01 · What OHIP pays
Emergency care only, at fixed rates
OHIP can help with emergency care outside Canada if you have a valid Ontario health card and meet the residency rules. The condition has to be acute and unexpected, not something you had before you left (it has to start outside Canada), and need treatment right away, and the care has to be given at a licensed hospital or health facility (Ontario.ca).
| Service | What OHIP may pay |
|---|---|
| Emergency outpatient care | Up to $50 CAD a day, or the bill if it is less |
| Emergency inpatient care in an operating room, intensive care, coronary care or neonatal/pediatric special care unit | Up to $400 CAD a day |
| Other emergency inpatient care | Up to $200 CAD a day |
| Doctor fees | The amount paid or the Ontario rate, whichever is less |
Sources: Ontario.ca; Auditor General of Ontario (2018) for the $200 rate and doctor fees.
02 · The gap
Why that is not enough
A day in a US hospital can cost far more than $400. Ontario's Auditor General found that from 2013/14 to 2017/18, the province paid back just five cents for every dollar Ontario travellers claimed (Auditor General of Ontario).
OHIP also does not pay to bring you back to an Ontario hospital if you are admitted abroad (Ontario.ca). Non-emergency care outside Canada needs written approval from the ministry first, or you pay all of it.
03 · What to do
Get travel medical insurance
The Government of Canada advises travellers to buy travel insurance before leaving and not to rely on provincial coverage (travel.gc.ca).
Not sure what you need? Our 1-minute travel insurance quiz asks a few questions about your trip and points you in the right direction. You can also read our Toronto travel insurance guide.
Find out in a minute whether you need travel insurance for your trip.
Do I need travel insurance? Take the 1-minute quiz →The quiz is free. If you then get a quote, it's from our partner TuGo, and we may earn a commission.
FAQ
Traveller questions
Does OHIP cover me in the US?+
Only emergency care, and only up to fixed daily amounts: $50 a day for outpatient care and $200 to $400 a day for inpatient care. You usually pay the rest.
Does OHIP pay to fly me home if I get sick abroad?+
No. OHIP does not cover a transfer to an Ontario hospital for ongoing care.
Do I need travel insurance if I have OHIP?+
Ontario and the Government of Canada both recommend buying travel health insurance before you leave the country.
How do I claim from OHIP after an emergency abroad?+
You usually pay up front and send a claim to the ministry afterwards. Keep itemized bills and original receipts. See Ontario.ca for the forms.
Sources
Where these facts come from
Last checked October 12, 2026. Schedules and rules change, so always confirm with the airline or the official source before you book or travel.
- Ontario.ca, OHIP coverage while outside Canada: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ohip-coverage-while-outside-canada
- Auditor General of Ontario, 2018 report 3.04: https://www.auditor.on.ca/en/content/annualreports/arreports/en18/v1_304en18.pdf
- Government of Canada, travel insurance: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/travel-insurance