Canadian health care and OHIP card question?!
Question: if someone doesn't have a health card, can they still see a doctor? How?
Answers: if someone doesn't have a health card, can they still see a doctor? How?
Not sure what you mean....if you mean you don't have the card "with" you then a person can still see the doctor. The offices have the option of asking you to fill out a release form that allows OHIP to provide the doctor with your health number so they can bill OHIP for the services. Or, the doctor can ask you to call back with your number if you forgot it at home. If you have valid OHIP coverage and your address is current, you can go to an OHIP office for a printout or have one mailed to you. (request by phone) The printout can be accepted at doctor's offices and gets to you quicker than cards. If your address on file with OHIP is not current though, you cannot do an address change on the phone to have it mailed to you. Then you have to go in person for that printout.
Or...in some cases the doctor can bill you. Usually that is cleared up when you provide the health card, or pay it and submit the claim to OHIP for reimbursement.
If your question refers to a person who has no OHIP coverage (or no coverage from another province/private plan) the situation depends on the doctor's office. Some will bill you for the services. Others will not accept a patient with no coverage because then they get into bill collecting which is costly and time consuming. Contrary to popular belief, a doctor is allowed to refuse to treat a patient if they are unsure they will be paid for their services. The only exception to that is IF the patient has immediate life threatening injuries/situation.