Important OHIP eligibility info for all PR applicants residing in Ontario

[Rob_TO]

Thank you Rob the info/reply.
Yeah we would be pretty close to delivery if we wait for OHIP and was just worried for unexpected medical conditions. Have you heard for any exceptions in the 90 days waiting period?

Wish you all the best!

No, Ontario is incredibly strict about the waiting period so you will not be granted any exception.

 

[tofuboi]

I'm also trying to get a sense of OHIP coverage for my wife.

My wife arrived as a Visitor on Nov 2013, we completed the sponsorship application and sent the application November 2014, and got SA just a few days ago saying they will be forwarding my application over to the VO. Her visitor visa is good until June 2015

Is it still too early to apply for OHIP?

Thanks

 

[Rob_TO]

I'm also trying to get a sense of OHIP coverage for my wife.

My wife arrived as a Visitor on Nov 2013, we completed the sponsorship application and sent the application November 2014, and got SA just a few days ago saying they will be forwarding my application over to the VO. Her visitor visa is good until June 2015

Is it still too early to apply for OHIP?

Thanks

With the outland application forwarded to visa office, you should apply for OHIP but expect a refusal. Then you need to follow the advice given at beginning of this thread:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/important-ohip-eligibility-info-for-all-pr-applicants-residing-in-ontario-t56695.0.html;msg2518001#msg2518001
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/important-ohip-eligibility-info-for-all-pr-applicants-residing-in-ontario-t56695.0.html;msg3139952#msg3139952

 

[tofuboi]

I went to the service ontario office today, and they would not issue me a denial document indicating they don't provide that. They told me to go to head office and try. Never knew that was a different between Service Ontario offices. Anyone have experience and want to chime in?

Thanks

 

[tofuboi]

I just wanted to give an update on my attempt to get ohip. I went to a corporate service ontario location with the the letter that shows I got SA.

The agent first questioned where the letter came from as it was from email. She then processed it as is and three months waiting period starts from the date of that letter. Wife will have ohip in 3 months!!!

Thanks everyone for all their posts.

 

[Rob_TO]

I just wanted to give an update on my attempt to get ohip. I went to a corporate service ontario location with the the letter that shows I got SA.

The agent first questioned where the letter came from as it was from email. She then processed it as is and three months waiting period starts from the date of that letter. Wife will have ohip in 3 months!!!

Thanks everyone for all their posts.

You are only supposed to get OHIP with AIP/sponsor approval, with an Inland app. She didn't qualify for OHIP with just the outland app sponsor approval.

Just goes to show you how disorganized and uninformed the OHIP offices are, and that each individual office seems to do things differently. Consider yourself very lucky!

 

[Panamai]

I just wanted to give an update on my attempt to get ohip. I went to a corporate service ontario location with the the letter that shows I got SA.

The agent first questioned where the letter came from as it was from email. She then processed it as is and three months waiting period starts from the date of that letter. Wife will have ohip in 3 months!!!

Thanks everyone for all their posts.

OMG! If that's the case, I qualify now for OHIP! I just got my outland SA last Tuesday! I hope the office here is as accommodating as the one you went to. Now I just have to figure out which office is the corporate office here in Kingston.

 

[Panamai]

On the application form where it asks "when did you take up permanent residence in Ontario?" what do you put there? I first arrived with the intention of 'living' on Dec 30, 2013, but my outland application is still in process.

 

[Rob_TO]

OMG! If that's the case, I qualify now for OHIP! I just got my outland SA last Tuesday! I hope the office here is as accommodating as the one you went to. Now I just have to figure out which office is the corporate office here in Kingston.

No you don't qualify, as the agent made a mistake. I've heard this happening to a few different people though, they went around to all the OHIP offices with just outland SA, until they found an agent that didn't quite understand the rules so allowed them to qualify.

If you can't find any agent that will do this, then you should at least get an official rejection letter from one of them and go through the appeals process explained at beginning of this thread.

 

[Panamai]

No you don't qualify, as the agent made a mistake. I've heard this happening to a few different people though, they went around to all the OHIP offices with just outland SA, until they found an agent that didn't quite understand the rules so allowed them to qualify.

If you can't find any agent that will do this, then you should at least get an official rejection letter from one of them and go through the appeals process explained at beginning of this thread.

Yeah, I know technically I don't qualify, but it's worth a try. I may end up with a more lenient (or less understanding of the law) agent as well. If not, I'll go through the appeals process as you've outlined. That's what I intended to do in the first place, but even better if I don't have to. OHIP is really important to me. I've never been so sick in my life as I've been since coming here with no health insurance.

