April 25, 2007 - Is Your Health Card Up To Date?

Is your health card up-to-date?

It is the first piece of information required when you visit a hospital.

While no one will be denied necessary health care, patients who do not have a valid OHIP card will receive a bill for their care. Any fees for OHIP-covered services will be reimbursed once the card is updated by the patient.

SFMH encourages everyone to avoid the hassles by ensuring that your registration information is up-to-date.

How do you know if your health card needs updating?

You would be notified by the Ontario Ministry of Health. New health cards are required if your address or personal information changes, or if you have returned after living out of the province.

How do you find out more?

For more information about Ontario health cards, phone 1-888-376-5197.

What else is involved in registering at St. Francis?

Health cards are swiped and electronically checked with the Ministry of Health to ensure they are valid and up-to-date. Once your health card information has been verified, our staff will ask you a few more questions to verify that your information is still current and up to date. Many patients have been surprised in the past year by the requirement to give their mother’s maiden name and their father’s first name.

This information helps us to be sure patient information is accurately and completely recorded. We are now part of a seamless information system that includes The Ottawa Hospital and other facilities in eastern Ontario. There may be more than one person in the system with your first and last names, so we need to double-check unique bits of information. It’s a matter of identify protection.

We thank you for your support in making the system work for the benefit of everyone involved.