Seeking Advice for Father Visiting Ontario Without OHIP – Cancer Check-Up

[Sara Khaled]

I am writing to seek advice and guidance regarding my father, who is currently visiting Canada on a Super Visa and does not have OHIP coverage or any private insurance.

My father recently arrived in Ontario to spend time with our family. Unfortunately, he requires urgent medical assessment and possibly treatment related to a suspected cancer.

I am reaching out to this community to ask:

- Has anyone navigated a similar situation involving cancer diagnosis or treatment for a visiting parent without OHIP?

- Are there any known hospitals, cancer centres, or private clinics in Ontario that accept international/self-pay patients for cancer diagnostics (such as CT scans, biopsies, oncology consultations)?

- Are there any charitable programs, compassionate care initiatives, or drug access programs that support uninsured patients temporarily in Canada?

- Has anyone had experience with purchasing private insurance (e.g., TuGo, Manulife, GMS) that covers newly diagnosed or active cancer cases under Super Visa conditions?

Any insights, referrals, or shared experiences would be incredibly helpful as we try to ensure my father receives proper medical care in a timely and affordable manner.

Thank you sincerely everyone.

 

[Naturgrl]

I am writing to seek advice and guidance regarding my father, who is currently visiting Canada on a Super Visa and does not have OHIP coverage or any private insurance.

My father recently arrived in Ontario to spend time with our family. Unfortunately, he requires urgent medical assessment and possibly treatment related to a suspected cancer.

I am reaching out to this community to ask:

- Has anyone navigated a similar situation involving cancer diagnosis or treatment for a visiting parent without OHIP?

- Are there any known hospitals, cancer centres, or private clinics in Ontario that accept international/self-pay patients for cancer diagnostics (such as CT scans, biopsies, oncology consultations)?

- Are there any charitable programs, compassionate care initiatives, or drug access programs that support uninsured patients temporarily in Canada?

- Has anyone had experience with purchasing private insurance (e.g., TuGo, Manulife, GMS) that covers newly diagnosed or active cancer cases under Super Visa conditions?

Any insights, referrals, or shared experiences would be incredibly helpful as we try to ensure my father receives proper medical care in a timely and affordable manner.

Thank you sincerely everyone.

1. He would not be eligible for OHIP so that is not even relevant. He pays out of pocket so needs to call around and see what hospitals take international patients. For cancer treatment, it may not be possible.
2. He should have planned when coming to Canada to pay out of pocket for treatment. There are not government programs he can access as he is just a visitor.
3. Private insurance - should have looked into this before he came to Canada even without a diagnosis and any pre existing conditions are not covered. Also insurance is for urgent care.

If you can even find a hospital that is willing to take on a cancer patient, above Canadians/PRs who are front of the line, then work out a payment plan.

 

[canuck78]

1. He would not be eligible for OHIP so that is not even relevant. He pays out of pocket so needs to call around and see what hospitals take international patients. For cancer treatment, it may not be possible.
2. He should have planned when coming to Canada to pay out of pocket for treatment. There are not government programs he can access as he is just a visitor.
3. Private insurance - should have looked into this before he came to Canada even without a diagnosis and any pre existing conditions are not covered. Also insurance is for urgent care.

If you can even find a hospital that is willing to take on a cancer patient, above Canadians/PRs who are front of the line, then work out a payment plan.

Payment plans may no longer be possible because most hospitals are running deficits and rarely receive full repayment in the end. Seen recent examples of hospitals requesting full payment and telling people to speak to their banks about a loan if they don’t have the funds.

 

[canuck78]

I am writing to seek advice and guidance regarding my father, who is currently visiting Canada on a Super Visa and does not have OHIP coverage or any private insurance.

My father recently arrived in Ontario to spend time with our family. Unfortunately, he requires urgent medical assessment and possibly treatment related to a suspected cancer.

I am reaching out to this community to ask:

- Has anyone navigated a similar situation involving cancer diagnosis or treatment for a visiting parent without OHIP?

- Are there any known hospitals, cancer centres, or private clinics in Ontario that accept international/self-pay patients for cancer diagnostics (such as CT scans, biopsies, oncology consultations)?

- Are there any charitable programs, compassionate care initiatives, or drug access programs that support uninsured patients temporarily in Canada?

- Has anyone had experience with purchasing private insurance (e.g., TuGo, Manulife, GMS) that covers newly diagnosed or active cancer cases under Super Visa conditions?

Any insights, referrals, or shared experiences would be incredibly helpful as we try to ensure my father receives proper medical care in a timely and affordable manner.

Thank you sincerely everyone.

Realistically your father should be returning home and reconnecting with his own healthcare team. If he does want to attempt to seek care in Canada it will likely depend on where he is visiting in Ontario because those with OHIP get priority. That said unless you have extra savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to seek care in Ontario is probably not a good idea versus returning home. A supervisa is not meant to allow people to remain in Canada to treat longterm health issues it is emergency travel coverage to allow you to be stabilized enough to return home and seek healthcare there.

 

[canuck78]

Wish the government was clear just like Canadians going on vacation abroad those visiting on a supervisa shouldn’t expect to receive longterm healthcare in Canada as a visitor. Many seem to be under the false assumption. The healthcare system can’t even absorb the emergency healthcare needs of parents visiting on supervisas.