How to Apply for Provincial Health Insurance (OHIP and Equivalents)
Provinces run Canada's health coverage, not the federal government. Apply as soon as you arrive, or as soon as you move. Waiting periods differ. Ontario no longer has one for newcomers. Your coverage starts on your landing day. BC makes you wait the rest of your arrival month, plus two more months. You need documents that prove where you live and your status. Then your health card arrives by mail.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free in most provinces (BC scrapped MSP premiums in 2020)
- Total time:
- Same-day application; coverage after waiting period
- Steps:
- 6 steps
- Where to apply:
- ontario.ca
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due April 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(October 2026).
0 of 6 steps
- Before You Go 20 min
Learn your province's rules
The big three plans are Ontario's OHIPOntario Health Insurance Plan — Ontario's provincial health insurance. Most newcomers must wait about 3 months after establishing residence before coverage starts.Click for official info ↗, BC's MSPMedical Services Plan — British Columbia's provincial health insurance plan.Click for official info ↗ (run by Health Insurance BC), and Alberta's AHCIPAlberta Health Care Insurance Plan — Alberta's provincial health insurance plan.Click for official info ↗. Ontario removed its 3-month wait in 2020. It was waived in March 2020, then made permanent. Coverage can start on the day you settle in Ontario. Alberta covers newcomers from the day they settle there. BC still has a wait for most new residents. It is the rest of the arrival month plus two months. Workers on permits usually need a permit valid for 12+ months. Some people are never eligible, like those on visitor visas.
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- Go 30–60 min
Gather residence and status documents
Provinces want ORIGINALS that show three things. One: your identity (passport). Two: your legal status (PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗ or a qualifying permit). Three: that you live in the province (lease, bank statement, or employer letter). Download the province's registration form and fill it in before you go. For example, Ontario uses form 0265-82. This saves time at the office.
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- Go 1 hour + travel
Apply in person or by mail
In Ontario, go to a ServiceOntario centre. Walk in with your originals. In Alberta, go to a registry agent office. In BC, most people apply by mail. Staff check your documents and take your photo. Ontario and Alberta print photo cards. Staff also give you a confirmation of registration. List every family member. Each person gets a card with their own health number.
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- Wait 2–6 weeks
Wait for the health card by mail
Cards arrive within weeks. Until your card arrives, you can show your registration confirmation for covered services. Did you move, and the card never came? Contact the ministry. Cards that are not claimed are sent back and cancelled after some time.
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- Follow Up Ongoing
Know what is (and is not) covered
Provincial plans cover doctor visits, hospital care, and tests. They do NOT cover prescriptions (outside a hospital), dental care, or glasses for adults. Many employers offer extra benefits for those things. Low-income residents can get help, like Ontario's Trillium Drug Program. Are you a newcomer? Check if a Canadian doctor must renew your home-country prescriptions. Book an early clinic visit to move your care over.
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- Receive —
Keep your card and update moves
Your health number stays the same for life, within your province. If you move, update your address with the health ministry within 30 days. If you move to a new province, register there again. You wait a short time for coverage in the new province. Under agreements between provinces, your old province keeps covering you during that wait.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I am an international student. Am I covered?
It depends. BC covers students whose study permit is valid for 6+ months, if they are enrolled. Alberta needs a study permit valid for 12+ months. Or a permit for 6–12 months, plus a school letter. The letter must confirm enrolment and that you plan to live there 12+ months. Ontario OHIP does NOT cover international students. Your school puts you in a mandatory private plan, like UHIP. Check with your school before you arrive.
Can I see a doctor before the card arrives?
Yes, once your coverage start date has passed. A clinic can check your coverage with your registration confirmation. Or you pay, and claim the money back. Walk-in clinics are easy to find. You do not need a family doctor to use one.
Does OHIP cover me outside Canada?
Nothing. OHIP ended its out-of-country travellers coverage on January 1, 2020. It pays $0 for emergency care outside Canada. There is one exception: a separate program that repays hemodialysis costs. Buy travel medical insurance for any trip. A US hospital bill alone can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
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