Healthcare coverage within Canada: Health Card

All provinces and territories have signed an Interprovincial Reciprocal Billing Agreement. Nova Scotia covers insured healthcare services received in another province or territory when they’re reciprocally billed under the interprovincial agreement.

If the service isn’t reciprocally billed (like in Quebec), you may be asked to pay for the service, even if it’s covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program. Keep your receipts so you can make a claim. You may get money back for any portion covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program.

Medically necessary services received from a private facility may be insured by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program if the facility (where you receive the service) and service are eligible to be reciprocally billed to Nova Scotia or the service and facility are pre-approved by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program. Contact MSI Assessment for more information.

Services not covered

If you receive any service that the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program doesn’t cover, you need to pay for the service yourself.

The Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program doesn’t cover ground or air medical transportation (like ambulance service fees).

Some extended health benefits (like Pharmacare and dental programs) don’t cover or limit coverage of services received outside Nova Scotia.

Travel insurance

You should get medical travel insurance to avoid unexpected costs when you travel. The Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program doesn’t cover everything and getting medical services in other provinces, territories and countries can be expensive. Getting medical travel insurance helps protect you from healthcare costs.

Claims

Keep all official documents and receipts for any insured hospital and physician services you receive while travelling within Canada and temporarily absent from Nova Scotia. To make a claim, you need to submit the Within Canada Services Claim Form.

Appeals

If you don’t agree with a decision that MSI or Department of Health and Wellness makes for you, you can submit an appeal request in writing. You can also authorize someone to appeal a decision on your behalf.