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 

• For any uninsured outpatient visits - $359 per day
• For any uninsured surgeries - $1614 per day
• Note: Uninsured cosmetic procedures attract HST.

*Fees are subject to change without notice.

• Doctor’s fees. You could be billed directly by the doctor.
• Telephone and television services
• Some high-cost drugs and tests

• Hospital Fees for Out-of-Country Visitors (English) (.pdf)
• Frais médicaux pour les visiteurs de l’extérieur du pays (French) (.pdf)
• Tarifas del Hospital para Pacientes Extranjeros (Spanish) (.pdf)
• Krankenhausgebühren für Besucher aus dem Ausland (Deutsch) (.pdf)
• رسوم االستشفاء للزوار القادمني من اخلارج (Arabic) (.pdf)
• Плата за лікування в лікарнi для відвідувачів з-за кордону (Ukrainian) (.pdf)
• 境外旅客的医院收费 (Chinese) (.pdf)
• Плата за лечение в больнице для посетителей из-заграницы (Russian) (.pdf)

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)

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.