On September 1, 2021, the Ontario Association of Optometrists withdrew eye services funded by Ontario’s Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for patients aged 19 and under, 65 and older, and people with specific health conditions.

Currently, OHIP covers one annual routine eye exam for patients aged 19 and under, 65 and older, and people with specific health conditions.

If you or your eligible family member is 20- to 64-years old and covered under an employee group benefits plan, your eye exams are not covered by OHIP. Therefore, you are not impacted by this change. You can check your benefits booklet to see what coverage you have for eye exams. You can also watch the how-to video.

If you or your eligible family member is 19 and under, 65 and older, or have specific health conditions, please call your optometrist or OHIP for assistance.

What this means to members

Since optometrists cannot charge for annual routine eye exams that are covered by OHIP for patients who are 19 and under, 65 and older, and people with specific health conditions, employee group benefit plans cannot reimburse you for these claims.

We will continue to monitor this situation and provide updates as needed.