OHIP only valid for 9 months?

[jade2010]

Hello, first of all I am new to this forum so I hope I am posting this question in the correct place.

I have lived in Ottawa since Aug 2008. In Oct 2009 I found out I was pregnant and applied for PR under family class. Paid for the entire pregnancy out of pocket since I couldn't get OHIP. I just got my approval in principal last week and yesterday I went to apply for OHIP. The woman helping us was obviously new and had to keep asking someone for help. She didn't even know she could accept my approval in principal for my application and had to ask someone about that too.

Anyway, a few things bother me about her approving my application and I figured I would ask here before contacting the Ministry of Health. First of all, she said my OHIP didn't start for 3 months. However, I was under the impression that it started 3 months after I landed, I have already been here for almost 3 years, which I also showed proof for. But, she said it was 3 months from the date of the Approval in principal letter, which is Jan 2011. Is that right?

My other question is that she said my OHIP is valid one year, which is fine, except my coverage doesn't begin until April 19, 2011 and it expires Jan 19 2012. I asked her about it and she said it's one year from the letter date. It just doesn't make sense to me that my OHIP is valid for a year but doesn't begin until April. Is she correct as well?

I probably wouldn't be questioning it so much except for the fact that she was obviously new. So, I'm wondering if she made a mistake.

Thank you for your time.

 

[spacey]

I really don't know too much about this, but having someone that is so unsure of things I would be calling Service Ontario for advice.

 

[plumosa]

I know all the provinces do it differently, but I can explain how it works here in Quebec. After the very first year a person has been in the province they have to reapply for RAMQ (same thing as OHIP) to show that they are still in the province. After this first time of reapplying, it is not necessary to do it again. Also, you can reapply well in advance of your first year anniversary just to get it out of the way, but I am not sure on the exact particulars on that.

hope that helps, and of course, I'd give OHIP a call just to make sure it works similarly.

 

[jade2010]

Thank you for the answers. I did call and what they told me was that they had just changed it April 2009. Now it starts from the date stated on the letter from Immigration. Also, yes, like you said plum, the 9 month thing doesn't matter that much because I can just renew it again and it is all free. Thank you for your time