Ontario's OHIP Card: The Definitive Guide

Do you live in Ontario? If so, the Ontario Health Insurance Plan is a critical part of your health care insurance.

The OHIP card is your key to accessing Ontario's public health insurance plan, or OHIP, for short. Ontario residents eligible for OHIP can gain access to its healthcare benefits through their OHIP card. Our guide below covers how to apply for, renew and replace your Ontario health card.

What is an OHIP card?

An OHIP card provides proof of Ontario Health Insurance Plan coverage when receiving treatment or other health care services. Ontario residents who are eligible for OHIP will receive an OHIP card within four to six weeks of submitting their application.

You are required to show your OHIP card every time you see a doctor, visit an emergency room, have a medical test or surgery. It proves that you have coverage and is requested by participating doctors and health care providers throughout Ontario.

The card itself looks like this:

While you are applying for you OHIP card, remember that the Ontario Health Insurance Plan does not cover everything you might need.

Services NOT covered by OHIP include:

• Prescription drugs provided in non-hospital settings (for patients under 65)
• Dental services provided in a dentist’s office
• Eyeglasses, contact lenses
• Alternative medicine consultation treatments, including Chinese medicine, homeopathy and Reiki
• Chiropractic services
• Laser eye surgery
• Cosmetic procedures
• Immunizations for travel

Non-covered services can be expensive and come as an unpleasant surprise when you are least able to deal with surprises. We highly recommend getting a private insurance plan. Our tool can help you find great rates.

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How do I apply for an Ontario health card?

To apply for an OHIP card as a first-timer you will need to visit a ServiceOntario centre in person. The list of documents required depends on your status as a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, permanent resident applicant or other.

Citizens and permanent residents applying for an OHIP card

First-time applicants need to:

• Visit the nearest ServiceOntario centre.

• Complete the Registration for Ontario Health Coverage form 0265-82 below:

• Submit appropriate original supporting documents proving:
  • Your identity (Passport, permanent resident card, old age security card, etc.)
  • Residency in Ontario (Ontario driver's license, pay stub, school transcript, utility or tax bill, mortgage or rental agreement, etc.)
  • Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status (passport, birth certificate, certification of Canadian citizenship, etc.)
• If you are applying under your married name for the first time, you will also need your marriage liscence

See below for a list of documents that are accepted as proof.

Permanent residency applicants applying for an OHIP card

In addition to the documents required for citizens, applicants for permanent residency are also required to provide a letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: (IRCC)

The letter must:

• Be on IRCC letterhead, addressed to you as the applicant
• State that the IRCC has confirmed you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence in Canada and that you have not yet been denied.
• Include an IRCC document (work permit, visitor record, temporary resident permit or study permit) with a note confirming that you have applied for permanent residence, met the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residency and have not been denied.

For other immigration statuses applying for an OHIP card:

Applicants with other immigration statuses may be required to following documents:

• A letter from the Immigration and Refugee Board confirming Convention Refugee or Protected Person status
• Protected Person Status document
• Verification of Status (IMM 5716 or IMM 5715)
• Written confirmation from IRCC that you are eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship under section 5.1 of Canada’s Citizenship Act.
• A temporary resident permit (case types 86 through 95 only)
• A work permit (proof of full-time employment in Ontario is required)

The work permit must be an original document (contract or letter) on a company letterhead signed and dated by your employer, which states the name of the company that you will be working for in Ontario. It needs to confirm full-time employment, your job title, the start date of your employment and that the employer intends to employ you for a minimum of six months.

How do you apply for an OHIP card online?

The OHIP card can only be renewed online. First-time applicants are required to physically go to the nearest ServiceOntario centre to apply. To renew your expired OHIP card continue below.

How do you renew your OHIP card?

Did your OHIP card expire? You can renew your Ontario health card for free online at ServiceOntario or in-person at a ServiceOntario centre. Both older red and white OHIP cards and newer OHIP photo cards are eligible for renewal. After submitting your renewal request, you can expect to receive your new OHIP card by mail within four to six weeks.

Renew your OHIP card online

You will need:

• Your most recent health card
• Your current driver’s license

After renewing online, you will be able to print temporary documents to prove your status until your new card arrives in the mail.

If your mailing address is up-to-date, you should receive a renewal notice. To use the OHIP online renewal service you must be eligible for OHIP coverage. Your photo health card must expire within 90 days or have been expired for fewer than 90 days. You will also need to have an up-to-date photo and signature on your health card.

Renew your OHIP card in person

You will need:

• Your current health card
• An original document that proves your Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status.
  • See a list of eligible documents for Canadian citizens
  • See a list of eligible documents for permanent residents, applicants for permanent residency and other immigration statuses.

People between the ages of 76 and 80 are required to renew in person to take a new photo.

Where can you get an OHIP card?

Eligible Ontario residents can get their OHIP card in person at a ServiceOntario centre.

The first time, the application must be done in person. If it is for a renewal or a replacement for a lost card, you may be eligible to do it online. After applying for OHIP, you will have health insurance coverage once your application has been processed.

