OHIP or MSP for coverage.

[mapleleafs2011]

I'm in a bit of dilemma. Looking for some advice.

My wife will land in BC (I am a current resident.) Although, when she lands, we are looking to go travelling for about 2-3 months. Afterwards, we will move to Ontario. At this point, I am thinking, I will cancel my MSP before we go travelling so I'm not charged $60 a month while abroad and I will just purchase travel insurance.

When we move to ON, will myself and my wife be able to apply for OHIP right away? I noticed it said we had to be in Ontario physically 153/180 or so days. I am asking because we plan on having a baby and she will most likely be pregnant already prior to moving to ontario.

Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[parker24]

From my understanding, your wife will have to be in Ontario for three months before she can apply. I'm not totally sure about you, since you are a Canadian Citizen. Someone else might know the answer to that

 

[OhCanadiana]

You can apply for Ontario coverage once you establish residency in ON, but there is a three month waiting period before the coverage kicks in. You may be covered by BC during the waiting period (don't know the extent of that coverage), but she would need to buy private health insurance.

Note that to in Ontario you can't leave for more than 30 days in the first 183 days after establishing Ontario residency so that the waiting period doesn't reset.

Take a look at http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/ohip/wait.html. About a page down there's a section entitled "With the waiting period, when am I eligible for OHIP coverage?" that goes in depth into the various scenarios.

 

[mapleleafs2011]

I'm not too sure how private insurance works since I've never purchased it. I will most likely cancel my MSP insurance in BC then before I go traveling and then purchase travel insurance.

once we get back to BC, I will get private insurance for but are insurance companies here allowed to reject coverage? (ie. She will be pregnant most likely during that time)

 

[OhCanadiana]

once we get back to BC, I will get private insurance for but are insurance companies here allowed to reject coverage? (ie. She will be pregnant most likely during that time)

The pregnancy would likely be a pre-existing condition (many insurers have a 9-month or one year waiting period also). If she's not pregnant yet, consider getting insurance as of now.

Or move to Ontario first, then go travel (within Ontario)

 

[mapleleafs2011]

The pregnancy would likely be a pre-existing condition (many insurers have a 9-month or one year waiting period also). If she's not pregnant yet, consider getting insurance as of now.

Or move to Ontario first, then go travel (within Ontario)

Would OHIP be denied if when she applied, she was pregnant?

 

[OhCanadiana]

Would OHIP be denied if when she applied, she was pregnant?

Being pregnant doesn't impact the application. However, she would have the 3 month waiting period after establishing residency. Further, you can only be outside of Ontario for 30 days in the first 6 months of living there. Take a look at the link I posted from OHIP the other day further upthread - it has a bunch of scenarios so you can see exactly where you fit in depending on the specifics of your case.

 

[lalatata]

Dont Cancel your MSP untill you get your OHIP card and insurance kicked in. You pay for MSP till you get the other.. MSP can be used anywhere in Canada untill the newer insurance kicks in... you can travel, do wtvr you want.. i assume that your wife is already msp insured. if now then get her msp application as soon as you can.. so that she is covered too in BC and or Ontario, once u get in ON , apply for OHIP for both..till then use MSP from BC.. if you cancel your msp then u wud need private insurance..

 

[thor]

i think its 3 months, i have a friend who lives in toronto, she told me its 3 months but don't cancel anything like MSP or anything before the coverage kicks in.