Health Insurance

Finding a health insurance plan that covers your family and fits your budget requires a little familiarity with insurance terms. After all, if you’re not sure what co-insurance or deductible means, you may not know the true cost of your health insurance. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common terms you’ll see when comparing plans and how they shape the total cost of your plan:

• Premium: Your premium is the amount you pay on a monthly or other regularly scheduled basis to keep your coverage.
• Deductible: Your deductible is the annual amount you pay out of pocket for medical care before your insurance pays out.

• You are not covered by your employer’s health insurance.
• You’re about to lose your group insurance.
• You want extra advantages that your employer’s plan or your province’s or territory’s health and medication coverage don’t provide.

OHIP covers health services you may need, such as:

• appointments with your family doctor.
• visits to walk-in clinics and some other health care providers.
• visits to an emergency room.
• medical tests and surgeries.

Note: To be covered by OHIP, you must have a medical reason to receive a service or treatment. Cosmetic surgery, for example, is not covered.

You are most likely unprotected against:

• Medications on prescription.
• Eyewear with a prescription.
• Dental check-up on a regular basis.
• Therapists and professionals who are licenced.

Because of these significant gaps in Ontario’s health coverage, an increasing number of citizens are turning to private health insurance policies to assist pay their medical costs.