Eligibility for OHIP.. feeling scrutinized

[Sunnysheeb]

Been a Canadian citizen for over 25 years. Served as public servant for 20 years. Still a public servant but have been on long term disability for the past two years. Got married to a US citizen but not made my mind to move yet. Still have complied with the residency requirements. Already got a lock on my OHIP after being honest at a Ontario Service office renewing my driver liscence, without receiving a official letter. Sent all the supporting documents for proving my residency to OERC. After a month waiting, got an email asking about my husband in the US and the date of marriage and .. etc. Quite to be honest, I doubt the relevancy of the question as long as I meet the requirements for OHIP. The review committee should, in my view, only look into all the supporting documents I have provided about my OHIP eligibility and not to be concerned with what my business in the US...whether I got married there, whether my husband has always lived there, whether I am planning to move there or not. .. is not relevant to my eligibility case. All they need to be concerned with, at the present time, should be whether presently I comply with the eligibility requirements and that should be it. The person who is handling my file seems to be acting biased towards my original nationality.
Am I wrong about my case?
Please advise. I am bot sure how to proceed if the review committee denies my eligibility based on the fact that I simply got married in US and disregard and undermines all the supporting documents that I have provided to them. Can they actually deny my eligibility based on my marriage in US and disregard all my residency supporting documents?? Canada is still considered home to me. I do visit my husband in the US but still pretty much live in Ontario. I am devastated. Please help.

 

[Steevy]

The only thing I can make of it is that Service Ontario is concerned with your physical presence in Ontario - "you are in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period.", which is one of the eligibility requirements for OHIP.

I would suggest to follow up with them to clarify the nature of their inquiry and point out your privacy concerns as well.

 

[Sunnysheeb]

Thanks for your response. I've been in Ontario for about 174 days in 2018 which means I meet the requirement. I also have many proof of residency that I have provided to them.
I wasn't sure if they actually have the right to ask about the nature of my visits to the US and whether I could politely indicate in my response, my concern with violation of my privacy and not answering those irrelevant questions. Do I need a lawyer? How is it possible that they are not aware of violating my privacy when they ask such questions in the email?!

 

[canuck78]

Are you talking about OHIP or your longterm disability? Couldn't find a relevant meaning of OERC.

 

[Sunnysheeb]

I am talking about OHIP and OHIP eligibility.

 

[Sunnysheeb]

OERC stands for OHIP Eligibility Review Committee.

 

[Steevy]

Thanks for your response. I've been in Ontario for about 174 days in 2018 which means I meet the requirement. I also have many proof of residency that I have provided to them.
I wasn't sure if they actually have the right to ask about the nature of my visits to the US and whether I could politely indicate in my response, my concern with violation of my privacy and not answering those irrelevant questions. Do I need a lawyer? How is it possible that they are not aware of violating my privacy when they ask such questions in the email?!

One thing is for sure, you are well within your rights not to answer this and to state your concerns regarding the nature of their inquiry. I would suppose that you don't need a lawyer as long as the issue could be resolved by following up with them to ask whether such questions have anything to do with your OHIP eligibility and if so in what way.

I understand that your end-goal is to get your OHIP coverage with as little hassle as possible, so I would probably start with a follow up email questioning their inquiry on the grounds of privacy violation to see whether it was a rookie mistake incorrectly phrasing a question or something else.

 

[Sunnysheeb]

I will certainly do so and clarify the situation as much as possible.
On the eligibility requirements list, one requirement is to live in Ontario for at least 153 days in a year. The person in charge with my file, in her email, is asking for two consecutive years of 2017 and 2018 proof of being in Ontario including all two years's banking statements and credit card activities. Is that ok to ask for?

 

[Buletruck]

One thing is for sure, you are well within your rights not to answer this and to state your concerns regarding the nature of their inquiry.

Actually, you probably aren’t. I imagine they have pretty broad authority to collect any reasonable information they need to determine if you are eligible or not. If you don’t provide the information they request directly, they can most likely acquire it through alternate means (CBSA, your bank, CRA).

Collection of personal information
4.1 (1) The Minister and the General Manager may directly or indirectly collect personal information, subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, for purposes related to the administration of this Act, the Commitment to the Future of Medicare Act, 2004 or the Independent Health Facilities Act or for such other purposes as may be prescribed. 1996, c. 1, Sched. H, s. 3; 2006, c. 19, Sched. L, s. 3 (2).

 

[Sunnysheeb]

The requirements on the website are pretty straightforward, I thought.

 

[scylla]

I will certainly do so and clarify the situation as much as possible.
On the eligibility requirements list, one requirement is to live in Ontario for at least 153 days in a year. The person in charge with my file, in her email, is asking for two consecutive years of 2017 and 2018 proof of being in Ontario including all two years's banking statements and credit card activities. Is that ok to ask for?

Yes - it's OK to ask for - they are a government agency. They are looking for proof you have met the residency requirement for the last two years. I would provide whatever evidence you can.

 

[canuck78]

Given that you were well enough to get married and spend time with him in the US would also likely be grounds to start enquiring whether you are healthy enough to return to work on top of the OHIP investigation.