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International Adoptions and OHIP Eligibility
Effective April 1, 2009, changes were made to Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act which provides an exemption from the three-month waiting period for Ontario health insurance coverage (OHIP) for children adopted internationally by Ontario residents.
Exemption from the Waiting Period for OHIP
- A child under the age of 16, who is adopted outside of Canada by Ontario residents, will be exempt from the three-month waiting period for Ontario health insurance coverage; if they meet the following 2 requirements :
- The child has an OHIP-eligible citizenship/immigration status. OHIP-eligible citizenship/immigration statuses are listed in Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act; more information can be found on this topic under the fact sheet OHIP Eligibility.
- The adoptive parents can provide confirmation that they have received director approval, provided by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, of their international adoption under Ontario's Intercountry Adoption Act.
- A child under the age of 16, who will be placed for adoption in Ontario from another country, will be exempt from the three-month waiting period for Ontario health insurance coverage; if they meet the following 2 requirements :
- The child has an OHIP-eligible citizenship/immigration status. OHIP-eligible citizenship/immigration statuses are listed in Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act; more information can be found on this topic under the fact sheet OHIP Eligibility.
- The adoptive parents can provide confirmation that they have received director approval, provided by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, of their international adoption under Ontario's Child and Family Services Act (CFSA).
- A child under 16 years old, who is the subject of an adoption order under section 146 of the Child and Family Services Act (CFSA), will be exempt from the remainder of the three-month waiting period for Ontario health insurance coverage; if on the date the adoption is finalized, the child is OHIP-eligible and is within their three month waiting period.
For more detailed information about OHIP eligibility:
- Refer to the fact sheet OHIP Eligibility
- Refer to the Questions & Answers on OHIP
- Refer to Regulation 552 of Ontario's Health Insurance Act, which can be viewed online at:
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/regs/english/elaws_regs_900552_e.htm
If you have questions about your child's eligibility for OHIP coverage under the new policies, please contact Infoline at 1 800 268-1154 or visit your local ServiceOntario - Health Card Services - OHIP office.
The above is only a summary of the OHIP eligibility provisions of Regulation 552. You should consult the actual regulation for the specific requirements applicable to you. The provisions in Regulation 552 prevail over this summary.
April 2009 (updated November 2009)
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