OHIP as foreign workers spouse

[Jungberg]

Hi,

My wife and I recently relocated to Toronto,ON from Europe. My wife have started working in Toronto for a Canadian employer. Her status has allowed me to apply for and obtain a Canadian open work permit. I am not, however, working for a Canadian employer. Instead I am working full time for my European employer, remotely (I will be paying my taxes to Canada/Ontario though, since I live here now).

My question pertains to whether I am eligible for OHIP or not. I was informed over the phone by Service Ontario that because I have an open work permit I am not eligible for OHIP unless I have a Canadian employer.
However, this seem to contradict the information found on "heath.gov.on.ca" (specifically health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/ohip_eligibility.aspx).
According to the site I am eligible for Ontario health insurance coverage if:

"you are the spouse, or dependent child (under 22 years old or 22 years and over if dependent due to a mental or physical disability) of an OHIP-eligible member of the clergy or OHIP-eligible foreign worker;"

Which seems to fit my situation.

I hope someone here can shed some light on my situation. Any help will be very much appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

It sounds like you inquired about applying for OHIP on your own; without a job, you don't qualify. When your wife applies for OHIP, she needs to include you as a dependent.

 

[Jungberg]

Thanks for your reply.

My wife has already applied for OHIP though. Does this mean that she need to revisit service Ontario and specify me as a dependent?

What I was told over the phone was that since my status in Canada is tied up to the fact that I am here on an open work permit, the fact that I am also a 'dependent' doesn't matter. That is definitely not how I read the information posted on health.gov.on.ca. Based on your (canuck_in_uk) response it sounds like you agree?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

My wife has already applied for OHIP though. Does this mean that she need to revisit service Ontario and specify me as a dependent?

Yes, you and your wife need to go together to Service Ontario to add you to her OHIP.

 

[Jungberg]

Thank you for your replies canuck_in_uk. It seems my issues with OHIP eligibility have now been resolved.

I actually received a reply via email directly from Service Ontario. I contacted them yesterday and explained my situation. I thought I would share with anyone else who might end up in a similar situation. Here is what they wrote to me:



...

Temporary foreign workers working full-time in Ontario for at least 6 consecutive months are provided with Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage.

In order to obtain and/or continue to renew their OHIP coverage, temporary foreign workers are required under the regulation to hold a valid work permit issued by for Immigration, Refugees and Canadian Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and to work full-time for a period of at least 6 months.

In order to apply for OHIP coverage, everyone over the age of 15 ½ years will be required to visit a ServiceOntario office in person and present three valid original documents confirming proof of:

1. Work Permit
2. Letter from the employer (see below for details)
3. Ontario residency (name and address)
4. Identity (name and signature)

The letter that holders of Open Work Permits are required to present must show the following:

The person’s occupation (job title)
The employment is situated in Ontario (not necessarily the company)
the person will be working on a full-time basis for a period of at least 6 months (note: “full-time” and the 6 months criteria need to both appear on the letter)

For this last point, the letter can confirm the minimum 6-month time period in any of the following ways:

Start and end date of employment as long as it corresponds to a period greater than 6 months
Start date and exact time period as long as the exact time period is greater than 6 months
Start date and an indication that “the person will be employed for the duration of the work permit”
Start date and an indication that “the person will be employed for at least 6 months”

Note that no other vague wording such as “indefinite” or “permanent” is accepted to support the minimum 6 months of employment requirement.

...



The key in this response is this part: The employment is situated in Ontario (not necessarily the company)

This means that since:
1. I have an open work permit
2. I have a full time job with my workplace situated in Ontario (even though my company is not Canadian)
3. I have a residence in Ontario

I should be eligible for OHIP.

Mind you, I havent visited Service Ontario yet, because I still need my employer in Europe to draft a letter.

I will update this post once I have (or have not) received OHIP.

 

[Hanan22]

what happened with you???? any updates?

 

[Buletruck]

It seems my issues with OHIP eligibility have now been resolved

 

[LNAdrien06]

Hi, what if u change your job in less than 6 months? are they even verifying the info in the letter from the job?

 

[Tridentus]

Hi @canuck_in_uk , i see your also well versed in OHIP renewals as well as BOWP applications

Context:
I applied for PR & BOWP with my wife (she is my dependent on my PR application)
My PGWP is expiring June 19 (next week) and my OHIP will expire then as well
I contacted Service Ontario and they confirmed that I can go into my wife's OHIP as her dependent (Her PGWP expires in Augst 2019)
We both got our PGWPs before we were married

In this case, what am I requesting Service Ontario?
1. Renew my OHIP based on my wife's credentials
2. My wife adding me as a dependent on her OHIP ( We married last year and have a wedding certificate from our country of origin but it's not stated anywhere in Canadian records outside of my PR & BOWP application)

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi @canuck_in_uk , i see your also well versed in OHIP renewals as well as BOWP applications

Context:
I applied for PR & BOWP with my wife (she is my dependent on my PR application)
My PGWP is expiring June 19 (next week) and my OHIP will expire then as well
I contacted Service Ontario and they confirmed that I can go into my wife's OHIP as her dependent (Her PGWP expires in Augst 2019)
We both got our PGWPs before we were married

In this case, what am I requesting Service Ontario?
1. Renew my OHIP based on my wife's credentials
2. My wife adding me as a dependent on her OHIP ( We married last year and have a wedding certificate from our country of origin but it's not stated anywhere in Canadian records outside of my PR & BOWP application)

Not that well-versed in OHIP. Pretty sure you can't get OHIP when you are on Implied Status.