How can I receive health services in the Durham Region?
Ontario residents are eligible for provincially funded health coverage through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). A resident of Ontario must have a health card to show that he or she is entitled to health care services paid for by OHIP. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.
To be eligible to participate in the Ontario Health Insurance Plan you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or have immigration status as set out in Ontario's Health Insurance Act
- make your permanent and principal home in Ontario
- be physically present in Ontario 153 days in any 12-month period.
To apply for a Health Card you can go in person to your nearest Health Card Services - OHIP office In Durham that office is located at 419 King St. W., Unit 401, (Executive Tower of the Oshawa Centre Shopping Mall) Oshawa or call 1-888-376-5197 to book an appointment. The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As a newcomer to Ontario, you will usually have to wait about six months before you are eligible for coverage under OHIP. You should apply for the program as soon as you arrive. While you wait, you can receive short-term health insurance through the Interim Federal Health (IFH) Program.