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Ministry Programs

Ontario Health Insurance Plan

About Out of Country Health Services

Out of Country (OOC) health services are described as: 

1. Emergency OOC health services – unexpected services or treatment that are required while you are traveling outside of Canada, and
2. OOC health services for which funding has been requested and ministry approval is received prior to the OOC service(s) being rendered.

Emergency OOC Health Services

OHIP provides very limited coverage for emergency services that are received outside of Canada.  For this reason, you are strongly advised to purchase additional health insurance before you leave Canada.  Reimbursement for costs associated with emergency OOC health services are provided after the service(s) has been received.

Learn more about OHIP coverage for travelers.

Prior Approval for OOC Health Services

The OOC Prior Approval Program provides pre-approved OHIP funding for certain health services that may be required outside of Canada.  To be considered for OHIP funding under this program:

• you must have valid OHIP coverage; and
• your Ontario physician must submit a “Prior Approval Application for Full Payment of Insured Out-of-Country (OOC) Health Services” on your behalf to the ministry before the OOC service(s) are rendered; and
• written notification of ministry approval must be obtained before the OOC service(s) are rendered.

Note :  If you have not received prior approval from the ministry before the OOC health services are rendered, you may be responsible for all costs associated with the service(s).

If you would like further information or clarification regarding the program, please call 1-888-359-8807 or e-mail OOCPRIORAPPROVALINQ@moh.gov.on.ca