 

[tofuboi]

From this document here: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/014-9998E-82~1/$File/9998-82E.pdf, which is at all Service Ontario offices have, says "Written confirmation from Citzenship and Immigration Canada that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada"

I used that point to apply for OHIP, since my letter says "You have met the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor. Accordingly, the Application for Permanent Residence for your relative(s) has been forwarded to a visa office abroad for further processing."

They re-read it a few times, and asked a few co worker agents whether it's acceptable, and everyone said yes.

I put the date she last landed in Canada, which was a year and a half ago.

 

[Panamai]

From this document here: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/014-9998E-82~1/$File/9998-82E.pdf, which is at all Service Ontario offices have, says "Written confirmation from Citzenship and Immigration Canada that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada"

I used that point to apply for OHIP, since my letter says "You have met the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor. Accordingly, the Application for Permanent Residence for your relative(s) has been forwarded to a visa office abroad for further processing."

They re-read it a few times, and asked a few co worker agents whether it's acceptable, and everyone said yes.

I put the date she last landed in Canada, which was a year and a half ago.

Awesome! I can only hope I'm so lucky!

 

[JayPinNC]

Can I ask what OHIP office folks are going to? I went to the corporate one in Hamilton (downtown) and holy crap, I was treated like a scammer the first time I went in there and was denied AND the second time I went in there and had my eligibility date "plucked" from my Form B4 instead of the rental agreement I had that predates the B4 by 2 months. Simply because I "could have" been going back and forth from Canada to the U.S. I was denied. I was not going back and forth. I went back for a few days to get my stuff and move. That was it.

I had everything required on the list, and as luck would have it, I had the same agent who "helped" me the first time.

So instead of March 30 being my 1st day with OHIP, now it's April 30. I could file an appeal but what' the point - by the time I get a response, I'll be covered.

Another $100 for travel insurance it is, I guess.

At least I got a denial in writing for my wife.

 

[Rob_TO]

From this document here: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/014-9998E-82~1/$File/9998-82E.pdf, which is at all Service Ontario offices have, says "Written confirmation from Citzenship and Immigration Canada that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada"

I used that point to apply for OHIP, since my letter says "You have met the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor. Accordingly, the Application for Permanent Residence for your relative(s) has been forwarded to a visa office abroad for further processing."

They re-read it a few times, and asked a few co worker agents whether it's acceptable, and everyone said yes.

I put the date she last landed in Canada, which was a year and a half ago.

Unfortunately the wording is very confusing. Sponsorship approval of an outland app, really has nothing to do with the applicant. So outland SA letter does not actually indicate an applicant is "eligible to apply". That note on OHIP website is referring to Inland applicants, since inland applicants are the ones that are supposed to be living/residing in Canada during the PR processing.

For outland there is a step in stage 2 called "AFP", as described in the 1st page of this thread. That is the equivalent of the applicant being found "eligible to apply" and the date they would qualify for OHIP.

As people have seen though, staff at random OHIP service centres don't really know what they're doing or what their own rules are, and don't differentiate between inland and outland applications. Some interpret the above incorrectly, which ends up in favor of outland applicants who get OHIP despite not actually qualifying for it. The more OHIP offices one goes to, the better chance you'll find one willing to give coverage on the spot.

 

[Tkurdi]

Thank you Rob the info/reply.
Yeah we would be pretty close to delivery if we wait for OHIP and was just worried for unexpected medical conditions. Have you heard for any exceptions in the 90 days waiting period?

Wish you all the best!

Hi, Rob was right. U have to wait for 90 days to get your OHIP card. I did my landing last March and currently 28 weeks pregnant now, i will get my health card on June where i will be 37 weeks pregnant. I don't have any health insurance. I found a family doctor here in ontario (which i pay $40 per visit) and he referred me to a Ob-gyne. But he couldn't get me an appointment to the OB doctor unless i pay $2,500 cash which covers prenatal care, post natal care, delivery wether normal or caesarian ( it doesn't include hospital, anesthesia and epidural). I told the secretary that i will get my ohip card in june and she said i still have to pay $2,500 and they might refund me the rest of the money when i get my health card! And i still have to pay for ultrasounds and blood work. And still they cant guarantee that i will get an appointment with the OB doctor right away. It is so ridiculous! I tried calling midwives of ontario and u have to register online in their website and u have to wait for their call if they will take you or not. Im still waiting for their call and hopefully they will take me in God's willing.