Queensway Carleton Hospital - Hospital Fees for Patients without Canadian Health Insurance (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you go to the hospital without insurance in Canada? ›

Canadian residents without valid provincial or federal health insurance plan, considered uninsured residents of Canada, and non-residents of Canada are responsible for all Hospital fees. Hospital fees are in addition to attending physician fees as billed by the physician.

Universal healthcare. All citizens and permanent residents in Canada have free access to medically necessary services through a doctor or hospital. Taxes fund this system, called Medicare, and while it's often referred to as “universal healthcare,” there's not actually one single national health insurance plan.

Instead of a health card, hospital staff will likely ask for another form of ID to identify you. If you have no ID available, you'll still receive the care you need, but the process for identification and billing will be separately handled by hospital administration.

If during your visit to Canada you get sick or injured, the Canadian government won't pay for any hospitalization or emergency medical services for visitors. Also, if you don't have proper medical insurance coverage, you will be liable to pay for any medical service out of your own pocket.

Even though Canada is just over the border, your U.S. health insurance plan will not be accepted there unless it specifically provides global coverage. American Medicare also is not accepted in Canada. It's important to purchase travel medical insurance in case you suffer an injury or fall ill while in Canada.

Canada's free and public healthcare system is very generous when it comes to its own citizens and permanent residents. But when it comes to expats, it is not fully free. Non-residents will be expected to cover some costs on their own.

In most situations, Medicare won't pay for health care or supplies you get outside the U.S. The term “outside the U.S.” means anywhere other than the 50 states of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

How Long Must You Live in Canada to Get Free Healthcare? You must have lived in Canada and had a permanent resident status for at least three months to become eligible for Canada's universal healthcare.

Federal and provincial tax dollars pay for the vast majority of a hospital's running costs. There are some services that are billed to patients if they opt for higher cost options or do not have health insurance.

Can you see a doctor in Canada without health insurance? ›

The Non-Insured Walk-in Clinic (NIWIC) offers confidential primary care services to people who do not have health insurance.

An OHIP card is free of charge. Your card will be mailed to you and will take one to two weeks to arrive.

Canada offers free emergency medical treatment regardless of immigration status, and you don't need a health card. However, going to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency is recommended, as some walk-in clinics may charge fees if you're not a resident of that province or territory.

As a foreign visitor to Canada, you can visit any doctor or hospital, as long as you pay the bill. Relatively small amounts, you pay upon your visit. After you returned home, send the medical bill to your insurance company.

If I get sick or have an accident while visiting Canada, will the Government of Canada pay for my medical treatment? Canada does not pay for hospital or medical services for visitors. You should get health insurance to cover any medical costs before you come to Canada.

Patients that are not covered by Canadian provincial health plans are expected to pay their hospital bills directly since the Hospital does not have the resources to provide care free of charge. The care that is being provided to you is costly and requires payment at the time the care is provided.