I phoned them. The first agent couldn't understand the question which is surprising because they must get calls from dummies like me who forgot to renew their card.
The second agent understood and said basically that it's not a problem unless I'm going to be out of the province for more than 7 months (I knew that part - coverage lapses after 7 months). She said I need to renew the card as soon as I get home to Ontario in order to get medical service but that the coverage doesn't lapse and therefore my emergency medical coverage doesn't lapse for the month between my birthday and my return to Ontario.
This is good news but I'm going to send them a letter detailing this phone discussion and ask them to reply in writing that it's not an issue.
