Ontario - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
No health concerns, and health care is great here. Canada has universal health care so it is free for all. - Jan 2011
Medical care can be tough. Diplomats aren't eligible for the state run health care. We get out health care in NY. - Sep 2010
The Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) is not available to the US Embassy community and there are no medical facilities at or associated with the embassy. Everyone travels to the US for routine and even emergency care. If you need a specialist, you will likely need to travel 120 miles one way to Watertown, NY, or even further to Syracuse, NY.Do NOT believe people who proclaim Canada's universal healthcare system is the end all, be all. Even the embassy purchases a supplemental private insurance policy for FSNs so that prescriptions and other routine medical care is partially paid for. Waiting times are so long that some people with terminal illnesses die before they are scheduled for the diagnostic test that could have prevented their death. - Oct 2009
