Can I get medical care in Canada while on a visitor visa?
Visitors to Canada are not covered by provincial health insurance plans such as OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan). OHIP coverage is for Ontario residents who meet residency requirements — being physically present in Ontario as a visitor does not qualify you. Emergency care is available regardless of insurance status, but you will be billed for it, and costs for hospital care in Ontario can be very high.
Visitors to Canada are strongly advised to carry private travel health insurance that covers them in Canada. Some Canadian employers offer benefits that extend to family members visiting from abroad, but coverage varies.
The super visa program for parents and grandparents requires proof of Canadian private medical insurance as a condition of the application. Other visitors are not required to have insurance but bear significant financial risk without it. Immigration status does not affect your ability to receive emergency treatment, but it does affect who pays.
Key takeaways
- Visitors are not eligible for OHIP or provincial health coverage in Ontario
- Medical costs in Canada can be very high — carry private travel health insurance
- The super visa requires proof of Canadian private medical insurance
- Emergency care is available to all but visitors are billed without insurance