OHIP During Extended Period of Absence

[canadaPR2003]

My spouse will be out of Canada for work (through Canadian employer). I know that one can apply for extended OHIP for 2 years. As per the the website

"OHIP coverage during an extended absence is provided in increments of one year"

My spouse will need to return to Canada for few days to renew children and her PR card approximately 18 months after their departure (730 days residency requirement already met).

1. If OHIP coverage is extended in increments of 1 year at a time how they can renew their EXTENSION after 1 year (i.e. after one year is complete to another one year)?

2. Do you recommend informing this situation to OHIP or is it better NOT to inform them (spouse will NOT use OHIP insurance while away but want it intact when they come back for PR card renewal)

3. Can I extend it on behalf of my spouse after 1 year?

I want to make sure my spouse and children have their coverage when they return to Canada for renewal of PR cards. DO NOT want to risk the visit during PR card renewal process.

What are my OTHER options?

 

[canuck78]

My spouse will be out of Canada for work (through Canadian employer). I know that one can apply for extended OHIP for 2 years. As per the the website

"OHIP coverage during an extended absence is provided in increments of one year"

My spouse will need to return to Canada for few days to renew children and her PR card approximately 18 months after their departure (730 days residency requirement already met).

1. If OHIP coverage is extended in increments of 1 year at a time how they can renew their EXTENSION after 1 year (i.e. after one year is complete to another one year)?

2. Do you recommend informing this situation to OHIP or is it better NOT to inform them (spouse will NOT use OHIP insurance while away but want it intact when they come back for PR card renewal)

3. Can I extend it on behalf of my spouse after 1 year?

I want to make sure my spouse and children have their coverage when they return to Canada for renewal of PR cards. DO NOT want to risk the visit during PR card renewal process.

What are my OTHER options?

You are supposed to advise OHIP of your absence if you leave. The chances of OHIP being extended are pretty low especially if your wife and children are going to be away for over a year but you can certainly try. Is your spouse working for the Canadian government? Your spouse will have to contact OHIP herself as well as the children as well. There is a very good chance that you will need to pay for private insurance for the period of time they come back to Canada and will need to reapply when they return permanently.

 

[shashinaA]

You are supposed to advise OHIP of your absence if you leave. The chances of OHIP being extended are pretty low especially if your wife and children are going to be away for over a year but you can certainly try. Is your spouse working for the Canadian government? Your spouse will have to contact OHIP herself as well as the children as well. There is a very good chance that you will need to pay for private insurance for the period of time they come back to Canada and will need to reapply when they return permanently.

Thanks a lot. But I found a OHIP form at

http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/FormDetail?openform&ENV=WWE&NO=014-0280-82

It clearly says

"You may be eligible for OHIP during a vacation or for any other reason for upto two years. This may be takes as separate two 1-year extension or one 2-year extension"

ALSO if my spouse authorises me on her behalf through POWER of ATTORNEY can I extend her insurance by another year after a year? Thanks in advance.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Thanks a lot. But I found a OHIP form at

http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/FormDetail?openform&ENV=WWE&NO=014-0280-82

It clearly says

"You may be eligible for OHIP during a vacation or for any other reason for upto two years. This may be takes as separate two 1-year extension or one 2-year extension"

ALSO if my spouse authorises me on her behalf through POWER of ATTORNEY can I extend her insurance by another year after a year? Thanks in advance.

If you’ve found all this information on OHIP, I’d probably be calling OHIP for clarification

 

[canuck78]

Thanks a lot. But I found a OHIP form at

http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/FormDetail?openform&ENV=WWE&NO=014-0280-82

It clearly says

"You may be eligible for OHIP during a vacation or for any other reason for upto two years. This may be takes as separate two 1-year extension or one 2-year extension"

ALSO if my spouse authorises me on her behalf through POWER of ATTORNEY can I extend her insurance by another year after a year? Thanks in advance.

It tends to be extremely rare to get these exemptions. I really think your expectations are not probably realistic but you can certainly try. In general Ontario is not in the habit of wanting to pay healthcare costs for people not actually living in Canada for long periods of time especially when they are only coming to Canada at 18 months to drop of their PR card renewal and are not planning on returning permanently. Waiting 3 months to reestablish OHIP if you are moving back to Canada permanently is not much to ask.

 

[shashinaA]

It tends to be extremely rare to get these exemptions. I really think your expectations are not probably realistic but you can certainly try. In general Ontario is not in the habit of wanting to pay healthcare costs for people not actually living in Canada for long periods of time especially when they are only coming to Canada at 18 months to drop of their PR card renewal and are not planning on returning permanently. Waiting 3 months to reestablish OHIP if you are moving back to Canada permanently is not much to ask.

Thanks a lot for the comments. Okay I see your point.

My spouse will NOT be using OHIP coverage when outside CANADA (as they are covered by local insurance in the native country, however this is hard to convince to the agent). My only worry is they should be covered when they return for PR card renewal. I believe I cannot buy PRIVATE insurance unless I CANCEL OHIP.

So what is my best bet?
1. Cancel OHIP right away and purchase PRIVATE insurance when they come in
2. Try to extend OHIP for 2 years

I DO NOT want to be in situatuation where I am under impression that They are covered under OHIP when coverage is actually not there

 

[canuck78]

Thanks a lot for the comments. Okay I see your point.

My spouse will NOT be using OHIP coverage when outside CANADA (as they are covered by local insurance in the native country, however this is hard to convince to the agent). My only worry is they should be covered when they return for PR card renewal. I believe I cannot buy PRIVATE insurance unless I CANCEL OHIP.

So what is my best bet?
1. Cancel OHIP right away and purchase PRIVATE insurance when they come in
2. Try to extend OHIP for 2 years

I DO NOT want to be in situatuation where I am under impression that They are covered under OHIP when coverage is actually not there

There is no longer OHIP coverage abroad. Your spouse can certainly get private health insurance when she travel back to renew her PR. OHIP would actually no longer be valid even if she gets extended coverage if she won't be meeting the yearly residency obligations when she returns to submit her PR card renewal.

 

[shashinaA]

There is no longer OHIP coverage abroad. Your spouse can certainly get private health insurance when she travel back to renew her PR. OHIP would actually no longer be valid even if she gets extended coverage if she won't be meeting the yearly residency obligations when she returns to submit her PR card renewal.

Thanks. Forms and documents clearly says you are eligible for extended coverage even if you are away from Canada for 2 years (as long as you have lived 153 days in past 2 years before you leave, which my spouse has met). My view is extended leave of absence means its understood that you will be away from Canada and thats why you are applying.

Morever, its part of the form I listed above, suggesting that possibly many people are availing it (If its hard to implement or rare exception it may not have been part of the form, thats just my view).

However, your information could be latest or you have first hand information from someone in similar situation. Either way, Thanks a lot for your comments and thoughts ! Really appreciate it.

I will update any information I get from Service Canada so that other members can benefit from it.

 

[canuck78]

Thanks. Forms and documents clearly says you are eligible for extended coverage even if you are away from Canada for 2 years (as long as you have lived 153 days in past 2 years before you leave, which my spouse has met). My view is extended leave of absence means its understood that you will be away from Canada and thats why you are applying.

Morever, its part of the form I listed above, suggesting that possibly many people are availing it (If its hard to implement or rare exception it may not have been part of the form, thats just my view).

However, your information could be latest or you have first hand information from someone in similar situation. Either way, Thanks a lot for your comments and thoughts ! Really appreciate it.

I will update any information I get from Service Canada so that other members can benefit from it.

You are failing to take into account that your wife needs to meet the OHIP residency requirement when she returns or could be asked to pay back any services she uses. That doesn't change if you get a coverage extension. It is no meant for people who come back for a week or so and leave again.

 

[shashinaA]

You are failing to take into account that your wife needs to meet the OHIP residency requirement when she returns or could be asked to pay back any services she uses. That doesn't change if you get a coverage extension. It is no meant for people who come back for a week or so and leave again.

Yes. I understand your point. What you are trying to say is even if its get extended coverage while away from Canada, still when she return, she will have to wait 3 months before her OHIP coverage starts.

In that case it defeats the whole purpose why we should apply for extended coverage. I want the service when she return back to Canada for a while to renew PR card, NOT while she is away from CANADA.

So how do I deal with this situation? Because when my friend took PRIVATE coverage they told him he will be covered only if he is not covered under OHIP? And unless I cancel OHIP its considered active (as I didnt cancel it by informing OHIP, leave of absence of more than 7 months is implied but it doesnt get CANCELLED automatically).

So is it better to CANCEL OHIP and pay for PVT insurance before they return?

 

[canuck78]

Yes. I understand your point. What you are trying to say is even if its get extended coverage while away from Canada, still when she return, she will have to wait 3 months before her OHIP coverage starts.

In that case it defeats the whole purpose why we should apply for extended coverage. I want the service when she return back to Canada for a while to renew PR card, NOT while she is away from CANADA.

So how do I deal with this situation? Because when my friend took PRIVATE coverage they told him he will be covered only if he is not covered under OHIP? And unless I cancel OHIP its considered active (as I didnt cancel it by informing OHIP, leave of absence of more than 7 months is implied but it doesnt get CANCELLED automatically).

So is it better to CANCEL OHIP and pay for PVT insurance before they return?

No not what I am saying. The residency requirement to maintain OHIP without risk of being asked to pay back any services is

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.

If you are coming back at 18 months and leave again I am under the impression then you need to meet the RO for OHIP. This program isn't really meant for people travelling in and out of the Canada very temporarily. It is really meant for people who will be gone but then return after 1-2 years. The requirement that your spouse make their primary residence in Ontario as well as you being in Canada makes her a tax resident so she'll need to pay Canadian taxes on her international income. There may be a tax treaty with the other government.

You should advise OHIP if you are leaving the country but if you don't meet the RO for OHIP you have a valid card but technically not entitled to care and can be asked to repay any expenses. If there is little activity your card can also be frozen.

 

[canuck78]

You really need to figure out if you can get the extended coverage. If you get it you should ask about the family's plan to return at 18 months to submit their PR card renewal and whether that affects their coverage.