Ontario (Toronto) Health Care system (health insurance, credit, income)

[midnightOil]

Hello!

i am a dual US/Canadian citizen, currently considering moving to Toronto from the US. I lived in Montreal before, so i know how the Quebec Healthcare system works.

Can anyone explain to me how the Ontario one is (public/private, expensive, efficiency...)? do you have any links that explain it?


thank you so much for the help!

[Cornerguy1]

The Ontario health care program is locally known as OHIP.

It is publicly funded and provides coverage for doctor visits, hospital care, and a variety of related functions. It does not provide coverage for things like dental care, vision care, or prescription drugs. Insurance coverage for these last items may be purchased privately, or may be provided through an employer.

Funding for OHIP is mainly derived from general tax revenues, but there is an income-driven supplemental health tax payable once per year on an individual's income tax return.

To be use the OHIP system, one must be issued an Ontario Health Card by the Ontario Ministry of Health. This credit-card size photo ID card must be presented when service is requested.

The Ontario Minsitry of Health has specific residency requirements which must be met before coverage is provided. In most cases, one must a resident of the province of Ontario for 90 days before being eligible for coverage.

Try the OHIP web site for more information: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care - Public Information - Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP)




.

[nickjbor]

All provincial healthcare plans are similar, but not identical.

[midnightOil]

thanks guys...

another more subjective question: is the service efficient enough the way it is? i mean if you need to see a specialist, are the wait times really bad, or is it ok in large?

if anyone curently lives in Ontario, how would you personally rate the system?

[nickjbor]

wait times in all canadian provinces can range from ok to bad, and can vary depending on the area within the province as well - so its difficult to answer that particular question. I'd say that Ontario's healthcare is probably either the best or the second best (to alberta) in the country, if only because these are the two richest provinces and therefore have the most money to throw around, but compared to the US, I'd say the canadian system has it's faults.

[northern cross]

Originally Posted by alexcirnu

thanks guys...

another more subjective question: is the service efficient enough the way it is? i mean if you need to see a specialist, are the wait times really bad, or is it ok in large?

if anyone curently lives in Ontario, how would you personally rate the system?

OHIP system is sucks.
May I'm not lucky, but it just dangerous to trust them your life.
I had a surgery (top rated specialist!!!) Its was very sloppy work. The nurse spoiled my veins (she couldn't insert IV properly - probably she was a factory worker yesterday) The epidural wasn't done properly too and my leg didn't work after and they kicked me out of hospital in wheelchair with smile You are OK!
Another specialist asked me to spell a title of effective medicine I found and I cure myself (internet research) because his dreadful prescriptions of some 18th century's drugs didn't work at all.
My child paediatrician always makes a huge eyes and says I don't know whats up with your kid.
My friends and I feel like pioneers here, who lived in a wild forest and have to survive somehow. One of my friend happy to have benefits in US and she always driving down there to make even a flu shots.
I don't have family doctor, actually I have one but you have to wait 2-3 months for an appointment ....

I won't tell what happens in emergencies in hospitals - you can wait a whole night in a line up.
My family doctor asked me twice Are you sure you are pregnant? My pregnancy was 5 months and only blind couldn't notice it.

I know that people who has god knows which degree in which field they receiving a certificates and become a nurses, ultrasound,X-ray....)

Walk in clinic doctors are just ...
Two weeks ago we came from Cuba, we went to the walk in clinic (Sunday) with baby who has a diarrhea, doctor prescribed Bactrim. I was so fool I didn't check before to give it to the baby. Next day baby was all in terrible rush and diarrhea become even worst. This medicine side effect is diarea, and its not cure for diarrhea at all (pneumonia, ear infection...) Another doctor next day was shocked by that prescription from walk in clinic.
Of course not all of health workers are bad, but real professionals are very rare. Lot of fresh baked specialists with shaken hands. Population is growing too fast to have enough doctors. WE have friends they happy with their family doctor but his is not accepting new patients last 15 years.

[ms.canada2005]

Originally Posted by alexcirnu

thanks guys...

another more subjective question: is the service efficient enough the way it is? i mean if you need to see a specialist, are the wait times really bad, or is it ok in large?

if anyone curently lives in Ontario, how would you personally rate the system?

I am a cancer survivor 6 yrs and had almost nil wait time to see a specialist..but my brother is fighting cancer and his wait time was too long to see a specialist...Ohip dropped dentist and eye care...that i think is needed...
i guess what i am trying to say is there are good things and things that could be improved....

[midnightOil]

thank you so much for the replies!!

[mirjaja]

The OHIP today is not the same as it was 15 years ago. Expect long waits for specialists, even to get into a GP can be time consuming.

Emergency medicine is about all that it is good for. There is no such thing as wellness or preventative care there anymore.

[TorontoCanuck]

Originally Posted by northern cross

OHIP system is sucks.
May I'm not lucky, but it just dangerous to trust them your life.
I had a surgery (top rated specialist!!!) Its was very sloppy work. The nurse spoiled my veins (she couldn't insert IV properly - probably she was a factory worker yesterday) The epidural wasn't done properly too and my leg didn't work after and they kicked me out of hospital in wheelchair with smile You are OK!
Another specialist asked me to spell a title of effective medicine I found and I cure myself (internet research) because his dreadful prescriptions of some 18th century's drugs didn't work at all.
My child paediatrician always makes a huge eyes and says I don't know whats up with your kid.
My friends and I feel like pioneers here, who lived in a wild forest and have to survive somehow. One of my friend happy to have benefits in US and she always driving down there to make even a flu shots.
I don't have family doctor, actually I have one but you have to wait 2-3 months for an appointment ....

I won't tell what happens in emergencies in hospitals - you can wait a whole night in a line up.
My family doctor asked me twice Are you sure you are pregnant? My pregnancy was 5 months and only blind couldn't notice it.

I know that people who has god knows which degree in which field they receiving a certificates and become a nurses, ultrasound,X-ray....)

Walk in clinic doctors are just ...
Two weeks ago we came from Cuba, we went to the walk in clinic (Sunday) with baby who has a diarrhea, doctor prescribed Bactrim. I was so fool I didn't check before to give it to the baby. Next day baby was all in terrible rush and diarrhea become even worst. This medicine side effect is diarea, and its not cure for diarrhea at all (pneumonia, ear infection...) Another doctor next day was shocked by that prescription from walk in clinic.
Of course not all of health workers are bad, but real professionals are very rare. Lot of fresh baked specialists with shaken hands. Population is growing too fast to have enough doctors. WE have friends they happy with their family doctor but his is not accepting new patients last 15 years.

I see that you're located in California!
Are you sure you went to an Ontario hospital??

I have lived in Toronto and area, for 22 out of 24 years....and never had any problems getting a family doctor, never any waiting to see a specialist....except for the first visit, which could be from 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on whether it's an emergency...never had to wait in the hospital emergency. And I am talking about doctors and hospitals in Scarborough, Toronto and Mississauga!

Before prescribing anything, my doctor and specialist always ask me whether I have tried a certain medicine and if so, have I had any side-effects! Ditto for the pharmacist...always explain what it is, how it works, and give information on paper about possible side-effects!

The only problem I've ever had with a hospital, was in Mississauga....the food-server kept giving me whole-wheat bread instead of the white, I ordered!