OHIP while not a tax resident of Canada

[nyrol]

I am on a TN visa with my spouse (on a TD) living in Washington State, and we are no longer tax residents of Ontario (as determined by the CRA). We went to apply for the temporary work leave exemption of the physical presence requirement for OHIP, and we successfully obtained our health cards.

Since we were determined to not be tax residents, are we legally allowed to use our health cards in Ontario, even though we don't pay tax in Ontario? We can't seem to find any information as to tax residency requirements to have valid health care.

Thanks

[nelsona]

Yes, because you applied and were granted special permission, you mainyain continuous coverage and do not need to maintain your residence in Canada for the period of time you negotiated with OHIP

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/p ... ences.aspx

You can thus submit out-of-Ontario claims, but realize that what they will pay is only a fraction of what your US medical care would cost, so you should be availing your self of the coverage you are offered at work.

By the way, OHIP does not count toward tha minimum coverage now required by IRS to avoid tax penalty either.

[nelsona]

... and to your specific question, you can of course visit Ontario to get non-urgent medical attention and be fully covered.

[nelsona]

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/p ... ences.aspx

Yes, You are now under that "long absence" clause of OJIP, so are still " eligible for continuous OHIP coverage" as the reference above states. You are not under the obligation to maintain Ontario primary residency during that period.

So you can submit "out-of-country" claims if you meed. But realize that OHIP will cover only a small portion of you rUS medical expenses. thus you should be availing yourself of your work medical insurance, so keeping OHIP is not of great value.

OHIP doe not count as minimum coverage for tax purposes either.