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OHIP Eligibility of Canadian-Born Children of OHIP-ineligible Parents

Even if you are not eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), but you live in Ontario, your newborn or child may be eligible if they were born in Canada and are Canadian citizens. For Ontario born children to be eligible for OHIP, the parent(s) must show that they make Ontario their primary place of residence.

If your baby is born in an Ontario hospital or at home and attended by registered midwife…

There is a special registration process in place for babies born in Ontario birthing hospitals, or at home and attended by a registered midwife. Immediately after the birth of your baby, hospital staff or a registered midwife will give you an Ontario Health Coverage Infant Registration (form 4440-82) to complete. This form requests information regarding your baby such as the baby's name, birth date and mailing address. Information is also requested regarding the parent/guardian who is completing the form. You will be asked to confirm that the child:

  • has a primary place of residence in Ontario, and
  • will be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days in any twelve-month period to retain health insurance coverage.

The bottom of this form is detachable and should be retained by you. It is pre-printed with a health number assigned to your baby. You should keep this record and use it until you receive your baby's plastic Ontario health card. Tourists, transients and visitors are not eligible for OHIP coverage.

If your baby is born in Canada, but not in an Ontario birthing hospital or at home attended by Ontario registered midwife...

You will need to visit ServiceOntario centre to register the child for Ontario health insurance coverage. Go to ServiceOntario.ca/findservices to find the centre nearest you. Proof of your child's Canadian citizenship, your residency in Ontario and your identity will be required.

If you visit a ServiceOntario centre within 90 days of the birth of your child you need to bring all of the following documents :

  • confirmation of the baby's birth in Ontario, through either a letter from the facility or attending physician which confirms the child's name, date of birth, place of birth and parents' names, or a Certified Statement of Live Birth from a provincial office of the Registrar-General;
  • a completed Registration for Ontario Health Coverage (form 0265-82);
  • your residency document; and
  • your identity document.

If you visit your ServiceOntario centre more than 90 days after the birth of your child you need to bring all of the following documents :

For a complete listing of approved documents as required above, refer to the Ontario Health Coverage Document List (form 9998E-82). You may be asked for additional documents. Only original documents are accepted - photocopies are not acceptable.

If you have additional questions about your own eligibility for OHIP coverage, please refer to the fact sheet OHIP Eligibility. Staff at your local ServiceOntario centre can also help you determine whether or not you or your child are eligible for Ontario health insurance coverage. Go to ServiceOntario.ca/findservices to find the centre nearest you.

The above is only a summary of the OHIP eligibility provisions of Regulation 552 for your reference. You should consult the actual regulation for the specific requirements applicable to you. The provisions in Regulation 552 prevail over this summary.


November 2011

For More Information

Call ServiceOntario, Infoline at:
1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
TTY 1-800-387-5559.
In Toronto, TTY 416-327-4282
Hours of operation: 8:30am - 5:00pm

If you are a member of the media, call Communications and Marketing Branch at 416-314-6197 or visit our News Room section.

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