About uninsured services
Most of the care you receive by your doctor is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). After you see your physician, they submit a claim to the Ministry of Health for the service provided and are paid directly. A valid health card is necessary for the fee to be approved.
There are services your physician provides that are not covered by OHIP. If you request one of these services, please be advised that there may be a fee. Some examples are below.
Examples of Uninsured Services
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Occasionally you may require your physician to complete a medical form for you. The fee for these forms is generally not covered by OHIP. Occasionally the fees for these forms are paid for by your private insurance plan, if you have one.
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Medical assessments and forms required for the purpose of obtaining a commercial driver’s license, or for reinstating a personal driver’s license following a medical suspension, are not covered by OHIP. The fee for these services must be paid by the patient at the time the service is provided.
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Some medical procedures are not covered by OHIP. These include but are not limited to: excision of benign skin lesions; liquid nitrogen treatment for warts in locations other than feet and genitals; vaccinations given for the purpose of travel.
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Any consultation requested for the purpose of travel advice is not covered by OHIP.
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When your employer requests a note from your physician to excuse an absence for medical reasons, the fee for the note is not covered by OHIP.
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If your private insurance carrier requires you to have a physician’s medical note to access your extended health benefits, your physician can provide this note for you. However, the fee for this note is not covered by OHIP. In certain circumstances where your physician specifically recommends an assessment by another health care professional, the fee for the note may be waived by the physician at their discretion.
About expired health cards
Health cards must be renewed just like your driver’s license. Expired health cards are not considered valid by the Ministry of Health. Therefore, your physician cannot be paid by the Ministry of Health if your health card is expired. At the time of each appointment, we confirm if your health card is valid.
The Ministry of Health requires your physician to submit their claim for your service within three months of the service date. Claims cannot be submitted with an expired health card. Therefore, if your health card is expired at the time of your appointment, you may be asked to provide payment for the visit which will be refunded when you update your health card information with us.