Public Information

Ministry Programs

Ontario Health Insurance Plan

Every Ontarian deserves the opportunity to safely travel abroad. That’s why Ontario’s government is launching a new program to fund out-of-country dialysis services, ensuring that Ontarians living with kidney failure can continue to have access to the care they need when they are travelling outside of Canada.

Starting January 1, 2020, this new program will be operated by the Ontario Renal Network with funding from the Ontario government and patients will receive the same reimbursement rates as currently provided through existing programs.

The launch of the new program to fund out-of-country dialysis services will coincide with the wind down of the limited Out-of-Country Travellers Program. Insured Ontario residents will continue to receive coverage for physician and hospital services when visiting or moving to another Canadian province or territory. Ontarians travelling abroad are encouraged to purchase the appropriate travel insurance coverage in the event emergency health care is needed out of country. Most Ontarians already have travel health insurance through their workplace plans or credit cards.

OHIP Out of Country Health Services

Please make sure that you read this page as it contains important information about coverage for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) services.

OHIP provides some coverage for health services received by individuals who are residents of Ontario and have a valid health card while they are outside of Canada.

There are two kinds of Out of Country Health Services that may be funded:

1. Out of Country (OOC) Emergency Health Services for Travelers

These are emergency services that you may need unexpectedly while you are traveling outside of Canada. Please note:

OHIP provides only limited funding for health services required while traveling. Generally speaking, services are eligible for reimbursement if they were required as a result of condition that arose outside Canada, that was acute and unexpected and required immediate treatment.
You or your private insurance company will be required to pay up-front for OOC treatment at the time of the service and request reimbursement from OHIP.
Please note that coverage under the OOC Travellers Program is limited to amounts set out in the regulations. Therefore, all Ontario residents are encouraged to obtain private travel insurance before leaving Canada.

2. Prior Approved Out of Country (OOC) Health Services

These are elective health care services that are eligible for funding only if certain conditions are met. These conditions will be described in the pages to follow.

Important: Please note that for these types of services to be OHIP insured, you must have written approval from the ministry for these services *before* you receive them. If written prior approval has not been received, you will be responsible for all costs associated with the service(s).

Your Ontario physician must send in a “Request for Prior Approval for Full Payment of Insured Out of Country Health Services” form on your behalf to the ministry prior to the services being rendered so that this approval can be considered.

By pressing "Continue," you are acknowledging that you have read and understood the important information above.

For More Information

Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at 1-866-532-3161
In Toronto, 416-314-5518
TTY 1-800-387-5559
In Toronto, TTY 416-327-4282
Hours of operation : 8:30am - 5:00pm