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Ontario Health Insurance Plan: Canadian Government in Action
from: InsuranceDealTime.comThe government of a particular country is important when it comes to the delivery of the basic services of its constituents. Aside from the effective management of the available resources of the country that can be used by its constituents, the government also ensures that the constituents are provided with their basic needs especially in terms of health needs. In Canada, it is one of the top priorities of the Canadian government to ensure that every Canadian has a health insurance plan. They want to avoid the uninsured incidence in the United States wherein in the state of Texas alone, there are already 5.4 uninsured individuals, wherein 80 percent came from the non-elderly population of the state.
To address the higher cost of private health coverage in Canada, especially in the province of Ontario, the Canadian government spearheaded a program that will address the health coverage problems of Ontario constituents. It is now called the Ontario Health Insurance Plan wherein every Ontario resident is entitled to free health benefit access in times of emergencies as well as access to preventive health care. In other words, as one of the Ontario residents, you have the freedom to visit a participating physician anytime as you wish and your bill will be covered by the Canadian government through the OHIP.
The Canadian government, through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will shoulder the medical bills of all Ontario residents enrolled under the OHIP program. However, remember that it will only cover necessary health needs and it will not pay for any expenses that are not medically necessary such as cosmetic surgery.
One good thing about the OHIP program is that you will be able to have an access to the health benefits even you are in other provinces of Canada. The territory or province that you visit will bill the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care directly for doctors and hospital services. For instance, if you avail of the health services under OHIP when you are in the province of Quebec, you will pay the medical services you have availed out of your own pocket and submit all the receipts to the local ministry office for reimbursement.
In order to be eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan;
- You must be a permanent Ontario resident;
- You must be a full-pledged Canadian citizen or have an immigration status approved as determined by the Ontario's Health Insurance Act; and
- You are physically present in Ontario for 153 days within any 1-year period.
There are several plans offered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan program. These are as follows:
- Hospital Insurance Plan- you are entitled to in-patient hospital services such as confinement and meals within the standard ward level. You are also provided with the necessary nursing services and essential diagnostic procedures such as laboratory and radiology. Out-patient services include diagnostic procedures, essential therapies, and home health care.
- Medical Care Plan- you are provided with the necessary medical services such as prescription drugs, medical tests and examinations, surgical operations, maternity care, and other procedures that need to be done in any medical facility.
As an Ontario resident and a Canadian citizen, you have the right to an access in health care services. Through Ontario Health Insurance Plan, rest assured that your health will be protected even you cannot afford private health insurance coverage.
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