Ontarians no longer have healthcare coverage from OHIP while travelling
If you’re taking a trip out of Canada next year, rethink your travel insurance.
Starting on January 1st, OHIP will be making cuts to the travel insurance coverage that is currently available for Ontario travelers. These new changes will make it very important for Ontarians to think about purchasing travel insurance before leaving the country for their next getaway.
Currently, OHIP offers a maximum of $400 a day for emergency in-patient services and $50 a day for emergency outpatient services for those who are travelling outside of Canada.
This cut of OHIP coverage could mean different things for travelers depending on the country.
If visiting the U.S., $400 a day does not go very far where medical costs are double that of any developed country in the world, the Toronto Star reports.
A night’s stay at the hospital will set someone back $5,000 a night, which would not have been covered by OHIP before the changes.
If travelers visit less expensive countries however, these OHIP coverages could often cover the costs of medical attention.
These cuts now encourage Canadian travelers to look at health insurance while travelling in 2020, to avoid any potential medical bills that they may receive out of Canada.
According to the Toronto Sun, a recent survey found that 34% of Canadians were not likely to purchase travel insurance for their next trip.
These OHIP changes were first proposed in April and will officially be taking effect as soon as 2020 arrives.
CBC reports that the government’s current coverage only covers roughly 5% of the medical fees one could face while out-of-country.
According to the Toronto Star, it costs the government $9 million annually to administer medical coverage abroad. That coverage cost still can’t adequately protect Ontarians who may incur medical bills.
“[The OHIP program] may be giving people a false sense of security that they have coverage when the coverage is very, very limited,” PC legislator Rob Martin told the CBC.
This cut is another part of Ontario’s attempt to balance the $11.7 billion deficit we face.
Read more: Ontarians Will No Longer Have Healthcare Coverage From OHIP While They Are Travelling