OHIP pays only small amounts for emergency care outside Canada: up to $50 CAD a day for emergency outpatient care, and $200 to $400 CAD a day for inpatient care. It does not pay to transfer you home. A serious illness abroad can cost far more, so Ontario residents who travel generally need private travel medical insurance.
Key takeaways
- OHIP covers only a small part of emergency care outside Canada, and only if it is medically necessary and unexpected.
- OHIP does not pay for transfer back to Ontario.
- Private travel medical insurance is how most travellers cover the gap.
- Policies differ on pre-existing conditions, trip length, activities and evacuation. Read the wording.
- Buy before you leave, and keep your policy details with you.
What OHIP actually pays abroad
Many people assume their Ontario health card protects them everywhere. It does not. The Government of Ontario states that OHIP pays only limited amounts for emergency care outside Canada.
| Type of care | OHIP pays, up to |
|---|---|
| Emergency outpatient care | $50 CAD a day |
| Inpatient care in an operating room or intensive-care type unit | $400 CAD a day |
| Other inpatient care | $200 CAD a day |
Those are daily ceilings, not typical bills. Hospital costs in other countries can be much higher than these amounts, and the difference is yours to pay unless you have other insurance.
It helps to think of the table as a ceiling that applies day by day. A longer stay adds more days to the ceiling, but the real bill usually grows faster than the ceiling does, because tests, specialists, medication and procedures are charged separately. The gap between what the hospital charges and what OHIP pays is exactly what private cover is meant to absorb.
The conditions
OHIP pays only if the treatment is medically necessary and the problem is unexpected. Routine care, planned treatment and anything you travelled to receive are not what this coverage is for. You also need to meet OHIP's residency rules. The page on Ontario.ca has the full details.
What it does not pay
OHIP does not pay for transfer back to Ontario. If you need to be moved by air ambulance, or flown home to continue treatment, that cost is not part of OHIP's emergency coverage.
What travel medical insurance is for
Travel medical insurance is a private policy that pays for emergency medical costs when you are away from home. It is designed for the gap OHIP leaves. Depending on the policy, it may help with:
- emergency doctor and hospital bills
- ambulance transport
- medical evacuation or return to Ontario
- prescription drugs needed for the emergency
- extra costs of staying longer because you are ill
Not every policy includes everything on that list, and limits differ. Always compare the actual wording.
Types of travel policies
Single-trip
Covers one trip with set dates. A good fit if you travel once or twice a year.
Multi-trip (annual)
Covers many trips over a year, often with a maximum number of days per trip. It can be convenient for frequent travellers, but check the per-trip day limit carefully.
Add-ons
Some people add trip cancellation or interruption cover, which is a separate benefit from medical cover. Others look for rental car or baggage protection. These are optional extras, not a replacement for medical cover. For car rentals, see Ontario car insurance coverages explained to understand what your own policy may or may not extend.
What to check before you buy
Policies can look similar and still behave differently when you claim. Look at these points.
Pre-existing conditions
Many policies limit or exclude health problems that existed before your trip, or require them to be stable for a period. Rules vary by insurer. Answer every health question honestly. A wrong answer can put a claim at risk.
Pay attention to how the policy words "stable". Some policies ask that a condition has had no change in treatment or medication for a set period before departure. If your medication changed shortly before the trip, ask how that affects you before you buy, not after a claim.
Trip length and age
Some policies have maximum trip lengths, and prices and conditions often change with age. Check that the policy covers your full trip, including any extension. If you might stay longer than planned, ask how and when you can extend the coverage, and whether you need to do it before the original dates end.
Activities
Some policies exclude or restrict activities such as skiing, scuba diving or climbing. If you plan to do anything adventurous, ask whether it is covered.
Evacuation and return
Because OHIP does not pay for transfer home, ask how the policy handles medical evacuation and return to Ontario, and who decides when it is needed.
How claims work
Ask whether the insurer pays the hospital directly or you pay first and get reimbursed. Find out what number to call, and whether you must call before treatment in a non-emergency.
The deductible
A deductible is the amount you pay before the insurer pays. A higher deductible can lower the premium, but it means more out of pocket at claim time.
A few Canadian examples
These are illustrations, not quotes.
- A weekend in Buffalo. Short trip, same risk of an unexpected emergency. A day of hospital care could cost far more than OHIP's daily amounts.
- A winter week in Mexico. A snorkelling injury means a hospital stay and a flight home. OHIP's limited daily amounts and no transfer home leave the larger costs uncovered.
- A summer in Europe with several stops. A multi-trip or longer single-trip policy might fit, but check the day limits and the conditions.
- A retired couple wintering in the southern United States. A long stay means checking the maximum trip length, the age conditions and how pre-existing conditions are treated, since these are the points that most often decide a claim.
Why small amounts matter
Imagine a fall on a hiking trail, followed by two nights in a hospital in another country. OHIP's emergency coverage would pay at most its fixed daily amounts for the hospital stay, and the doctors and other services are paid under their own limits. Whatever the hospital bills above that is your responsibility. That is the gap a private policy fills.
Another gap is the trip home. If your doctor abroad says you should continue treatment in Ontario, the transfer may need special transport and medical staff. OHIP does not pay for it, so the evacuation wording in your policy matters a great deal.
Group coverage and credit cards
Some employers include travel medical benefits, and some credit cards offer travel insurance. These can be useful, but limits vary. Check the maximum trip length, the maximum amount, the pre-existing condition rules, and whether you must have paid for the trip with that card. Don't assume. Ask for the written terms.
Keep your paperwork
Claims go more smoothly when you keep records. Save every receipt, medical report and invoice, and ask the hospital for itemised bills. Note dates, names and what each charge was for. If you used OHIP's emergency coverage too, the Ontario.ca page explains how to claim, and you will need these same documents. Photograph them so you still have copies if the originals are lost.
Before you travel
- Buy the policy before you leave, and check the start date.
- Save the policy number and the emergency phone number on your phone and on paper.
- Carry your Ontario health card.
- Pack medication in its original packaging.
- Tell travelling companions where the policy details are.
- Read the section on what to do in an emergency, so you know whom to call before you need to.
- Keep a digital copy of the policy on your phone in case a paper copy is lost.
What to ask your broker
- Does the policy fit my age, the length of my trip and the countries I am visiting?
- How does it treat my pre-existing conditions?
- What are the maximum amounts, and the deductible?
- Is medical evacuation included?
- How do I make a claim from abroad?
- Are there exclusions I should know about for my planned activities?
- What can I do if I need to extend my trip?
You can see what we can help with on the travel insurance page. If you are protecting your family at home as well, our guide to term vs permanent life insurance covers a different part of the picture. And while you are away, your home still needs the right cover; see condo vs tenant vs home insurance in Ontario.
Before you act
Look at the dates and destination of your next trip, then check what you already have through work or a card. Compare at least two policies on the points above and buy before you leave.
This article is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice, and rules and amounts change. Check the Ontario.ca page for current figures. Reviewed October 2026.
