OHIP Ends Out of Country Travelers Programme

With the announced cancellation of OHIP Out of Country Coverage, the need for Ontario residents to purchase their own travel emergency insurance has become more important in recent weeks.

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) will be ending the Out-of-Country Travelers Program for emergency medical services (arising while outside the country) for Ontarians travelling outside of Canada as of January 1, 2020. Insured Ontario residents will continue to receive coverage for physician and hospital services when visiting or moving to another Canadian province or territory, up to OHIP maximums.

Don’t be leave yourself or your family with huge medical expenses from emergencies arising while out of the province. You can be covered for only a few dollars a day while travelling by arranging your own insurance though our brokers.

In the meantime, submitting claims for emergency services to the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) Out of Country Travelers Program:

  • The ministry will reimburse eligible claims incurred, to a maximum of $400 a day, up to and including December 31, 2019. Claims for emergency services incurred up to December 31, 2019 must be submitted no later than December 31, 2020.
  • Any Out of Country (OOC) emergency services that are incurred on or after January 1, 2020 will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Impact to Group Benefits Extended Health Care plans with Out of Country coverage:

  • All OOC claims for Ontario residents will now be submitted under your Group Benefits plan without first being sent to OHIP for reimbursement.
  • There will be a negligible impact to the OOC rate that will be factored in at renewal for existing business.

Further, on August 8th the MOHLTC announced the launch of a new program to fund out-of-country dialysis services January 1, 2020 which will coincide with the delisting of the OHIP Out-of-Country Travellers Program. This change does not impact your existing Group Benefits Extended Health Care plans with Out of Country coverage.

If you have any questions, or would like a no obligation quote, please contact our knowledgeable advisors or visit our Buy Now page at ourfinancialplans.ca