Maintaining a valid health card is essential for accessing healthcare in Ontario through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
Learn how to replace, cancel, or update your Ontario health card with ease.
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Replacing a Red and White Health Card
- Procedure: To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged red and white Ontario health card, follow these steps:
- Visit a ServiceOntario Center: Head to your nearest ServiceOntario center.
- Complete Registration Form: Fill out the Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form.
- Bring Identification Documents: You’ll need three separate identification documents:
- Original proof of Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status
- Proof of Ontario residency (original, printed, or digital/electronic)
- Document confirming your identity
- Wait for Your New Card: You’ll receive a new photo health card in approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Replacing a Photo Health Card
Replace an unexpired photo health card if your name or address has changed by visiting a ServiceOntario center.
If your name and address haven’t changed, call ServiceOntario at 1-800-664-8988. For expired cards, visit a ServiceOntario center with suitable identification documents.
Cancelling a Health Card
- Death of a Family Member: To cancel a family member’s health card following their death:
- Visit ServiceOntario: Go to a ServiceOntario center.
- Required Documents: Bring the card and a death certificate (from the funeral home or ServiceOntario).
If you lack a death certificate, complete a Change of Information Form.
Moving Outside Ontario:
If you are moving outside Ontario, provide ServiceOntario with your new address and move date as soon as possible. This ensures your OHIP coverage continues for the allowable time (generally 90 days) following your move.
You can provide this information by calling ServiceOntario, filling out a Change of Information form, or visiting a ServiceOntario center. Ensure the information is complete and accurate.
Changing Your Address
Updating your address is crucial to maintaining health coverage and receiving important notifications. You have four ways to update your health card‘s address:
- Online: Change your address online.
- Mail: Complete a Change of Address form (1057-82) and return it by mail.
- Letter: Send a letter to your local ServiceOntario center, including your name, health number, telephone number, current address, and new address with postal code.
- Visit in Person: Go to a ServiceOntario center.
Changing a Name
- Visit a ServiceOntario Centre: You must go in person to a ServiceOntario center.
- Bring Required Documents: Make sure to bring a completed Change of Information form and an original copy of one of the following documents based on the type of name change:
For a First Name or Middle Name Change:
- Canadian birth certificate
- Canadian change of name certificate
- Citizenship/immigration status document in the requested name
For a Last Name Change:
- Certificate of marriage (If the document is in a language other than English or French, a certified translation is required.)
- Certified copy of the statement of marriage
- Canadian change of name certificate
- A Record of Marriage (This must be the original, issued, and signed by the clergy member, judge, or justice of the peace who performed the marriage. It should contain the names of both spouses, the date of the marriage, and license number. If the document is in a language other than English or French, a certified translation is required.)
- Notarized affidavit (For common-law relationships or same-sex relationships)
- Divorce certificate
- Citizenship/immigration status document in the requested name
- Citizenship/immigration status document for the name currently on your health card and a marriage document audit trail backward to the name requested
- Certified copy of the court order for a change in name
- Adoption Certificate
Additional Requirements for Red and White Health Cards:
If you have a red and white health card, you must also provide three original documents to prove citizenship or eligible immigration status, Ontario residency, and identity. Please check the Ontario Health Coverage Document List for a list of acceptable documents.
It’s important to ensure that you have all the necessary documents and information ready when you visit the ServiceOntario center to streamline the process of changing your name on your card.
Read More: How to Apply for an Ontario Health Card: OHIP Eligibility
Adding French Language Characters to Your Name
Since August 3, 2022, you can add French language characters (e.g., À, Â, Ç, É, È, Ê, Ë, Ï, Î, Ô, Ù, Û, Ü) to your name on your Ontario health card. Here’s how:
Visit ServiceOntario:
Go to a ServiceOntario location with documents proving your legal name with French language characters. You can use Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration documents, and if they don’t contain French characters, use proof of residency or identity documents.
Found Health Card
If you find someone’s card, follow these steps:
- ServiceOntario: Take it to any ServiceOntario location.
- Police Station: Drop it off at any police station.
- Canada Post Mailbox: Drop it in any Canada Post mailbox.
Ensure that you keep this information in mind and follow these steps accurately to manage your Ontario health card effectively. It’s essential to maintain an accurate and up-to-date health card to ensure continuous coverage through OHIP.
Note: Information may be subject to change; always refer to official government sources for the latest updates.
