Military Family Members

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 (CF); or
• Reservist currently deployed by the Canadian Forces into active service.

This means that eligible military family members now qualify for all health care services for which OHIP is a requirement immediately upon becoming residents in Ontario.

Members of military families must first prove eligibility for Ontario health insurance coverage; therefore, you must :

• Hold an OHIP-eligible citizenship/immigration status in Canada (refer to the fact sheet OHIP Eligibility);
• Make your permanent and principal home in Ontario; and
• Be physically present in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period.

Documentation from the Ontario Health Coverage Document List is required to register for Ontario health insurance coverage.

In order to be eligible for the exemption to the waiting period for Ontario health insurance coverage, you will need to show documentation from the Military Family Member Document List in order to demonstrate military family member status.

Who qualifies as a “spouse”?

For OHIP purposes, a spouse is considered a person :

• To whom one is married, or
• With whom one has been living in a relationship, if the two persons have:
1. cohabitated for a period of at least one year; or
2. are together the parents of a child.

Who does the ministry consider a “dependant”?

A “dependant” is considered a dependent child who is :

• Under 22 years of age, or
• 22 years of age or older, but dependent due to a mental or physical disability.

Do I have to go to a ServiceOntario – Health Card Services – OHIP office to receive an exemption to the waiting period?

To receive this exemption you must apply at a ServiceOntario – Health Card Services – OHIP office or Outreach registration site.  You must bring three original documents to be registered for Ontario health insurance coverage, thereby proving citizenship/immigration status, residency in Ontario, and identity (refer to the Ontario Health Coverage Document List).

As well, you must bring one original document to receive the exemption to the waiting period by demonstrating that you are a member of a military family (refer to the Military Family Member Document List).

Does my CF member spouse or parent have to accompany me to the ServiceOntario –  Health Card Services – OHIP office to receive this exemption?

No.  You may apply for immediate Ontario health insurance coverage by yourself; however, you will be required to show documentation from List B of the Military Family Member Document List if the military member is not present at the time of application.

For health card registration of dependent children of CF members, refer to the “Information for dependants of Canadian Forces members” section of the Military Family Member Document List, and to the online OHIP Questions and Answers section for How do I register my children.

Does my CF member spouse have to accompany me to Ontario when I move?

No.  You may move to Ontario independent of your spouse and still qualify for this exemption.  Please visit a ServiceOntario – Health Card Services – OHIP office for further details.

June 2008