Beginning April 21, 2008, delivery of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) health card registration services was undertaken by ServiceOntario, which is part of the Minister of Government Services. There is no change in how and where health card services and related Outreach services are delivered. Health card services continue to be offered at current locations across the province. While ServiceOntario now delivers health card registration services, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care continues to be responsible for the OHIP program and setting applicable OHIP legislation, policy and program requirements as well as medical claims processing.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE WORKER HAS NEVER HAD A PHOTO HEALTH CARD?

If your worker has never had a photo health card, take the worker to the nearest Service Canada location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site as soon as possible after arriving in Ontario. Please bring:

1. The completed Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form (given to each worker at the airport) marked MFW – with their legal name as it appears on their Work Permit
2. Passport and any other photo identification
3. Work Permit – stating CC/MEXSAWP in the EMPLOYER section
4. The previous health number (if known)
5. Farm full name & address

Please Note: If they do not have all their documents, they CANNOT be registered for a new Photo Health Card. If a worker does not have his/her Work Permit, he or she should be told to contact his or her Liaison Officer.

Appointment (Mobile Outreach Service)

In order to register new workers for health insurance coverage they must visit a ServiceOntario location designed to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site. There are now two ways that a farm employer can book appointments for their workers:

By calling the Appointment Booking Unit.

To book an appointment for each worker, call the Appointment Booking Unit at 1 888-376-5197 to confirm the date and location for Outreach service, or for the nearest ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP). These appointments will help ensure minimal time is spent away from farm work.

When you call the Appointment Booking Unit be sure to advise that you are calling about appointments for Migrant Farm Workers. The booking unit will assist you immediately in most cases. If they are unable to assist you they will direct you to the correct location.

By emailing your appointment request to MFW.MOH@ontario.ca

When mailing your appointment request employers must include the following information:

• Employer's first and last name
• The name of employer's business/farm (full address required)
• Primary and secondary telephone numbers and best time to call
• The number of workers needing a health card appointment
• Employer's preferred date, time, and location for appointments

Please do not include more information in your email than as requested above (e.g. worker's Social Insurance Number), and do not use this email account for general inquiries not related to appointment bookings.

Walk-In (ServiceOntario locations providing Health Card Services (OHIP) only)

You may also bring the workers to a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site on a walk-in basis to register for health insurance coverage.

Please note: Since this is not by appointment, there may be a waiting time. You may wish to contact the ServiceOntario location first to determine when they will be able to accommodate you within the shortest time frame.

For information on the location of a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site nearest you please refer to the partial list below, call the Appointment Booking Unit at 1 888-376-5197. or visit the ServiceOntario website at http://www.ServiceOntario.ca

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE WORKER IS RETURNING, AND RECEIVED A PHOTO HEALTH CARD LAST YEAR OR IN A PREVIOUS YEAR?

ServiceOntario will continue to update photos and signatures that are 5 years old or more in 2011. As in the 2010 season, there will be two registration procedures for returning workers applying for health insurance coverage OHIP in 2011:

1. Workers who require an updated photo and signature (5 years old or more) must visit a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site to register for health insurance coverage OHIP, so that a new photo and signature can be taken.

A worker returning in 2011 requires an updated photo and signature if he or she obtained his or her last photo and signature in 2006 or earlier. Generally, this should be the last time that a worker was taken to a ServiceOntario Health Card Service (OHIP) Office or mobile Outreach site to register for health insurance coverage. Workers must bring:

1. The completed Registration for Ontario Health Insurance application form (given to each worker at the airport) marked MFW – with legal name as it appears on their Work Permit Immigration Document
2. Passport and any other photo identification
3. Work Permit or work visa – stating CC/MEXSAWP in the EMPLOYER section
4. The previous health number (if known)
5. Farm Full name & address of farm

You may book an appointment for these workers using the procedures above or visit a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) – OHIP Office or mobile Outreach site on a walk-in basis.

2. Workers who do not require an updated photo and signature (under 5 years old) are registered by mail through their Liaison Services or Consulate.

The Liaison Service or Consulate of the worker's country of origin must mail a worker's documents to the ServiceOntario Health Card Services (OHIP) Office located in Hamilton for processing (e.g. completed Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage application form, and a copy of the Work Permit).

If the worker is eligible, staff at the ServiceOntario Hamilton Health Card Services (OHIP) Office will process the received application, and issue a photo health card by re-using the photo and signature on file. The new health card will be mailed to the worker at the farm address as indicated on his or her Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage application form.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHICH WORKERS NEED AN UPDATED PHOTO AND SIGNATURE?

The health card photo and signature are valid for a period of 5 years, so workers who had their last photo and signature taken in 2006 or earlier need to have their photo and signature updated at a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or a mobile Outreach site in 2011.

F.A.R.M.S. has provided the Liaison Services and the Mexican Consulate with a list of workers who require an updated photo and signature in 2011.

