We champion access to healthcare for all.
We believe this incredibly complex system locks people out of accessing the healthcare they need, where they need and when they need it.
As we continue to work to change this complex system, below we outline how undocumented individuals, permanent residents, refugee claimants and refugees, and international students can access care.
Undocumented Individuals
We believe everyone regardless of immigration status should have access to healthcare. While we push for this to become a reality, it is important for people to know what they can access if they have lost their immigration status. Although they are not eligible for OHIP, there are other ways they may be able to access healthcare.
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There are a variety of healthcare services including primary care, sexual health services, dental clinics and mental health resources accessible to people living in Toronto without OHIP.
Click here for a list of healthcare services and resources in the GTA
Permanent Residents
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Link: Documents needed to get a health card
Please Note
Under this list of Service Ontario documents, the COPR document is known as:
“Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) letter (IRCC used to be called Citizenship and Immigration Canada, or CIC). The letter must: be on IRCC letterhead, addressed to you as the applicant state IRCC has confirmed you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence in Canada and you have not yet been denied.”
When approved for permanent residency in Canada, people will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document. This document can be used to apply for provincial services, such as the OHIP.
To apply for OHIP, they need to:
Prove their immigration status.
Prove their residency.
Prove their identity.
Visit the Service Ontario website for a list of documents they can use to apply: https://www.ontario.ca/page/documents-needed-get-health-card.
If possible, we recommend telling them to go to Service Ontario’s main branch located at 777 Bay Street in Toronto or to a larger Service Ontario location because they are more familiar with COPR documents. In the GTA, these other locations are:
3300 Bloor Street West (near Islington station)
47 Sheppard Ave E (near Sheppard station)
3495 Lawrence Ave E (at Markham and Lawrence)
Service Ontario locations in neighborhoods may not be as familiar with this type of document and the chances of them denying OHIP to people are higher. If, of course, they have no choice but to go to their neighbourhood location, we suggest people print off a copy or save the list of acceptable documents on their phone and be prepared to advocate for themselves or have an advocate go with them.
Refugee Claimants and Refugees
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They can apply for (and renew their) healthcare coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). IFHP includes basic, supplemental and prescription coverage. Click here to learn more about what is covered and how to apply.
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Also known as a "protected person" or convention refugee.
They can apply for OHIP.
To apply for OHIP, they need to 1. prove their immigration status, 2. prove their residency, and 3. prove their identity. Visit the Service Ontario website for a list of documents they can use to apply.
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They will continue to be covered under IFHP until their deportation date. There is no longer any need to renew the IFHP certificate, but we have heard that some service providers refuse to accept the “expired” certificates - even though they are still valid. If they prefer to renew the certificate, they can do so using these forms.
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They have access to:
Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage for the first 12 months after arrival, and OHIP upon arrival.
IFHP coverage is mostly useful for medications and extra services, such as dental care, eye exams, glasses and other services.
International Students
An international student is a student who holds a study permit in Canada. They are not eligible for OHIP, and if they have other health coverage that is typically provided through their school.
Most international students whose schools offer health insurance are automatically enrolled in it when they pay their tuition fees, so they may not know they have it.
Many schools list their health insurance plans on the international student services section of their websites.
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They likely have a University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP).
UHIP is designed to be equivalent to OHIP and should cover all of the same basic medical care that OHIP does. It does not cover OHIP+/ODB formulary medications for people under 25.
It is typically accepted (and billed directly) at hospitals and many walk-in clinics, primary care providers, diagnostic and lab services, and specialty clinics.
If your client needs to access medical care or tests with a provider who does not bill UHIP directly, they may need to pay out of pocket for their care and submit receipts to UHIP to get reimbursed.
A UHIP policy year typically lasts through the summer, ending August 31st.
More info on UHIP is available here. Also, click here for a list of doctors, hospitals, and labs that accept UHIP. -
Their school offers basic health insurance.
Many of the plans used by these schools are roughly equivalent to OHIP and cover most basic medical costs. Some only cover emergency care. Your client will need to check their policy details to know what is covered.
Many public colleges use policies through the following insurance companies: Guard.me or Morcare
If your client has one of these plans, it may be accepted (and billed directly) at hospitals and some other providers, but many providers will not accept/directly bill these companies, and your client will likely need to pay out of pocket for their care and submit receipts to their insurance company to get reimbursed.
Walk-in clinics, primary care providers, diagnostic and lab services, and specialty clinics near your client’s campus may be more likely to accept (and bill directly) the insurance plan offered at their school.
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Their school may or may not offer some sort of basic health insurance.
Many of these plans, if offered, will only cover emergency expenses. Your client will need to check their policy details to know what is covered.
Many small, private schools make it the student’s responsibility to find and buy their own health insurance.
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They will likely not receive health insurance through their school and may have no coverage unless they/their parents or guardians have bought a private insurance policy.
PLEASE NOTE
They may not be enrolled in their school’s insurance policy if they:
are not currently enrolled in classes (including summer terms for some plans),
are on a co-op term or a student placement,
are in the process of switching between schools,
have not paid their tuition yet,
are enrolled in a graduate or certificate program.
We know even if they have healthcare coverage as an international student, many medical clinics will not accept the coverage and/or be willing to bill the insurance provider directly. There are a few uninsured clinics in Toronto that will provide care to international students regardless of healthcare coverage:
FCJ Refugee Centre - Primary Health Clinic - run by the Inner City Health Associates (ICHA) at 208 Oakwood Ave. Toronto. Need to call in order to book at apt: (416) 469 9754 x230
Planned Parenthood Toronto (for youth 13-29 years old) - 36B Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 1A9. Click here for clinic hours: https://ppt.on.ca/contact/
