Today the province announced that it is waiving the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage. Additionally, Ontario will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage. Together, these measures will ensure that no one will be discouraged from seeking screening or treatment for COVID-19 for financial reasons.
“The health and well-being of Ontarians continues to be our government’s number one priority,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “That’s why we’re working to guarantee that anyone who needs screening or care for COVID-19 will get it. In doing so, we can further help ensure we contain the spread of this virus.”
These measures are in addition to Ontario’s recent announcement that Ontarians with expiring and expired health cards will continue to have access to insured health services.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontarians should be practising social distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. Avoid close contact (within 2 metres) with people outside of your immediate families.
- If you believe you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms, you should begin to self-monitor for a period of 14 days, including social distancing and tracking your symptoms and how you feel.
Jensen,D. and Chazan,H. (2020,Mar.20) Ontario Expands Coverage for Care [media release]