toh

About my bill

^{Please make sure that your health-care coverage is valid before receiving care at The Ottawa Hospital and that we have your correct address and insurance coverage (e.g. OHIP number and version code) when you register.} 

In some situations, you may need to pay for health-care services you receive at The Ottawa Hospital.  If and how much you pay depends on the health-care coverage you have. 

We may ask you to provide more information or fill out extra paperwork so that we can make sure that your health-care services are paid for through a government program or your private insurance plan. 

We will do our best to tell you about any costs that aren’t covered beforehand and talk to you about payment options. We cannot provide a price list for medical services as every treatment is unique. For a price list of medical devices and appliances, please contact Accounts Receivables: accountsreceivable@toh.ca  

Patients without Canadian provincial or federal health-care coverage must pay extra for doctor consultations and other services. This fee is charged directly by the doctor. 

Read on to learn how different health-care coverages may affect your hospital bill. 

Patients with an Ontario Health Insurance Plan Card (OHIP card)

If you have a valid Ontario health insurance card, OHIP will pay for most of the health-care services you receive.  Learn what OHIP covers. 

The following services are not covered by OHIP.  You will need to pay for these: 

• Most ambulance services
• Private and semi-private accommodation
• Some assistive devices, such as crutches, canes, splints, casts and gel wraps
• Cosmetic surgery
• Delisted procedures, such as tattoo removal, repair of benign skin lesions, travel vaccinations and earlobe repair from earrings
• Hospital chronic care co-payment
• Certain ophthalmology (eye) procedures and implants

If you have private insurance, your insurance plan may cover the costs of some of these services.  Ask your private insurance provider.   

If your OHIP card or version code is not valid, we will contact you to ask for updated information.  If we cannot get valid OHIP information from you, you might be billed directly for the service(s) you received at The Ottawa Hospital. 

To update your OHIP card or version code with The Ottawa Hospital, please call the Finance Department at 613-761-4444 ext. 2 or email accountsreceivable@toh.ca. 

Patients with a health card from another Canadian province or territory

Please show your valid health card from another province or territory in Canada during registration at The Ottawa Hospital.  Most health-care services you receive in Ontario will be paid for by your home province or territory through an agreement between the provinces and territories.  

If you are a resident of Quebec, your inpatient stay at The Ottawa Hospital may require pre-approval from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).  

Note: Home care services are not covered for out-of-province patients.  Check with your home province’s/territory’s health insurance office for a list of expenses not covered. 

Patients in the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)

If you are covered under the Interim Federal Health Program, tell the clerk during registration at The Ottawa Hospital.  Please also give them a copy of your refugee papers and unique client identifier (UCI) number. 

If your coverage under this program has lapsed or expired, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) at 1-888-242-2100. 

Patients with private insurance coverage  

We do not provide a price list for medical services as every treatment is unique.  

After insurance companies receive your hospital bill, they will often send you a questionnaire to confirm that you were admitted to the hospital.  Please complete the questionnaire right away and return it to the insurance company to ensure that they process your bill.  If you do not return it, they may refuse to make a payment.  

The hospital will send the bill directly to you if: 

• You do not provide your health insurance information when you register, or
• Your insurance company refuses to make a payment 

If you are a non-Canadian resident and have private insurance coverage, we will need proof of coverage. See the Travelers who reside outside Canada section.  

Patients with no provincial health coverage and no private insurance 

If you do not have valid Canadian provincial, federal health insurance or private insurance, you must pay all estimated fees in advance. 

We do not provide a price list for medical services as every treatment is unique. 

For a price list of medical devices and appliances please contact Accounts Receivable: accountsreceivable@toh.ca 

Physician fees are incremental and are charged directly to the patient by the consulting physician(s). 

Travelers who reside outside Canada

If you are seeking medical help, contact your travel insurance provider.  They can guide you through the process and talk to you about which medical services are covered under your policy.  When you come to The Ottawa Hospital for care, be sure to bring your travel insurance details with you, including: 

• The name of your insurance company
• The policy number
• The amount of the policy coverage, and
• A letter or guarantee of payment from the insurance company

If required documentation is not provided, the Ottawa Hospital may charge you for appointments, assessments, diagnostic tests, procedures, treatments, assistive devices, drugs, and follow-up appointments.  You must pay these fees in advance. 

If you are an embassy employee receiving coverage through your embassy, make sure you understand the specific procedures and requirements for accessing medical care under this coverage. Your embassy’s human resources department or insurance liaison should be able to guide you. 

TOH is publicly funded through the Ministry of Health (“MOH”) in the province of Ontario, Canada. Our mandate is to provide care to residents of Ontario and other Canadian provinces if temporarily located in Ontario. TOH is not funded to provide services to residents of other countries. 

As a steward of limited public resources, TOH will pursue full recovery of all costs when providing care to uninsured patients. These efforts will be coordinated through TOH’s Finance Department and third-party Collection Agencies if needed. 

Patients receiving other provincial or federal benefits

If you are receiving Welfare/Family Benefits, the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) Supplement or Home and Community Care Support Services, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and receive an invoice for health-care services at The Ottawa Hospital, please attach a confirmation of benefits (such as a Statement of Welfare or a GAINS Supplement Statement) to the invoice from The Ottawa Hospital and e-mail supporting documents to accountsreceivable@toh.ca. 

Patients receiving Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits 

When you register at The Ottawa Hospital, and before any follow-up visits, please tell the registration clerk that the injury is related to your workplace.  The clerk will then make sure any costs related to your care are sent through the right coverage.  If you have an existing WSIB claim, please give the WSIB claim number to the registration clerk before you receive treatment. 

You are responsible for following up with your employer and WSIB to ensure that your file is up to date. 

Note: Your employer is responsible for the cost of the ambulance in workplace injury cases. WSIB does not cover the first ambulance. 

If you are treated in the Emergency Department for a work-related injury and have not yet submitted a claim with WSIB, please tell your health-care team that this was a work-related injury. 

Patients and employers can submit a WSIB claim form online.  

Last updated on: August 28th, 2024