Hospitalization Costs

You will be held 100% responsible for the costs of your care if:

• You do not have a valid Ontario Health Card or Canadian private or group health insurance **

• You do not have valid Canadian provincial health insurance or Canadian private or group health Insurance

• You do not have Canadian Federal Plan coverage

• You are a foreign national (non-Canadian resident)

• You are a foreign student without valid OHIP coverage

• You are an Embassy employee or diplomat without valid insurance

**Please note that if you are a patient from Quebec, you will be charged an additional fee associated with the service provided to offset the funding difference between provinces.

Costs of your care can include fees for inpatient services, emergency services, out-patient service, ambulance, appliances, radiology, laboratory work, procedures performed, exams, etc. You will be required to provide a credit card number/expiry date, and the name of the cardholder, as it appears on the credit card.

Physicians and Anesthesiologists will also bill for their services in addition to the hospital charges. These charges vary and are to be discussed directly with the physicians.

Our hospital offers three types of accommodation to suit your financial and social needs as well as the requirements dictated by your health.

Please arrive prepared with your additional insurance coverage information. We require your policy number, certificate number or ID number. In addition, if you are covered under a group plan, you will be asked for you group number and the name of your employer. If you do NOT have a valid OHIP card or you are not covered under a group plan you will be required to provide a credit card number/expiry date, and the name of the cardholder, as it appears on the credit card.

Standard Wards:

With three/four beds, this is the basic accommodation for the Medical Surgical Unit. Cost is covered entirely by OHIP for Ontario residents insured under the plan; for out-of-province patients with other valid provincial insurance; and for federal plans such as WSIB, and RCMP/DVA/CAF group members. Exception: Quebec coverage where physician fees are charged to the patient.

Semi-private:

This is a hospital room with just two occupants. There is an extra charge for semi-private accommodation above the cost covered by OHIP and most other Canadian provincial and federal plans.

Private:

This is a one-bed room. There is an extra charge for private accommodation above the cost covered by OHIP and most other Canadian provincial and federal plans.

Upon admission, you may request the type of accommodation you prefer, and we will try to meet your needs. Please note that rooms are assigned based on medical need as a first priority. It is the sole responsibility of the patient to check with your insurer to confirm your insurance coverage and limits. Many insurance companies do not cover 100% of hospital charges and you are responsible for any balances owed to the hospital and will be billed accordingly.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care sets a charge of $240.00 for using an ambulance. This amount is reduced to $45.00 if:

• You are a resident of Ontario with a valid Ontario Health Card, AND

• Using the ambulance was medically necessary (usually determined by the attending physician).

If you are not an insured resident, or if using an ambulance was not medically necessary, the hospital is required to charge you the $240.00.

Who pays the $45.00?

The $45.00 is payable by you unless:

• You were receiving professional services through Home and Community Care when you were transported to the hospital. If this applies to you, please forward your statement to your Community Care Coordinator.

• You are on social assistance or disability assistance. If this applies to you, please forward your statement to your Case Worker for validation and return to the Almonte General Hospital Finance Department.

• You were hurt at WORK and came to the hospital by ambulance directly from work. In this case, your employer pays the $45.00 directly to the hospital. All patients are responsible for providing the invoice to their employer. If you need an ambulance for the same injury later, the charge is paid by WSIB.

Patient Accounts, including preferred accommodation, ambulance fees, and other uninsured procedures are due at the time of service (or discharge). A receipt will be issued upon payment of account.

Accounts may be settled at Patient Registration which is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

You may pay for your bill by:

• Visa
  
• Mastercard
  
• American Express
  
• Interact
  
• Cash
  
• Personal and certified cheques payable to Almonte General Hospital or Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital