Ontario's provincial health plan is referred to as OHIP, which stands for Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Please use the following as a brief summary of OHIP.

- for full details go to the Ontario provincial government's OHIP web site -

Health Services in Ontario:

OHIP covers numerous health services and is available for all people who meet the residential eligibility requirements. OHIP does not however cover the total cost of services such as:

• Ambulance services.
• Routine eye examinations are no longer covered by OHIP for people aged 19-64; those under 18 and 65 and older are still covered for an eye examination once every 12 months.
• Some physiotherapy may be partially covered or not at all.
• Regular dental examinations; only some dental surgery that is done in a hospital will be covered.
• Podiatrists are only partially covered by OHIP.
• Chiropractors.
• Necessary emergency medical treatment obtained outside of Canada is only covered on a very limited basis; it is highly recommended to have travel insurance coverage if traveling outside of Canada.

Ontario Drug Benefits:

Prescription drugs are not covered by OHIP; however there is assistance for those who need help in paying prescription costs. The ODP program provides coverage for the following categories that possess a valid Ontario health card:

• Seniors 65 and older.
• Ontario residents who are on social assistance i.e. Ontario Disability Support Program and/or Ontario Works.
• Ontario residents who reside in long-term care homes and homes for special care.
• Ontario residents who are receiving professional home care services.

Ontario residents who do not qualify for these categories can become eligible for ODB by registering with the Trillium Drug Plan. The TDP provides access to ODB to those who have high prescription costs in relation to their net income and/or have little or no private insurance coverage.

Last updated October 2008