Hi David,
I was wondering if you could help clarify for me whether I am eligible for OHIP.

I am an Australian and have been approved for a Working Holiday Program. I want to confirm that I am on an "open work permit", as opposed to a "visa", as I understand that OHIP for temporary workers is valid only for people with open work permits.

I am trying to purchase Travel Insurance (a condition of the WHP), but am unsure if I should pay more for better insurance, or if I can just get the budget insurance that covers me for the essentials, then should I need to see a doctor in Toronto, I can use OHIP instead of having to claim through travel insurance.

WHP has stated there is "no reciprocal insurance agreement between Canada and Australia" - does this just mean I need to organise travel insurance myself? Am I still eligible to get OHIP provided I've been at a job for more than 3 months and that I intend to stay for min. 6 months?

Thank you!
Steph

Hi Steph,

I am in a similar position - Moving to Ontario in April. Have you found an answer to your question?

Firstly, yes the WHP is an open work permit:
http://www.whpcanada.org.au/faq_enterin ... ntering_q5

Secondly, you need to demonstrate health care, hospitalization and repatriation insurance for the entire duration of your intended stay in Canada when you arrive:
http://www.whpcanada.org.au/faq_eligibi ... ibility_q3

Thirdly, from what I have read in Regulation 552 of the Ontario Health Insurance Act 1990, one is elligible for a OHIP card if you meet all the following conditions:
1. you have a letter from your employer stating their name, your occupation and that you will be working there for at least 6 months.
2. your principle residence is in Ontario,
3. unless your job requires you to travel for work you must be in Ontario for at least 153 of the first 183 days after you become a resident of Ontario and, therafter, 153 days in any 12-month period. There are other exceptions but I doubt they apply to your case.
4. You have resided in Ontario for a full and consecutive 3 month period prior to applying for an OHIP (the waiting period)
More information at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/p ... _dt.aspx#1

Finally, re "no reciprocal insurance agreement between Canada and Australia":
That means that the Australian Medicare system will not cover your health care costs under the Canadian health care system. Some countries have reciprocal arrangements in place. See: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/pub ... /index.jsp

My questions (motivated at reducing costs for my circumstance) are as follows:
What happens if you arrive without health insurance for the full two year visa period? Will the immigration officer reduce the 24 month duration of your work permit accordingly or deny my entry - the duration of the work permit seems to be at the discretion of the immigration official that you meet at the airport? What if you have a contract from an employer for a full two year period which includes health insurance and benefits? Would that be acceptable?

dja79 wrote: My questions (motivated at reducing costs for my circumstance) are as follows:
What happens if you arrive without health insurance for the full two year visa period? Will the immigration officer reduce the 24 month duration of your work permit accordingly or deny my entry - the duration of the work permit seems to be at the discretion of the immigration official that you meet at the airport? What if you have a contract from an employer for a full two year period which includes health insurance and benefits? Would that be acceptable?

Immigration officials would not be expected to reduce the duration of validity of a work permit on the basis of the availability of health insurance. In some cases of low-skill occupations, a condition of the LMO is for the employer to cover such insurance expense until provincial coverage is in place, and an officer could look for evidence of such, but not for a duration of two years.