ONTARIO HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION 2195 Yonge Street, Toronto 295, Ont. The new "Ontario Health Insurance Plan" will provide all the coverage now available to you under both OHIP and Ontario Hospital Insurance. And it will do so at a lower combined premium than you now pay for the two separate plans. The new premiums will be payable in January, 1972, and thereafter, to cover benefit periods beginning on or after April 1,1972. These new premiums will be: • $11.00 a month for a single person, and • $22.00 a month for a family (2 or more eligible persons) REPLACES"OHIP" AND "ONTARIO HOSPITAL INSURANCE" The Ontario Health Insurance Plan will replace the OHSIP (medical) and Ontario Hospital Insurance plans as of next April 1, and you will then have only: • one plan to deal with; • one health insurance identification card; • one health insurance number (your former • Ontario Hospital Insurance number); • one combined premium to pay. If you now have Ontario Hospital Insurance, your changeover to the new combined plan will be automatic. No action on your part is required as the new plan will be based on the existing hospital insurance billing system. FREE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (After 1 -year Residence in Ontario) As of January 1, 1972 residents aged 65 and over are exempt from paying Ontario Health Insurance premiums to cover themselves and their eligible dependents. To benefit from this exemption, insurance may be transferred to the name of the older spouse if it is presently in the name of a spouse under age 65. Most residents aged 65 years and over have already applied for premium-free coverage, but if you have not done so, please write to the Plan giving your Ontario Hospital Insurance number, your OHIP number, and month and year of birth. Persons who turn 65 after January 31, 1972, should apply at the time for free coverage. If you pay your premium on a direct basis, write to the Plan for an application. If you pay through a group, advise your group. Prem-ium-free coverage will take effect on the first day of the month in which your 65th birthday occurs. Any premiums paid to cover benefit periods beyond that date will be refunded. PREMIUM ASSISTANCE (After 1 -year Residence in Ontario) Effective with the benefit month of April, 1972, individuals and families with no taxable income for the year 1972 are eligible, on application, for 100% Ontario Government premium assistance. Individuals with less than $1,000 taxable income in 1972, and families with total taxable income of under $2,000 are eligible for 50% premium assistance. This will reduce the monthly premiums to $5.50 for such individuals (instead of $11.00) and to $11.00 for an eligible family (instead of $22.00). Taxable income is the amount on which a person pays income taxes, after subtracting from his total income all exemptions and other deductions to which he is entitled. Note: If you remit your premiums on a direct basis, details on Premium Assistance will be mailed with your next Premium Notice. Residents enrolled in groups will be informed through their groups. NEW IDENTIFICATION CARDS The Plan will provide each insured single person and each insured head of a family with a new Ontario Health Insurance Identification Card to use for insured services received on or after April 1. Anyone who has not received his or her card by that date should use the current Hospital Insurance Certificate, after April 1, 1972, for medical and hospital services until the new card is received. Your present OHSIP c d should be used when claiming for medical and practitioner ---IMPORTANT-- As the present Ontario Hospital Insurance numbers and billing system will form the basis of the new plan, anyone who does not now have hospital insurance coverage should register without delay. Applications are available in banks and hospitals and from offices of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. BE SURE YOU ARE COVERED NEXT APRIL 1st! The Nipigon GAZETTE -Wednesday, January 12, 1972, Page 7 -- YOUR NEW COMBINED GOVERNMENT PLAN Things you should know about...