Changes to OHIP Travel Insurance- January 1, 2020

In May 2019 the Provincial Government announced they would be changing coverage for Out of Country Medical Emergency.  The brunt of these claims have been paid by private insurance companies, but this move now pushes almost all the responsibility from the province to prviate insurance companies and travellers.

Originally slated to go into effect on October 1, 2019, the government listened to Ontarians and decided to move the effective date back to January 1, 2020 to allow people more time to make appropriate arrangements.  This move will put many Ontarians, especially “snowbirds”, at risk if they are travelling out of province and have not purchased the necessary travel insurance.

There are many companies offering travel insurance; however not all plans are the same.  Make suure you understand the difference between a “pre-existing condition” limitation, and a “stability clause”.  Knowing the difference could be the difference between getting a claim paid, or not.  You do not want to be left “holding the bag”.