new OHIP - can I leave country?

[RebeccaF]

Hey everyone,

my parents-in-law just renewed their OHIP after having been out of the country for a number of years. Their English is not the best, so when they came home, they said they were told they CANNOT leave the country for the first 7 months after obtaining OHIP. Is that true? Or did they misunderstand the "need to be in the country for at least 7 months out of the year" rule?

Thanks to anyone that can clarify

 

[Leon]

As far as I know, they can not leave the country for more then 1 month in the first 6 months after getting OHIP and after that they must stay in ON for at least 5 months a year.

 

[zardoz]

This doesn't mean that they are prisoners inside Canada however. They can leave if they want to, but the OHIP becomes void again if they don't meet the residency requirements that Leon quoted.

Is this a hypothetical question? If not, I have to ask, why did they renew their OHIP if they knew that they would be leaving again. OHIP consider this to be fraudulent.

Citation: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/card_fraud.aspx

 

[RebeccaF]

thanks for the replies Leon and Zardos

This was not a hypothetical question. I don't think they realized the implications of renewing and potentially leaving again (they are older and have a life in Greece that has been disrupted with everything that has been going on there, plus their children think it might be good to have them closer by). I will let them know they cannot leave for more than 1 month for the first 6 months after obtaining OHIP and need to be in the country for at least 5 months. Who knows.. they might live here permanently after all.

If they do decide to move back to Greece permanently, what is the best course of action for not being considered *fraudsters* with OHIP, Zardos?

 

[zardoz]

From http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/ohipfaq_mn.aspx

You may be out of the province for up to 212 days in any 12-month period and still maintain your Ontario health insurance coverage provided that you continue to make Ontario your primary place of residence.

To maintain eligibility for OHIP coverage you must be an eligible resident of Ontario. This means that you must :

have an OHIP-eligible citizenship/immigration status; and
be physically present in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period; and
be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately after establishing residency in the province; and
make your primary place of residence in Ontario.
If you will be out of the province for more than 212 days in any 12-month period, please refer to the Longer Absences from Ontario fact sheet.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/longer_absences.aspx

You should contact the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care with any change of address. If you move to a location outside Ontario, you should inform the ministry of your new address and the date of your move as soon as possible. To inform the ministry of your move, you can either :

Obtain a Change of Information (form 280-82) and return it by mail. Forms are available from your local ServiceOntario Centre or from the Forms Online
or

Send a letter to your local ServiceOntario Centre. You must include your name, health card number, telephone number, current address and new address including postal code.
The ministry will end your OHIP coverage based on the information that you provide.

 

[RebeccaF]

From http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/ohipfaq_mn.aspx
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/longer_absences.aspx

thanks a lot.

 

[Martin58474]

Ontario has changed the amount of time you have to be in Ontario so that OHIP coverage remains in place while away. You have to be in Ontario for at least 153 days per 12-month periods for 2 consecutive years.

We have a handy OHIP summary at HealthQuotes.ca (left-hand column) if you would like a quick snapshot of what is and is not covered by the way