Cancelling OHIP

[braindead]

I am a Canadian citizen and I moved to US permanently in March 2019. I didn't cancel my Ontario health card straight away. I never used the card since then. I am planning to cancel it now (Dec 2019). I have two questions:
1. I declared non-residency after moving to US. Will the Canadian government question my non-residency due to the fact that I didn't cancel OHIP straight away?
2. How do I actually go about cancelling the card? All I've found online is this: https://www.ontario.ca/page/health-card-renewal-replacement-and-cancellation#section-8 Is this all there is to it?
Guidance or some experience in these matters would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[canuck78]

You have to contact OHIP to tell them you left Canada in Mach 2019.

 

[userpg]

Same here. I am not sure I canceled my OHIP when leaving Canada in October 2016. Can it effect me in the future or can I be fined for not canceling it?
I live outside Canada since October 2016 but I'm planning to come back (to New Brunswick).

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Same here. I am not sure I canceled my OHIP when leaving Canada in October 2016. Can it effect me in the future or can I be fined for not canceling it?
I live outside Canada since October 2016 but I'm planning to come back (to New Brunswick).

You won't be fined. You can update OHIP now.

 

[canuck78]

Putting your OHIP on hold is one way to stop fraud. Unfortunately some people may use your card number if they know you are outside Canada and unfortunately there are cases of doctors and pharmacists billing OHIP for services you didn’t receive.

 

[userpg]

You won't be fined. You can update OHIP now.

Thank you. I have changed the mailing address online (just in case, to a family member address in ON) and will call them to let them know I'm outside of Canada.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you. I have changed the mailing address online (just in case, to a family member address in ON) and will call them to let them know I'm outside of Canada.

Why would you do this? Instead of telling OHIP that you have moved abroad and are no longer living in Canada permanently you have essentially triggered cards to be printed unnecessarily with you family member’s address which is healthcare fraud since you are living abroad. It is also an unecessary fee. If you did still qualify for healthcare and you returned to Canada a simple phone call with proof of where you are living in Canada would be have been fine.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you. I have changed the mailing address online (just in case, to a family member address in ON) and will call them to let them know I'm outside of Canada.

Why did you do that instead of just informing them of the actual situation?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Why would you do this? Instead of telling OHIP that you have moved abroad and are no longer living in Canada permanently you have essentially triggered cards to be printed unnecessarily with you family member’s address which is healthcare fraud since you are living abroad. It is also an unecessary fee. If you did still qualify for healthcare and you returned to Canada a simple phone call with proof of where you are living in Canada would be have been fine.

OP hasn't used the healthcare system without qualifying, so that is not quite healthcare fraud.

 

[canuck78]

OP hasn't used the healthcare system without qualifying, so that is not quite healthcare fraud.

Debated whether I was using too strong of a wording but after leaving Canada last March changing your address and putting your friend’s address versus advising OHIP that you left the country in March is extremely sketchy.