Record active membership and full hospital coverage bolster HOOPP's healthcare footprint
More than half a million Ontario healthcare workers now belong to the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), after the plan’s membership passed the 500,000 mark in late December.
HOOPP reached the threshold when the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) joined the plan, bringing in more than 6,500 new members and making every hospital in Ontario a participating employer.
Registered Nurse Erica O’Keefe represents the 500,000th member.
“I became a nurse because I wanted to make a real difference for people when they need it most,” she said. “The people who work at SickKids are what makes the hospital exceptional.”
O’Keefe said HOOPP gives her and her colleagues peace of mind about their future, allowing them to focus on taking care of patients today.
The plan now has more than 300,000 active members, giving it one of the highest active-to-retired ratios among Canada’s major pension plans.
HOOPP ended 2025 with more than 850 participating employers and has set targets of more than 600,000 members and 1,000 employers by 2030 under its Strategic Plan.
“For over 65 years, HOOPP has been helping our members retire with confidence,” said Annesley Wallace, HOOPP’s president and CEO.
Wallace said surpassing 500,000 members shows the healthcare community’s trust in the plan and the value it delivers, and that HOOPP remains committed to its pension promise and to building a stronger financial future for Ontario healthcare workers.
Members can move between HOOPP participating employers within Ontario’s healthcare sector while keeping their pension in the plan and continuing to build benefits.
As membership grows, HOOPP states that it is better positioned to deliver long-term value while maintaining strong funding levels, and that increased enrollment supports workforce stability and employers’ efforts to attract and retain staff.
“We know that a strong pension offering is crucial to a healthy, happy and productive workforce,” said Ivana Zanardo, HOOPP’s Head of Plan Services.
She said that when healthcare professionals know their retirement security is in safe hands with HOOPP, they can focus their energy on delivering exceptional care to patients and communities across Ontario.
