OHIP and RAMQ: how many days can you spend outside your province?
Ontario: OHIP
You can be outside Canada for up to 212 days in any 12-month period (a rolling period, not the calendar year), as long as you're in Ontario at least 153 days.
| Province | Absence limit | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario (OHIP) | 212 days | Rolling 12 months |
| Quebec (RAMQ) | 183 days (trips of 21 days or less excluded) | Calendar year |
| Alberta | 212 days of recurring vacation | 12 months |
| British Columbia | 7 months | Calendar year |
Quebec: the 183-day rule
- Up to 183 days outside Quebec from January 1 to December 31, in one or several trips.
- Trips of 21 consecutive days or less don't count toward the total.
- Departure and return days aren't counted.
- Once every 7 years, you can exceed the limit by notifying the RAMQ.
If you go over: the RAMQ can claim back the cost of care you received in Quebec for the whole year, even before you left. Your private travel insurance may also become invalid, since it usually requires provincial coverage.
Example: counting a Florida winter (Quebec)
| Trip | Length | Counts for RAMQ? |
|---|---|---|
| March break | 9 days | No (21 days or less) |
| Florida winter, January to March | 85 days | Yes: 85 days |
| November trip | 25 days | Yes: 25 days |
| Total counted | 110 of 183 days |
What about travel insurance?
Outside Canada, OHIP pays at most $400 a day for intensive care, $200 a day for a regular hospital stay and $50 for outpatient care. Quebec's RAMQ pays even less. In the US, a hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars: travel medical insurance is essential.
The credit card trap: card insurance covers a limited number of days, often lower as you get older (for example 60 days under 55, then 31). If your trip is longer than the limit, often the whole trip isn't covered, not just the extra days. Buy a top-up before you leave.
Key takeaways
- Ontario: 212 days outside Canada per 12 months.
- Quebec: 183 days per calendar year, trips of 21 days or less excluded.
- No provincial coverage often means no valid travel insurance.
- Credit card insurance: if your trip exceeds the day limit, the whole trip may not be covered.
Leave without forgetting anything
The complete checklist: more than 65 items to tick off, from 2 months before you leave until you're back. 6-page PDF, 2026 rules.
See the checklist ($9)Sources
- Ontario — OHIP coverage while outside Canada
- RAMQ — Services received outside Quebec
- Milesopedia — RAMQ and travel (French)
General information only. Your situation may differ: confirm with your provincial health plan before you leave.