Effective December 3, 2007, OHIP-eligible military family members who move to Ontario are eligible for immediate Ontario health insurance coverage provided they are the spouse or dependant of a:

• Regular Force member of the Canadian Forces; or
• Reservist currently deployed by the Canadian Forces into active service.

This means that eligible military family members now qualify for all provincially funded health services immediately upon becoming residents in Ontario.

In order to qualify for the exemption to the waiting period, you must prove eligibility for Ontario health insurance coverage (see the Ontario Health Coverage Document List, the Registration for Ontario Health Coverage form, and the fact sheets on OHIP Eligibility and the Health Card). You will need to show additional documentation from either List A or List B in order to demonstrate military family member status and be provided with immediate Ontario health insurance coverage. Original documents must be presented in person at a ServiceOntario centre; photocopies are not accepted. Go to ServiceOntario.ca/findservices to find a centre nearest you.  The ministry reserves the right to request additional documents.

List A

If the Canadian Forces member is present at the time of application, any one of the following documents is acceptable:

• Canadian Forces member’s Military Identification Card (e.g., NDI 20)
• Special Passport (for military family members returning from an out-of-country posting)
• Canadian Forces Member’s Personnel Record Résumé
• Canadian Forces member’s Posting Message (with accompanying photo identification)
• Letter from local Ontario Military Family Resource Centre on letterhead, confirming military family status of applicants (issued at the discretion of your local Military Family Resource Centre)

List B

If the Canadian Forces member is NOT present at the time of application, any one of the following documents is acceptable:

• Special Passport (for military family members returning from an out-of-country posting)
• Canadian Forces Member’s Personnel Record Résumé
• Letter from local Ontario Military Family Resource Centre on letterhead, confirming military family status of applicants (issued at the discretion of your local Military Family Resource Centre)

Information for Dependants of Canadian Forces Members :

For dependants of a Canadian Forces member under 15½ years old, no documentation is necessary as evidence of military family member status if that status has already been proven by their parent/guardian at the time of application.

If you are a dependant of a Canadian Forces member aged 15½ years or older applying in the presence of your parent/guardian, no documentation is necessary as evidence of military family member status if that status has already been proven by your parent/guardian at the time of application. However, you are required to present three original documents from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List in order to prove your eligibility for Ontario health insurance coverage.

If you are a dependant of a Canadian Forces member age 15½ years or older and your military parent/guardian is absent when you apply for Ontario health insurance coverage, you must present one of the documents from List B in order to demonstrate your military family member status. Your military parent/guardian may need to assist in obtaining one of these documents. In addition, you are required to present three original documents from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List in order to prove your eligibility for Ontario health insurance coverage.

Need More Information?
For further information, please visit a ServiceOntario centre.  Go to ServiceOntario.ca/findservices to find the centre nearest you, or call:

Toll-free : 1-866-532-3161
Toronto only : 416-314-5518
TTY Toll-Free : 1-800-387-5559