Healthcare in Toronto: OHIP, the gaps and why the NHS can't help
Ontario's public health system will feel a lot like the NHS once you're in it. The tricky part is the bit before you're in it, and the things it never covered in the first place.
The short version
- Canada has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, so your NHS entitlement and GHIC are no help in Toronto [1].
- Ontario's public plan, OHIP, covers permanent residents and some work permit holders, and there's no longer a waiting period once you're approved [2].
- You must apply in person at ServiceOntario with three original documents, and you need to be in Ontario for 153 of your first 183 days [2].
- OHIP doesn't cover adult prescriptions outside hospital, most dental care or routine eye tests for most adults, so many people rely on workplace "extended health" plans [3].
- Buy private health insurance for your first weeks and for anyone in the family who doesn't qualify.
Why the NHS and GHIC don't follow you
The FCDO's "Living in Canada" guide puts it simply: "Canada does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK" [1]. Unlike Australia or New Zealand, there's no deal that gets Brits even emergency care on the public system.
Two things follow from that:
- The GHIC is no use. It's for visits to the EU and a handful of other countries, and it isn't for people who've moved abroad anyway.
- Free NHS care stops when you move. Once you live in Canada, you're no longer ordinarily resident in the UK, so you can't count on free NHS treatment on trips home. Our guide to the NHS when you live abroad explains what you can and can't use.
The FCDO advises having suitable cover for any medical costs and points you to the Canadian government's information on health insurance [1].
Who gets OHIP
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan pays for medically necessary care. To qualify you must meet all the minimum rules and fit one of the eligible groups [2]:
The minimum rules:
- be physically in Ontario for 153 days in any 12-month period
- be physically in Ontario for at least 153 of your first 183 days after you arrive
- make Ontario your primary residence
The eligible groups include:
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents
- work permit holders who are working full-time in Ontario, for an Ontario employer, for at least six months, plus their spouse and dependants in some cases
- some people who've applied for permanent residence, once IRCC has confirmed it's reviewing the application
The good news is that "there is no longer a waiting period for OHIP coverage" [2]. Older guides talk about a three-month wait; that's gone. Cover starts once you're approved.
Where Brits often fall through the gap
- Working holiday (IEC) visas. An open work permit doesn't automatically get you OHIP. You need full-time work for an Ontario employer, so check the rules against your job and permit length.
- Remote workers for a UK employer. Working for a company outside Ontario doesn't meet the work permit test.
- Parents visiting from the UK. Visitors aren't covered at all. They need travel insurance that covers Canada, and it isn't cheap for older travellers.
- The first days and weeks. Even with no waiting period, you still have to get to ServiceOntario and get approved. Cover yourself until the card arrives.
How to apply
- Book or visit a ServiceOntario centre. You must apply in person [2].
- Fill in the Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form.
- Bring three original documents from Ontario's list: one proving your citizenship or immigration status (your work permit or PR confirmation), one proving Ontario residence (a lease or a pay stub can work), and one proving your identity, such as your passport. Photocopies aren't accepted [2].
- Wait for your health card. You'll get a green photo health card. Keep it on you, as you'll be asked for it at every appointment.
What OHIP covers and what it doesn't
| Covered by OHIP | Not covered, or only partly |
|---|---|
| Medically necessary GP and specialist visits, including virtual ones [3] | Prescriptions once you leave hospital, for adults [3] |
| Hospital care, tests, in-patient drugs, and a ward bed and meals [3] | A private or semi-private room [3] |
| Lab tests ordered by your doctor [3] | Some tests, such as PSA or vitamin D, unless you meet set criteria [3] |
| Eye exams for under-20s, and for over-65s or people with certain conditions [3] | Routine eye tests for most adults aged 20 to 64 [3] |
| Ambulance services, in part or in full depending on the circumstances [3] | Most dental care outside hospital [3] |
| Prescription drugs for anyone 24 or under without a private plan, through OHIP+ [4] | Podiatry beyond a small contribution per visit [3] |
The prescriptions point catches Brits out. Back home you're used to a flat prescription charge in England, or nothing at all in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Ontario, adults pay the pharmacy's full price unless they have a private plan. For children and young people up to 24 with no private plan, OHIP+ covers thousands of medicines, from antibiotics and asthma inhalers to insulin [4].
Private health insurance
Private cover in Ontario works alongside OHIP rather than replacing it. There are three main kinds:
- Workplace "extended health" benefits. Most full-time jobs come with a group plan that covers prescriptions, dental, eye tests and glasses, physio and sometimes therapy. It's one of the most valuable parts of a Canadian job offer, so ask about it before you sign.
- Individual top-up plans. If you're self-employed or your job has no benefits, you can buy a plan that does much the same.
- Newcomer or international health insurance. This covers the gap before OHIP starts, or covers people who'll never qualify, such as some remote workers. It's the plan to buy before you fly.
When you compare policies, check emergency hospital cover, pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, and whether the policy still pays if you travel back to the UK or across the border into the US.
Finding a doctor in Toronto
Everyone speaks English, so language isn't the problem. Getting a family doctor is.
- Register with Health Care Connect. Ontario's service searches for a family doctor or nurse practitioner taking new patients near you. You need your health card number, and you can register online or by calling 811 [5]. It doesn't guarantee a quick match, though the province says waiting lists are at their lowest in over a decade [5].
- Use walk-in clinics in the meantime. OHIP pays in full for medically necessary visits to a walk-in clinic, as it does for your own doctor [3].
- Call 811 for advice. Health811 is the free, round-the-clock line for health advice, a bit like NHS 111.
- Call 911 in an emergency and go to A&E, which Canadians call the emergency department or ER.
Toronto has some of Canada's best-known public hospitals, including Toronto General Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, St Michael's Hospital and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). All treat OHIP patients. If you're not covered, expect a bill, and expect it to be a big one, which is exactly why the insurance matters.
A few practical tips
- Bring your medical records. Ask your UK GP surgery for a summary and copies of anything important, such as vaccination records for the children.
- Pack a month or two of regular medication. Then get a Canadian prescription as soon as you can, through a walk-in clinic if necessary.
- Keep paying attention to your UK record. If you plan to come back, our guide to voluntary National Insurance from abroad explains how to protect your State Pension, which matters more than people think.
For first-hand tips on walk-in clinics, insurers and getting through the ServiceOntario queue, ask in our community group for Brits in Canada.
Sources
- GOV.UK (FCDO): Living in Canada (last updated 11 December 2025)
- Ontario.ca: Apply for OHIP and get a health card
- Ontario.ca: What OHIP covers
- Ontario.ca: Learn about OHIP+ (updated 11 February 2026)
- Ontario.ca: Use Health Care Connect to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner