As Canadians, we naturally expect our government to look after our health. We assume that anything we need to improve or preserve our health will be free to us. But that's not necessarily the case. The Ontario Health Insurance Plan - or OHIP - is just like any other health insurance plan. It has limits, both in terms of who is covered and when and what is covered under the plan. This article should help you figure out if that product you read about in the hair removal reviews is covered under OHIP or not.
Since the Ontario Health Insurance Plan is a government initiative, only people who reside permanently and legally in Ontario are eligible for coverage. This include citizens, permanent residents, landed immigrants, Natives, refugees, and foreign clergy members or work permit holders who will be working here (such as doing Toronto marriage counselling) for more than six months, as well as the dependants of the above categories. You have to live in Ontario 153 days out of the year. Visitors to Ontario are not covered.
If you were born and raised in Ontario, your parents will have registered you with the OHIP when you were born. However if you're new to Ontario you will have to visit an office, fill out an application, and present proof of your permission to be in Canada, proof of your residence in Ontario, and proof of your identity. Whenever you go to a dentist in Woodbridge, Ontario you must bring your card with you or you will have to pay for your health services yourself and submit a form to be reimbursed by the government. Even children and babies must have their own cards.
Not every medical service that is available out there is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Generally speaking, only services that are medically necessary are covered. That means cosmetic surgery, alternative medicine such as acupuncture or a massage in Mississauga, and private medical care are not covered under the plan. Certain services, such as the dentist and optometrist, are only partially covered or require an underlying medical condition that makes them necessary in order to qualify for coverage. Many prescription drugs are also not covered. Therefore many people choose to supplement their OHIP coverage with private medical insurance.
Your health coverage is designed to cover services from a Toronto optometrist, not a medical practitioner in another province or country. However, your card will cover you if you are traveling within Canada in most cases. Once you leave the country, you will need travel medical or private insurance as OHIP will contribute only a fraction of the cost of coverage for even medical emergencies in foreign countries.
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