How long does it take to get an OHIP card?

Getting your OHIP card is a relatively quick process. Once your OHIP application has been received, you can expect to receive your OHIP card by mail within four to six weeks. Before that, you will receive temporary paperwork to prove your coverage.

How do I replace a lost OHIP card?

To replace an unexpired lost, stolen or damaged OHIP card, visit your nearest ServiceOntario centre. Alternatively, you may call 1-800-664-8988.

If you are someone whose Canadian citizenship or immigration status has changed since you received your most recent OHIP card, you will also need to bring your original citizenship or immigration documents.

What happens if your OHIP card expires?

If your OHIP card is expired when you seek medical care, doctors and private hospitals may refuse to treat you. While for major medical emergencies, you are still likely to receive care, they could bill you directly if you are unable to quickly renew your OHIP card. Because of this, it is best to always keep your Ontario health card up to date.

Note that as of January 2020, red and white cards are no longer accepted as proof of OHIP coverage. They have been replaced by photo cards.

If you need to replace an expired OHIP card you must visit your nearest ServiceOntario centre along with original documents proving your identity and residency in Ontario.

Remember that OHIP is not comprehensive, you can still have to pay significant costs out of pocket for prescriptions, dental and vision care or a private hospital stay. A private supplemental plan on top of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan can ensure you are provided with full coverage for the services you need. For a personalized quote in just seconds, try our free health insurance comparison tool.

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How do I change the address on my OHIP card?

If you have moved or are considering moving, you will be required to change the address of your OHIP card within 30 days of your move. Making sure that your address is updated will help to ensure that you receive important information regarding your OHIP card and health insurance.

Your address can be updated in the following ways:

• Online: To change or update your address online click here
• In-person: You can update or change the address on your OHIP card at your nearest ServiceOntario centre
• Submit a letter: You can submit a letter to your local ServiceOntario centre with the following information:
  • Your name
  • Your health number
  • Your telephone number
  • Your current address
  • Your new address including the postal code
• By mail: The 1057-82 Change of Adress form below:

Can I get a temporary OHIP card?

If you have applied for your OHIP card for the first time, or have recently applied for a renewal, your printed documents will act as a temporary card. Four to six weeks after getting these you should receive your card in the mail. You should be sure to carry these temporary documents with you receive until your OHIP card to prove health insurance coverage.

List of Documents for applying to OHIP:

Whether you are applying for your OHIP card for the first time or renewing your old red and white card you may be asked to prove your status, your residency and your identity. See below for a list of accepted documents.

Proof of Canadian citizenship:

To prove you are a Canadian Citizen or have OHIP-eligible immigration status, you will need to provide one of the following original documents:

• Canadian passport (valid or expired within the last five years)
• Birth certificate issued by Ontario or another Canadian province or territory
• Canadian Certificate Of Registration of Birth Abroad
• Canadian Certified statement of Live Birth
• Certificate of Canadian citizenship
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Indian Status
• Registered Indian Record
• Temporary Confirmation of Registration document

Proof of permanent residency:

• Permanent Resident Card (valid or expired with the last five years)
• Canadian Immigration Identification Card
• Confirmation of Permanent Residency (IMM 5292, 5688)
• Record of Landing (IMM 1000)

Proof of other immigration statuses:

• Verification of status (IMM 5716 or IMM 5715)
• Protected Person Status document
• An Immigration and Refugee Board letter confirming your statues as a Convention Refugee or Protected Person
• Written confirmation from IRB confirming eligibilty to apply for Canadian citizenship
• Temporary Resident Perment
• Work Permit

Proof of identity:

To provide proof of your identity, you should use a document that is different from the one you provided to show proof of residence, proof of citizenship or OHIP eligible immigration status. It is important to verify that these documents include both your name and signature. Accepted documents include:

• Valid Canadian or foreign passport
• Permanent resident card, Ontario driver’s licence or temporary driver’s licence or photo card
• Ontario motor vehicle permit
• Canadian Immigration Identification card
• Certificate of Canadian citizenship (plastic card)
• Certificate of Indian status (paper or plastic card)
• Current employee ID card
• Current professional licence
• Old age security card
• Credit card
• Student ID card
• Union card
• Record of Landing (IMM 1000)

Proof of residency:

To provide proof of your residency in Ontario, documents include:

• Ontario drivers license, or photo card
• Utility bill, phone bill, or property tax bill
• Monthly bank account or credit card statement, a registered retirement savings plan, registered retirement income fund, registered home ownership savings plan all of which can be registered at a bank, trust company or credit union.
• Insurance policy (home, apartment, car or life)
• Mortgage, rental or lease agreement
• Property tax bill
• Most recent income tax notice of assessment or child tax benefit statement
• Statement of direct deposit for Ontario Works or for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Statement of Benefits (T5007), statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid (T4E), or Statement of Old Age Security (T4A) or statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits (T4A) (P)
• For employees: a pay stub or a letter from your employer on company letterhead.
• For students: a report card or school transcript from a school, college or university