Ontarians still clutching to red-and-white health cards will have to part ways with the aging pieces of plastic by this summer.
The province announced on Thursday that, as of July 1, the cards will no longer be accepted.
More than 25 years after Ontario began phasing out the red-and-white cards in favour of photo health cards, approximately 300,000 remain in circulation. That represents 2 per cent of all Ontario health cards, the province noted.
In setting a firm end date for the red-and-white cards, Health Minister Christine Elliott said the province is protecting itself from fraudulent health care claims.
"The advanced security features of the photo health card help protect our public health system and is another measure to improve value for taxpayers' dollars," Elliott said in a statement. "While there is no cost to convert or renew an Ontario photo health card, there could be significant costs by allowing red-and-white health cards, which could be used fraudulently, to remain in circulation. Each month, individuals using these outdated cards access up to $108 million in health services."
Letters will be sent this month to those who still have an old card notifying them of the need to obtain a free photo health card at a ServiceOntario centre before the deadline.
While hospitals will not refuse service to individuals holding the red-and-white card past July 1, they may ask for payment up-front for insured health services. That money would be reimbursed once a valid health card is obtained, the province has stated.
Anyone switching to the photo health card will need to bring proof of Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status, proof of residency in Ontario, and ID to any ServiceOntario location. A health card re-registration form will also need to be completed.