DENIED

Whether you give birth at home, at a birth centre, or in a hospital, staff should help start the paperwork to register the birth and apply for your baby’s OHIP.

The process usually looks like this:

1. Tell staff that you live in OntarioBe clear that Ontario is your home. You are not applying as a visitor or tourist.
2. Ask for a Proof of Birth LetterThis document confirms that your baby was born in Ontario.
3. Ask for the newborn OHIP registration formThis is the Registration Form for Ontario Health Coverage for newborns. It may also be called Form Number 014-0265-82. A parent or caregiver completes this form.
4. Fill in the baby’s information:
   • Baby’s name
   • Date of birth
   • Address
5. Confirm the baby’s eligibility

   Newborns qualify for OHIP if they meet the following three conditions:

   • Born in Ontario
   • Will live in Ontario for at least 5 months (153 days) within a 12-month period
   • Ontario is the primary residence of one parent

   NOTE: According to the Ontario Health Insurance Act, “primary residence” is defined as the place a person has the strongest ties in terms of living conditions, daily life, family, and social connections.

6. Assuming all conditions are met, a temporary OHIP number should be issued at the hospital or by the midwife at the birth centre or home birth.

Registering the birth and getting a birth certificate are two separate steps. Registering the birth is what records your baby’s birth with the Government of Ontario. A birth certificate is a document you order afterwards, and Ontario can only issue one for a person whose birth is already registered.

Once the birth is registered, you can order:

• A birth certificateA short document with the person’s name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth. Ontario recommends it for people 16 and older.
• A birth certificate with parental informationThe same details, plus the parents’ names and places of birth. Ontario recommends this one for newborns and children under 16 when parental information is needed.
• A certified copy of the birth registrationA copy of the full birth registration, certified by the Office of the Registrar General.No sample image is available for this document.

You do not have to order all three. Different applications ask for different documents, so check which one is being asked for before you order.

A Proof of Birth Letter from a hospital or midwife is not a birth certificate, and it is not a certified copy of the birth registration. Those are provincial documents that come from the birth registration itself.

Learn about and order an Ontario birth certificate

Sometimes babies born in Canada are wrongly denied or delayed for OHIP, even when they may be eligible. This can happen when staff misunderstand the rules, make assumptions about the parents’ immigration status, or ask for documents that are hard for the family to provide. This includes requests for proof of address, leases, bills, or other identification that are not actually needed to confirm a newborn’s eligibility.

If your baby is denied at the hospital, your next step is to go to ServiceOntario.

Bring:

• Proof of Birth LetterThis confirms your baby was born in Ontario.
• Parent IDBring whatever ID you have, even if it is expired.
• Proof of Ontario addressThis helps show that Ontario is your main home.
• Any newborn registration papersBring any hospital forms, birth registration papers, or infant health card forms you were given.

If staff tell you that your baby is not eligible, ask for the reason in writing. Keep every paper they give you.

If you are asked for proof of address, bring anything that shows you live in Ontario.

This may include:

• A letter from a shelter or housing provider that includes your name, the address, and confirms that you live or stay there.
• A letter from a social worker from a settlement agency or legal aid clinic
• A signed and commissioned Affidavit from the Host of the residence with a Notarized utility bill.
• Mail from an institution such as a school, clinic, hospital, or government office
• A lease, bill, or bank statement, if you have one

NOTE: If you do not have formal proof of address, your baby’s OHIP may be delayed. Ask a settlement worker, legal clinic, hospital social worker, or midwife to help you prepare the strongest proof you can.

If you are denied at ServiceOntario, do not leave without a written denial.

Ask for:

• The reason your baby was denied
• The name of the form or rule they are using
• A copy of the denial or decision
• Instructions for how to request a review

You can also ask to speak with a supervisor.

Before going to ServiceOntario, it can help to:

• Learn the basic newborn OHIP rules
• Bring a support person or interpreter
• Bring copies or photos of every paper
• Ask for a supervisor if the answer seems wrong
• Keep notes of who you spoke to and what they said

Do not leave without written proof if your baby is denied. This paper is what helps you challenge the decision.

NOTE: Newborn OHIP denials can be anonymously reported to the Health Network for Uninsured Clients (HNUC) using their Newborn OHIP Denial Reporting Form. Anyone can report, including parents, midwives, legal workers, social workers, doulas, or community workers. HNUC uses these reports to track patterns and advocate for better access to newborn OHIP.

If your baby is denied, you may be able to request a formal review through the OHIP Eligibility Review Committee.

You will usually need:

• The written denial document
• A short explanation of why your baby qualifies
• Supporting documents

You can send the review request to: OERC@ontario.ca

If the review is denied, you may be able to appeal to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board. There is usually a short deadline, often 30 days from the review decision, so ask a legal clinic for help as soon as possible.