Canadian healthcare is first class and medical care in Waterloo, as in the rest of the country, is largely funded by the national health insurance system.
The doctors in Ontario are highly educated and medical staff are highly competent, so expats can rest assured they will be well taken care of in Canadian hospitals.
Health insurance in Waterloo
Waterloo falls under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). OHIP extends coverage to all residents of the Ontario province at a monthly premium (automatically deducted from a person's salary in tax).
The insurance covers doctors, specialists and all necessary medical surgery. Co-pays are extremely low or non-existent. Note that OHIP does not cover prescription medication, while dentistry and optometry are only covered under certain conditions.
Eligibility for access to OHIP depends on an expat's length of stay. Additionally, there is a three-month waiting period before OHIP coverage starts for new arrivals. We advise expats to apply for their OHIP card on arrival in Waterloo, and to invest in private insurance for their first three months.
Hospitals in Waterloo
St Mary’s General Hospital
Website: www.smgh.ca
Address: 911 Queen’s Boulevard, Kitchener
Grand River Hospital
Website: www.grhosp.on.ca
Address: 835 King Street West, Kitchener
Expat Health Insurance
Cigna Global Health Insurance.
Medical insurance specifically designed for expats. With Cigna, you won't have to rely on foreign public health care systems, which may not meet your needs. Cigna allows you to speak to a doctor on demand, for consultations or instant advice, wherever you are in the world. They also offer full cancer care across all levels of cover, and settle the cost of treatments directly with the provider.
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