Healthcare in Toronto
Canadian medicine is first rate and healthcare in Toronto, as in the rest of the nation, is publicly funded.
It is essential to have residency or to be a citizen of the province in order to benefit from this program, so applying early is a must. Taking out private insurance while waiting for residency to be approved is a must, as healthcare coverage generally only becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario.
Canadian healthcare falls under the administration of individual provinces. As such, it is often easier for expats arriving in Canada to register for health care than it is for Canadian citizens relocating from one province to another.
Expats moving to Toronto will need written confirmation from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) stating that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence status in Canada. This document can take one of three formats: a CIC Confirmation Letter on the CIC letterhead addressed to you; a CIC Immigration document such as a work permit, visitor record, temporary residence permit or study permit with indication in the ‘Remarks Section’ showing you have applied for permanent residency; a case type 27 work permit, which is only issued to those who have applied for permanent residence in Canada.
At the OHIP office all you will have to do is fill out an application form and get a photo of yourself taken. The card is posted to your home address three months later. This card should be carried with you at all times.
The doctors in Toronto are highly educated and the local biomedical industry has made highly advanced medical equipment available for a range of procedures. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) makes provisions for all residents of the Ontario Province at a minimal cost of about $200 and covers doctors, specialists and all necessary medical surgery. Co-pays are extremely low or completely non-existent.
The OHIP covers its members throughout Canada provided that Ontario is their place of residence and they spend more than six months of each year in the province. Significant medical costs are billed directly to OHIP by the respective provincial medical administration; for cheaper bills, such as doctor’s consultations, patients have to pay and they can claim payments back from the local health ministry upon their return to Ontario.
While the healthcare system is good and the medical professionals are of the highest standards, the system often falls victim to the downfalls of bureaucracy. Waiting periods can be long and it is often difficult to find a general practitioner still taking new patients due to the delays.
For this reason, some expats prefer to take out private insurance in addition to that offered by the public system. The main benefit is the ability to choose a doctor or specialist, and a greater number of locations where healthcare may be accessed. The private sector offers broader cover; so fewer treatments will be costly.
The emergency number in Canada is the famous 911.
It is essential to have residency or to be a citizen of the province in order to benefit from this program, so applying early is a must. Taking out private insurance while waiting for residency to be approved is a must, as healthcare coverage generally only becomes effective three months after the date you establish residency in Ontario.Canadian healthcare falls under the administration of individual provinces. As such, it is often easier for expats arriving in Canada to register for health care than it is for Canadian citizens relocating from one province to another.
Expats moving to Toronto will need written confirmation from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) stating that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence status in Canada. This document can take one of three formats: a CIC Confirmation Letter on the CIC letterhead addressed to you; a CIC Immigration document such as a work permit, visitor record, temporary residence permit or study permit with indication in the ‘Remarks Section’ showing you have applied for permanent residency; a case type 27 work permit, which is only issued to those who have applied for permanent residence in Canada.
At the OHIP office all you will have to do is fill out an application form and get a photo of yourself taken. The card is posted to your home address three months later. This card should be carried with you at all times.
The doctors in Toronto are highly educated and the local biomedical industry has made highly advanced medical equipment available for a range of procedures. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) makes provisions for all residents of the Ontario Province at a minimal cost of about $200 and covers doctors, specialists and all necessary medical surgery. Co-pays are extremely low or completely non-existent.
The OHIP covers its members throughout Canada provided that Ontario is their place of residence and they spend more than six months of each year in the province. Significant medical costs are billed directly to OHIP by the respective provincial medical administration; for cheaper bills, such as doctor’s consultations, patients have to pay and they can claim payments back from the local health ministry upon their return to Ontario.
While the healthcare system is good and the medical professionals are of the highest standards, the system often falls victim to the downfalls of bureaucracy. Waiting periods can be long and it is often difficult to find a general practitioner still taking new patients due to the delays.
For this reason, some expats prefer to take out private insurance in addition to that offered by the public system. The main benefit is the ability to choose a doctor or specialist, and a greater number of locations where healthcare may be accessed. The private sector offers broader cover; so fewer treatments will be costly.
The emergency number in Canada is the famous 911.
