Hi. Is it true that as a Landing immigrant I must get Health Insurance withing the first 5 days of arriving? I am quoting the following one settlement-info website:

"you MUST buy this insurance within 5 days of arriving in Ontario, or the insurance companies will not provide coverage for you"

Is the above true?

Thanks.

Not true.

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DP JAIN, CPA, CGA, CPA (US), CA(I), LL.B.(I)
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I agree with Jainji that the settlement website info is wrong (Can you provide the website address?). Nobody can force you to buy health insurance in Canada. It is always optional.

I believe after 90 days of landing one becomes eligible for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). OHIP covers certain essential services but mostly does not cover dental and drug costs. Unless your employer provides the dental and drug insurance you may consider buying it yourself.

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Man's Best Friend

when you land as an immigrant you do not have Ontario Health Insurance Plan ( OHIP) which covers doctors visits, but not medicines, dental. Your 1st three months as residents if you fall sick you have to pay from your own pocket. Thats why most people get a medical coverage arranged either prior to entry or as soon as they land. Medical coverage kicks in after 2 days you apply. If you apply as soon as you land and fall sick on the 1st day, those charges will not be covered. So if you feel you do not want to take a risk of not having a health coverage do so prior to entry. I cost me and my husband rought $ 350/- for 3 months.

ccheryl and others pl. tell me where u got the insurance from and which provider. is it available at the airport.

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smile ...

Ok everybody, this is what started this posting. Go to this link: http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?passed_lang=EN&faq_id=4000013

Scroll down to the "Waiting Period" section. Look at the 3rd paragraph. It says "you MUST buy this insurance within 5 days of arriving in Ontario, or the insurance companies will not provide coverage for you"

That is unbelievable.

actually, since you only want to get coverage for 3 months while you become eligible for ohip, insurance companies require that you get it within the first 5 days of entering ontario to cover the full 3 months... not all insurance companies offer this type of "bridge" insurance... they will cover the full three months provided you buy it atleast 85 days before the policy would expire (which is when your ohip would kick in)...

as everyone else pointed out, you dont HAVE to buy insurance... if you do decide to buy coverage, then you must buy it within 5 days of entering ontario...

because of the 3 month waiting period for ohip coverage, its strongly advisable to get it... heaven forbid, if you run into any medical expenses, they can add up pretty quick...