Fees and Bill Payments

If you need to pay your bill for health care services you received through Nova Scotia Health, you can use one of the following options to make a payment. Please note that all fees are in Canadian dollars.

Online

In-person
Pay in-person at one of our business offices located in our hospital and health care facilities. All locations accept payment by cash, debit, VISA, MasterCard and American Express.

By mail
Send your payment (cheque or money order) to:
Accounts Receivable – Nova Scotia Health
1482 George St.
Sydney, N.S. B1P 1P3

Please do not send cash in the mail.

By phone
Pay by phone by calling 1-844-783-7416 Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Payments can be made by VISA, MasterCard and American Express.

 

If you are making a payment by cheque, please make it payable to Nova Scotia Health. Please note that there is a service fee for returned personal cheques. 

If you have any questions regarding your invoice, please call our Accounts Receivable Service Centre toll-free 1-844-783-7416 or email NSHAaccountsreceivable@nshealth.ca.  Please have your invoice available when contacting our office.

If you have any questions regarding your payment options, please contact paymentoptions@nshealth.ca.

If you have any questions regarding pricing, please contact RateInquiries@nshealth.ca 

Please do not include personal information including credit card numbers via email.

Fees for Canadian residents

If you have a valid provincial health card, most of the services you receive in hospital are paid for by your respective provincial health insurance program. 

However, there are some items that are not covered. An example of these services, supplies and procedures that the patient is responsible paying for includes, but are not limited to:  

  • Upgrades to a private or semi-private room (see addition information below)
  • Cosmetic procedures
  • Some elective procedures such as ear wax removal, skin scraping, etc.
  • Orthoses (braces)
  • Pedorthic supplies (offloading devises, specialty shoes/custom foot insoles)
  • Pessaries
  • Splinting supplies
  • Sick notes
  • Elective physical exams (needed for a license, insurance or employment)
  • Access to and release of personal health information

If there are additional costs to services, the patient will be invoiced on the day of discharge from the hospital. Patients will need to pay their bill at that time or arrange for payment.  

Room options in the hospital
Nova Scotia’s health insurance program (MSI) covers the cost of a standard ward room (4 beds to a room). If you would prefer to stay in a private or semi-private room, you or your insurance company will be charged a daily rate.

Private room - $210 per day*

  • 1 bed
  • 1 bathroom
  • 1 shower (available at some facilities)
  • TV service (available at some facilities)

Semi-private room - $170 per day*

  • 2 beds separated by curtains
  • 1 bathroom
  • 1 shower (available at some facilities)
  • TV service (available at some facilities)

For further information on room options, see our Patient & Family Guide  

*Fees are subject to change without notice.

Fees for out-of-country visitors

If you are not a Canadian resident with a valid health card, you are responsible for the cost of your health care and in certain circumstances, may be required to pay for services in advance.   
 
Nova Scotia Health charges fees for a variety of services based on cost. 
 
Please note that fees are in Canadian dollars and may be higher if special services, high-cost procedures or drugs are used.
 
Inpatient care
If you are admitted to hospital, you will be charged a daily rate which includes your room and most services such as meals, x-rays, most drugs, tests and blood work.
 
These rates do NOT include:
  • Doctor’s fees. You could be billed directly by the doctor.
  • Telephone and television services
  • Some high-cost drugs and tests
 
Outpatient care
Upon registration, you will be asked to pay an outpatient facility fee. There may be additional charges based on your level of care.  
 
Information on our rates and fees for out-of-country visitors in various languages can be found at the following links:
 
Room options in hospital
If you would prefer to stay in a private or semi-private room, you or your insurance company will be charged a daily rate in addition to the standard ward room (4 beds to a room).
 
Private room - $210 per day*
  • 1 bed
  • 1 bathroom
  • 1 shower (available at some facilities)
  • TV service (available at some facilities)
 
Semi-private room - $170 per day*
  • 2 beds separated by curtains
  • 1 bathroom
  • 1 shower (available at some facilities)
  • TV service (available at some facilities)
 
For further information on room options, see our Patient & Family Guide.  
 
*Fees are subject to change without notice. 
 

Frequently asked billing questions

When is my payment due?
Depending on the type of service/product, payments are due on date-of-service or on your date-of-discharge.

What insurance does Nova Scotia Health accept?
Nova Scotia Health accepts a majority of health insurance plans for inpatient services. Please check your level of coverage with your insurance provider. You will be responsible for the coverage of any fee not paid by insurance.

For outpatient services, such as visits to the emergency department, Nova Scotia Health is unable to bill your insurance company directly. You will be required to pay for these services in advance and seek reimbursement from your insurance company.

For more information call please contact our team at 1-844-783-7416.

What is Nova Scotia Health’s collection policy?
In the case where an insurance company has been billed, the statement and reminders are sent directly to the insurance company. After 90 days, if no payment is received from the insurance company, the patient is responsible for any outstanding balances. Invoices and statements will be sent out to the patient every 30 days from this point. After a second 90-day period, you will receive a final invoice. If the account remains unpaid 15 days after the final invoice, the account will be sent to our external collection agency.

When insurance is not available, invoice and statement reminders are sent directly to the patient every 30 days. At 90 days, you will receive a final invoice. If the account remains unpaid 15 days after the final invoice, the account will be sent to our external collection agency.

What if my invoice is sent back to Nova Scotia Health as returned mail?
We will attempt to call and get an updated address from you. If we are unable to contact you due to incorrect information on file, your invoice will be sent to our external collection agency.

What if billing to MSI is rejected due to problems with my health card?
Billing rejected by MSI due to an incorrect health card number will be billed to you directly if we are unable to contact you to update the information.

How can I update/renew my MSI card?
You must renew expired cards and/or report any changes to MSI directly.

Toll-free phone: 1-800-563-8880 (in Nova Scotia)
Phone: 902-496-7008
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Email: msi@medavie.ca
Web:  https://novascotia.ca/dhw/MSI/ 
PDF: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/msi/docs/MSI_Brochure.pdf

How do I pay my ambulance bill?
If you need to pay an ambulance bill and/or costs associated with ambulances services, please contact Emergency Health Services (EHS) toll-free at 1-888-280-8884. This is not billed by Nova Scotia Health.