Windsor Regional Hospital is urging patients not to be inconvenienced when Ontario officially drops the old red-and-white health cards.
The Ontario Ministry of Health announced last week that on Canada Day, July 1, the plastic red-and-white OHIP cards will no longer be accepted by hospitals, doctors' offices, medical labs, or clinics. Residents will be required to have up-to-date green cards with a photo. The ministry said the change is being made to reduce the risk of fraudulent claims, which cost Ontario taxpayers more.
WRH already has a system in place to encourage people with the old cards to get them replaced, said President and CEO David Musyj, who added that his own red-and-white card was confiscated three years ago.
"If they have a red-and-white card, when we bring it through the system, sometimes it asks us to take it from the patient," said Musyj. "Of course, they'll still get their health services, but we're being told that we have to take it and direct them to go get their green-and-white card."
No one will be kept from receiving treatment, but Musyj said that just by going to Service Ontario to get that free green-and-white photo card, people will save a lot of grief after July 1.
"You're going to be charged upfront for that service, and you can still get reimbursed by the ministry," said Musyj. "But they're going to make sure that you flip over to that green-and-white card."
Musyj said he understands the convenience and nostalgia that comes with having the red-and-white card, but he insisted that the sooner patients with the old card get it replaced, the better off they will be.
The Ministry of Health said there are about 300,000 red-and-white cards still in circulation.
Changing it over is an easy and free process. Visit the ServiceOntario website to learn how to make the switch before July 1.