Healthcare in Waterloo

Canadian healthcare is first class and medical care in Waterloo, as in the rest of the country, is largely funded by the national health insurance system.

The doctors in Ontario are highly educated and medical staff are highly competent, so expats can rest assured they will be well taken care of in Canadian hospitals. 

Health insurance in Waterloo

Waterloo falls under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). OHIP extends coverage to all residents of the Ontario province at a monthly premium (automatically deducted from a person's salary in tax).

The insurance covers doctors, specialists and all necessary medical surgery. Co-pays are extremely low or non-existent. Note that OHIP does not cover prescription medication, while dentistry and optometry are only covered under certain conditions.

Eligibility for access to OHIP depends on an expat's length of stay. Additionally, there is a three-month waiting period before OHIP coverage starts for new arrivals. We advise expats to apply for their OHIP card on arrival in Waterloo, and to invest in private insurance for their first three months.

Hospitals in Waterloo

St Mary’s General Hospital

Website: www.smgh.ca
Address: 911 Queen’s Boulevard, Kitchener

Grand River Hospital

Website: www.grhosp.on.ca
Address: 835 King Street West, Kitchener