, and the employer has to intend to hire you for a minimum of 6 months.
If you're working for a one year full-time contract for example, your OHIP card will only be valid for the one year. If you become a permanent full-time employee at the same place of employment, or change employers, when that expiration date for your OHIP health card is coming up, just ensure you get another proof of full-time employment letter, book that appointment, and go renew your OHIP card.
If you landed a full-time permanent job, then the OHIP card's validity should match that of your (Post-Graduate) work permit.
After all my documents were verified, they had me step back against the wall to take my picture (since your OHIP card is a photo card) and then they provide you with a paper document, which is your temporary health card.
It looks something like this:
You can start accessing the benefits of OHIP from the day you go to sign up, once everything is confirmed, accepted, and you receive the temporary health card document.
This document will include all the key information you would have to provide to a doctor's office, hospital, or wherever you may need the OHIP for. The most important thing you'll want to make a note of, is the health card number.
The physical plastic card will come in the mail in about 4-6 weeks. When you get the card, you'll no longer need the temporary health card paper document, and you can just slide the card in your wallet to keep on you for whenever you'll need it.
What is covered under OHIP?
Some of the main aspects to keep in mind regarding basic health care in Ontario, is that for most walk-in clinics, you just have to present your OHIP card for them to register you in their system (if you've never been before) and that's about it, granted you're going to see the doctor for something not too serious.
These are some examples of health services OHIP covers that are noted on the Ontario.ca website:
↠↠ Appointments with your family doctor.
↠↠ Visits to walk-in clinics and some other health care providers.
↠↠ Visits to an emergency room.
↠↠ Medical tests and surgeries.
Additionally, if you are 24 years old or younger, have OHIP coverage, and are not covered by an additional private insurance plan, you are automatically enrolled into, and covered by OHIP+
This is a plan which covers 5000+ drug products for free, once you have a prescription and a health card (OHIP Card)
Note that from the day you turn 25 and beyond however, you'll no longer be covered under OHIP+ and will incur out-of-pocket prescription fees (unless you are covered by a private insurance plan that has prescription drugs included in its coverage.)
Overall, OHIP is a 'basic' health insurance coverage plan, but as a foreign worker in Ontario who's relatively healthy and in good shape, this is something great to have because you never know when you might need to take an urgent trip to the doctor, or the emergency room one day. Don't run the risk of finding yourself uninsured in a sticky situation.
What happens when my OHIP card expires?
If your OHIP card's expiry date is coming up, then the first thing you need to do is request the letter of proof of full-time employment, and all the same documents you gathered the first time you applied for a health card, so you can go in to have the card renewed.
Tap here to go back to the section of this post that highlights the documents you need for the application.
Add to that list of documents, your expired or expiring health card.
When my health card's expiration date was coming up, I actually received a renewal form and reminder in my mailbox. In case your health card expiration date isn't something regularly on your mind, that physical application being mailed out to you, can serve as a great reminder.
Once it's time to renew the card, you'll have to go through the whole process again of gathering your documents, and booking (or tying to book) an appointment at your nearest ServiceOntario.
I noticed a while back that there is the option to renew the card online as well, but it would appear that this has to be done simultaneously with your driver's license renewal, and if you don't have an Ontario driver's license, this won't even be applicable to you.
I'm unsure of why they've grouped it that way, but your safest bet is to just book an appointment online to go in-person, or try to walk in and cross your fingers and toes that the line isn't super long when you decide to go.
Regarding the documents to bring to your health card renewal; If you changed employers since the last time you applied for OHIP, I would also recommend bringing your previous proof of full-time employment letter with you, just in case they ask to see it as well.
The renewal process is relatively the same as the first time you apply for a health card; They'll check all your documents and confirm their validity. Once they're accepted, you'll be asked to step against the wall to have another picture taken, and you'll be issued another temporary health card document.
They may also ask to see your previous OHIP card, to punch a hole in it since it'll no longer be valid.
Once the new physical plastic card has been shipped to you, all you need to do is replace the old card with the new one in your wallet or purse, and you're good to go.
Something new to note here, is that while you're waiting the 4-6 weeks for your newly renewed physical plastic OHIP card to be shipped, if you have to visit the doctor or any medical practitioner's office during the wait period, you'll have to bring both the temporary health card paper document, and your expired OHIP card. (This is what I was told at booth when I was going through the renewal process.)
Mini comparison of OHIP and UHIP/International student insurance plans
OHIP | UHIP/ International (student) insurance plans |
Accepted provincial wide - All of Ontario. | Only accepted by certain clinics and medical practitioners offices. |
Free of charge (Any additional fees will range depending on the type/reason for visiting the doctor's office etc.) | Carries an additional fee separate from your tuition, housing and other fees as an international student. |
Does not cover dental services. | Covers some dental services. (Will vary by institution) |
Physical plastic card. (Takes 4-6 weeks to be shipped.) | Paper print out card (Paper card is usually available instantly at the start of every academic year.) |
Health card expiry will be based on your employment type (contract vs. permanent employee) If permanent, expiry date will be same day as (Post Graduate) Work Permit expiration. | Coverage will only last as long as you have student status (Full-time or part-time requirement for insurance coverage will vary by school.) |
Health care and health insurance have always been a confusing element of moving abroad for me, and for many of us who are, or were once international students. I never really took the time to dive in and do the proper research into what exactly my insurance covered, but use me as the example of what not to be in this case.
Your health is, and will always be one of the most important things in regards to life of being an immigrant in another country. I would go even so far as to argue that health care and health insurance are twice as confusing to navigate and understand as a foreign worker than as an international student.
This is because there are way more resources and explanations in place tailored to students.
Some people seem to expect and assume that you would have a firm grasp of basically everything by the time you've graduated and landed your first 'big-person full-time job' but this is not the case for everyone, and if you're still confused to this day about health care and insurance in Ontario, you're not alone!
When you can, take a moment to browse through the Government of Ontario's website links I provided throughout this post to generate a basic understanding of your coverage here. It's vital information that may prove to be extremely helpful someday. Even just bookmarking the 'What does OHIP cover' page can be a huge time saver.
I also hope this blog post has been able to help make the process and just understanding insurance a little less confusing or concerning, because it's also pretty easy to feel over-stimulated taking in too much information, far less information you may not completely understand.
And when in doubt, never hesitate to ask a question! Especially when it comes to health care and health insurance.
Thanks for reading!