Travelling out of Country this Year: Here are the changes to OHIP that you need to be aware of:

Starting January 2020 the Ontario government’s OHIP coverage for some types of out of country medical costs has changed or been eliminated.  While the previous emergency coverage was minimal -  a maximum of $400 per day, this coverage has now been eliminated.  It will now be the travellers sole responsibility to cover any medical costs associated with out of country treatments while travelling.  Keep in mind the past coverage of $400/day would not typically have covered the cost of a trip to the emergency room in the US which averaged at a cost of over 2,000/ visit.

If you will be travelling it is important to research and get private coverage NOW more than ever.

First you should explore any existing coverage that you may already have.  This coverage could be through an employer sponsored extended health care plan, a program offered through your credit card or any private coverage that you may already have or that is available to purchase.

All programs differ in coverage and in cost so it is important to read the fine print to see which one best applies to you and your family.  Don’t forget that some policies will not cover you for what they may determine as “risky behaviors”, such as bungee jumping or scuba diving.

It is also very important to be totally honest when applying for private coverage.  Depending on your age you may be asked health questions which will help determine the cost of your coverage.  Obviously the better health you are in the lower the cost will be.   Please note that in case of a claim, the insuring company WILL check back on your medical records to make sure you did not have a pre-existing condition that was related to your emergency while travelling and they WILL deny your coverage.

Most companies will also state that you need to call their 1-800 number BEFORE you seek any treatment or they may not cover your costs.

To make it easy for our clients to obtain a quote for travel insurance we offer a link on our website to the Manulife travel insurance HERE. 

We encourage you to shop around as this coverage may not be the best plan available for you and your family.  It’s important to read the fine print.  We encourage you to look at all of your options!

Below we have included links to a summary of the changes published by the Globe and Mail and also a link to the OHIP website for further research.

Click Here to see in the link from the Globe and Mail

Click Here to see the link from Ontario Government OHIP

-Jodi