Midwifery care in Ontario is free to all regardless of whether or not you have the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) and regardless of your immigration status. As long as you live in Ontario, you do not need to pay for a midwife. There are however, other expenses that uninsured clients may face such as for consults and lab work.

Many uninsured midwifery clients choose to have a home birth or a birth at a birthing centre, as those are both free of cost. Even when you plan an out of hospital birth, your pregnancy or labour may become complicated and will require a change of plans to a hospital delivery. 

Although all medical expenses are covered by our midwifery services, every hospital has their own administrative and room-fee, which is not covered by our services. Not all hospitals have the same administrative and room costs, but most hospitals, including Sunnybrook, have options of payment which can include monthly payment schedules if needed. 

Talk to your midwife about your options, the costs of a hospital delivery without insurance, and your choice of birth place based on your pregnancy journey!

Most uninsured clients are those without immigration status. Midwives are not obliged to tell authorities any information on a clients immigration status. Midwives use a “don’t ask, don’t tell” or “access without fear” approach to care. Midwives do this so that all clients can feel safe accessing midwifery care without fear of detention or deportation.

Labs and Diagnostics

• Your midwife will likely provide requisitions for common tests such as bloodwork and ultrasounds.

• The government of Ontario. provides funding to cover the fee’s associated with these lab tests for those without insurance.

Physician Services

• There are times where a midwife may need to consult with a doctor or transfer your care in the event that you need treatment for certain conditions

• The government of Ontario provides funding to cover the fees associated with physician services to those without insurance including the cost of a caesarian section and anesthesia.

Hospital Fee’s

• If you have a birth at a hospital, you are responsible for the cost of staying at the hospital and registering with the hospital.

• Fee’s for hospital stays range from $500/night to $3000/night depending on the hospital. Some hospitals may also charge admission fee’s.

• Before you go to hospital to give birth, you will need to set up a payment plan with the hospital finance office to arrange payment for your hospital stay.

• Regardless of where you are planning to have your baby, prepare enough money to pay the hospital fee as you will be expected to pay the fee’s before you leave the hospital.

There are several reasons why someone may not have health insurance. There are three general categories of people that midwives in Ontario may serve who are considered uninsured.

• Landed immigrants: these clients have been granted immigration status by the government but are newly arrive to the country and Ontario, where there is a three month waiting period until they received OHIP

• Undocumented immigrants: these are clients who have landed in Canada without immigration status making them ineligible to receive OHIP. They may be in Ontario under a tourist/student/work visa or whose refugee claim has been denied.

• Obstetrical Tourists/Visitors: this refers to people who are not residents and who have no intention of staying in Canada, and have only come here to have their children and return home.

If you are a refugee, you may be eligible for the Intermin Federal Health Program (IFHP). It provides health coverage to the following individuals:

• protected persons

• refugee claimants;

• people in exceptional circumstances

For more information on health coverage for refugees please see the Association of Ontario Midwives.

There are many reasons why a person may need to access healthcare services outside of midwives. This is especially true for those who were not able to find or obtain a midwife during the course of their pregnancy.

If you are uninsured and need access to healthcare services, please visit a Community Health Centre (CHC). These are non-profit community governed organizations who focus on improving the health and well-being of populations who have traditionally faced barriers accessing health services. CHC’s provide comprehensive primary care to individuals without health insurance.

You can access a complete list of CHC locations here.