Ontario Residents: OHIP denying coverage for 3 months to newly adopted kids

[ChristyCanuck]

Cari -- As usual, you rock!

[SpecialK]

I found this on the Blue Cross site. Look below the pictures on the right side of the page at the wording in read.
http://www.travel-insured.ca/#/foreignadoption/4525055278

This is new as of today (Monday)...I was on that site yesterday when I was googling for more info on the topic of the OHIP denial and I'm 100% sure that info was not there.

As you may know, Citizenship and Immigration Canada recently made changes to their legislation that affected the residency status of children adopted outside of Canada .  These changes have impacted their eligibility for OHIP funded services.

This doesn't make ANY sense to me...I can't see what connection there is between the two.

K.

[michellev]

Friends who are adopting received this info from their SW.  I am sure they won't mind if I share it with this group.  It sounds rather contradictory to what we have been hearing.

We have finally obtained an answer regarding the question of OHIP coverage to adoptive children.  Basically what we have been told is that adoptive children are not covered by OHIP for 3 months if they come into Canada on a visitor Visa however if they enter Canada through the Citizenship process or the PRV(permanent resident visa) process that they definitely are eligible for immediate coverage.  Our contact advised us that if a client should have a problem while at the Ministry of Health office they should ask the clerk to call the hotline as the health care representative at the hotline will be able to advise the clerk of the correct process for Citizenship or PRV.  I hope this helps! 

Michelle

[chinababybarnes]

Hi guys,

I just returned from China in late January and applied for OHIP for our newly adopted daughter in early February. It took 2 visits to Service Ontario but I did manage to get her an OHIP card. What it turns out they now need is this....

1) Your child has to be a Permanent Resident. They have to have the form in their passport. The form should say "adopted" on it...mine didn't. After much arguing with 3 people they still wouldn't accept it on our first visit. They said they could issue her an OHIP card but like all other "new permanent residents she'd be without coverage for 3 months." I argued that an adopted child is no different than a bio child...etc...

2) They said they needed to see her "adoption paperwork"....no description about what exactly they were referring to. I brought everything but the kitchen sink with us when we went back the second time and they wanted/needed the original "adoption paperwork" that is translated by the SWI. The one you get after the "harmonious" period when the adoption is finalized in China. That is what they needed.

After seeing that they issued my DD her OHIP card immediately and she didn't have to have the 3 month hold. I have her actual card now. Only took 3 weeks once they processed our application. FYI.

Hope this helps with anyone going to Service Ontario soon. If you need more info just let me know.

ChinaBabyBarnes

[michellev]

A form letter that I'm sure some of you have gotten as well.

Michelle,

 

Thank you for your email about OHIP and International Adoption.

 

I want to assure you that it was never our intention to impose a waiting period for international adoptions and was not the result of a policy change on behalf of Ontario. 

 

A number of our OHIP regulations are dependent on federal laws.  When the federal government amends their immigration and citizenship law, we must then update our regulations to reflect the amendments.  Regrettably, the Government of Canada did not work with us on their most recent changes and it resulted in a number of OHIP interruptions ? including international adoptions.  We would prefer to work in partnership with the federal government to ensure a seamless transition but we were disappointed that it did not occur in this case.

 

I understand that a memo was sent to ServiceOntario and Ministry of Health staff outlining the current situation but unfortunately it did not indicate that we will rectify the situation very soon.  Minister Caplan has directed the Ministry to issue a new memo and to move quickly to clear up any misunderstandings in OHIP offices.

 

Thank you again for writing.  I want to reassure you that correcting this situation is a high priority for Minister Caplan.

 

Heather

 

 

[projectGracie]

This is a very odd situation.  Biological children do not have a three month waiting period even though they are not considered citizens (or humans for that matter) until their date of birth.  We receive all of the OHIP updates in policy and haven't seen this one yet.  We'll be making some calls.