One of the most essential things to acquaint yourself with in your new home is healthcare: how to access it, when and how to pay for it, and how to ensure you and your family get the care all of you need.
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Residents of Ontario have access to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). OHIP covers many health services you might need, including appointments with your family doctor or primary care provider, visits to walk-in clinics, visits to the emergency room, appointments with specialists (when you have received a referral from your family doctor), and many surgeries and medical tests.
However, there are many things that OHIP does not pay for, and you will have to pay for yourself: vision care (optometrist visits and glasses or contact lenses), dental care, therapy or counselling, cosmetic surgery, and prescription medication.
Insurance provided by your employer might cover some or all these additional services. Also, the Canadian government is introducing a new plan to cover dental care for families who make less than $90,000 per year. You can find out more on their website. You can consult the Ontario website if you’d like to check whether OHIP covers a particular service.
When you move to Ontario, there is no waiting period before OHIP covers you. You can apply for a health card right away. More information about who is eligible and how to apply for an OHIP card is on the Ontario government’s website. To apply for a health card, you will need proof of your status in Canada (e.g. a passport, permanent resident card, work permit, etc).
You will also need a document that proves you live in Ontario, like a driver’s license, utility or credit card bill showing your Ontario address, or a mortgage or lease agreement. To apply, you must bring these documents to a Service Ontario centre. You can also book an appointment in advance online.
Your family doctor and you as a newcomer
Most health care will be coordinated through your family doctor (a general practitioner or GP). It would be best if you went to your family doctor for all medical concerns that are not emergencies. If you have a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go to the emergency room at a hospital. Your family doctor can help you address many medical concerns and will refer you to specialists if you have an issue they can’t help directly.
It can be challenging to find a family doctor, especially if you live in a remote area, because Canada has a shortage of family doctors. However, some services can help you find a doctor. The Health Care Connect program is entirely free, and you can register online to be matched with a family doctor in your area who is accepting new patients.
This program can help you find a doctor who speaks your language if you prefer to receive care in a language other than English. You can also specify if you choose a doctor of a specific gender.
If you’d like to find a family doctor yourself, you can search on the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s website. This service also allows you to narrow your search by the doctor’s gender and by the language(s) they speak.
Other ways to access healthcare
If you need medical assistance and your family doctor is unavailable, many cities and towns in Ontario have walk-in clinics. These clinics do not require an appointment, and OHIP covers their services, so they will not charge a fee. You can find a walk-in clinic near you on Google Maps or a similar service. However, it is often preferable to see your family doctor if possible because of the improved continuity of care and because walk-in clinics usually have long wait times.
Another option that specifically serves newcomers to Ontario is a community health centre. These centres are designed to serve people with difficulty accessing medical care, including new immigrants, people living on a low income, and those with language barriers or other obstacles that make finding a family doctor more difficult. There are 75 centres in Ontario; you can see their locations and more information about them here.
Need emergency care?
If you or a loved one is having a medical emergency – a problem that requires immediate assistance to prevent death or long-term harm – you should immediately call 911 or go to the emergency room at your local hospital. It can sometimes be scary or difficult to decide whether a medical event constitutes an emergency. Concordia University has a guide to what situations require emergency medical treatment.
If you cannot get to a hospital alone, call 911, and an ambulance will be sent to your location to pick you up. OHIP does not entirely cover ambulance services – most people must pay a $45 fee. However, if you are genuinely having an emergency, don’t hesitate to call 911 because you are worried about the cost of an ambulance.
The hospital you go to will work with you to pay the fee. There are also many exemptions from the payment– if you receive provincial social assistance (welfare) or live in a long-term care facility, there is no charge for ambulance services. Don’t let the possibility of being charged a fee stop you from getting life-saving care.
Comments