This list can be used by the Liaison Services and the Mexican Consulate to assist in their determination whether an application needs to be mailed in to the ServiceOntario Health Card Services (OHIP) Office located in Hamilton or if the worker needs to register in person at the nearest ServiceOntario location designated to provide a Health Card Services (OHIP) or a mobile Outreach site.

If you are unsure whether a worker requires an updated photo and signature you should contact the Liaison Service or Consulate of the worker's country of origin (contact information can be found within this Booklet).

WHAT IF A WORKER SHOULD HAVE HAD AN UPDATED PHOTO AND SIGNATURE IN 2010 BUT DID NOT?

If a worker did not have his or her photo and signature updated last year, then he or she will be required to visit a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site to register for health insurance coverage in 2011.

WHEN CAN A WORKER EXPECT TO RECEIVE HIS/HER HEALTH CARD?

A health card should normally be received in approximately 3-5 weeks after ServiceOntario has received a worker's registration documents, or after he or she registers at a ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) or the mobile Outreach site. If the worker has not received his or her card, you can contact the ServiceOntario Health Card Services (OHIP) office located in Hamilton at 905-521-7100 to check the status of the health card.

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE CARD WHEN THE WORKER LEAVES?

A worker's health insurance coverage ends on the earliest of:

• the expiry of the Work Permit
• the date of departure from Ontario
• the termination of employment
• the date reported absent without leave (AWOL)

It is important that all health cards be returned to the ServiceOntario Health Card Services (OHIP) office located in Hamilton as soon as possible. (See address below)

The employer or Liaison Officer is asked to obtain the health card and return it to the ServiceOntario location at the address listed below:

Attention: Susan Elmes
Ministry of Government Services
ServiceOntario
Hamilton Health Card Services (OHIP) Office
119 King Street West, 10th floor
Hamilton ON L8P 4Y7

If the health card is not received by the employer until after the worker has already left, please return it to the above address with a note stating that the worker has returned home and the date he or she left Canada.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF THE WORKER NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE PHOTO HEALTH CARD?

•  If the worker has not been registered for health insurance coverage yet and requires an insured medical service:

If medical services are required and the health care provider cannot confirm the worker has health insurance coverage, the health care provider is entitled to ask for payment. Please note: Any payment made to the health care provider can be recovered, from that health care provider at a later date once the health insurance coverage is confirmed and the medical claim has been paid by OHIP.

Workers should not be refused emergency health services.

If the worker has not yet been registered for a health insurance coverage card, please contact the Program Manager at the ServiceOntario Hamilton Health Card Services (OHIP) – OHIP Office at 905-521-7167, who can provide assistance in this situation.

Please note:   If If the worker has never been registered for a health insurance coverage card, they will need to visit ServiceOntario location designated to provide Health Card Services (OHIP) an OHIP office or the mobile Outreach site with the appropriate documentation as soon as possible to complete the registration.

•  If the worker has been registered at a ServiceOntario Health Card Services (OHIP) Office or mobile Outreach site but the card has not been received yet:

At the time of registration, the worker will be given a 'Transaction Record' as a confirmation document. This record identifies a component of their health number. This cannot be used as a substitute for a health card but provides information to the doctor or hospital to help them obtain confirmation about the worker's health insurance coverage. If for any reason the worker does not have the Transaction Record, he or she can ask to sign a 'Health Number Release' form (available at doctor's offices, clinics and hospitals) which allows ServiceOntario to release information to the health care provider, or he or she can ask that ServiceOntario be contacted to confirm health insurance coverage. If medical services are required and the health care provider cannot confirm the worker has health insurance coverage, the health care provider is entitled to ask for payment. Please note: Any payment made to the health care provider can be recovered, from that health care provider at a later date once the health insurance coverage is confirmed and the medical claim has been paid by OHIP. If there continues to be a problem and this occurs between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. you may ask that ServiceOntario be contacted to confirm health insurance coverage. ServiceOntario will help whenever possible, please call the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-800- 268-1154 or at TTY for the hearing impaired 1-800-387-5559.

•  Since most workers return each year, you likely have their health number from the previous year. If you can identify the worker's previous health number, we can readily check its current status.

•  Alternately, please try to have the worker's name, date of birth, arrival date, Work Permit and Work Permit number to help us in our search for their health number.

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ServiceOntario OR MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAMS?

Please contact the ServiceOntario INFOline at 1-800-268-1154 or at TTY for the hearing impaired 1-800-387-5559.

To visit the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board Website go to www.wsib.on.ca

For information in relation to agricultural workers and the Employment Standards Act,
PLEASE VISIT
the Employment Standards Information Centre
416-326-7160 or 1-800-531-5551
Or visit the website at http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/es/pubs/factsheets/fs_agri.php
for copies of the ESA, fact sheets pertaining to Agricultural Workers.