How to obtain OHIP for Non-PR immigrant

[CanadianMarshall]

Hello, thanks ahead for taking the time to read this.

My girlfriend is from Taiwan and she has been here in Ontario for quite some time, 2 and half years. 1 Year on a tourist visa and now shes at the end of a work permit. We have been blessed and now she is pregnant, and we aren't as prepared as I'd like to be. I'm going to marry her and we want to have the baby here in Canada but I'm worried it will be difficult to get her OHIP coverage. I read online that to apply for health card you need:

"Written confirmation from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence"

I'm going to call the toll free number to ask questions and figure out what we can do but I figured maybe someone on here could have some first hand experience.

Bless you,
Thanks for your time.
Marshall

 

[Rob_TO]

Hello, thanks ahead for taking the time to read this.

My girlfriend is from Taiwan and she has been here in Ontario for quite some time, 2 and half years. 1 Year on a tourist visa and now shes at the end of a work permit. We have been blessed and now she is pregnant, and we aren't as prepared as I'd like to be. I'm going to marry her and we want to have the baby here in Canada but I'm worried it will be difficult to get her OHIP coverage. I read online that to apply for health card you need:

"Written confirmation from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence"

I'm going to call the toll free number to ask questions and figure out what we can do but I figured maybe someone on here could have some first hand experience.

Have you already applied to sponsor her for PR as a common-law partner (if you've lived together 12 consecutive months)??

That sentence you quote, refers to having already submitted an "Inside Canada" application to sponsor her for PR, and having reached a certain stage in the application processing that would qualify her for OHIP. If you haven't applied to sponsor her for PR yet, this rule is irrelevant to her situation.

If she doesn't have the PR app already in process, then if she's just here on visitor status there is zero chance for her to qualify for OHIP. You will need to prepare to pay for all pregnancy and delivery related medical costs out of pocket. I would budget approx $10K for everything, and hope there are no complications requiring an extended hospital stay.

Or if you can find a midwife able to take her on as a client, many of their services are free even to those without OHIP coverage. Also a midwife can offer a free home delivery (if no complications), or a hospital delivery at very reduced rate compared to using a doctor.

 

[Helena R]

Why don´t you get married right away and start the PR Inland Sponsorship.

But also what kind of Work Permit does she have ? She didn´t apply for OHIP with that Permit ?

Once you apply for PR and Open Work Permit, she can apply for OHIP if she has a job, which she perfectly could, depending on her dates.