Can I Go To The Hospital Without A Health Card in Nova Scotia?
By Krista DeKuyper | July 9, 2025 |
If you need to go to the hospital, one of the first things you’ll need is a health card — but what if you don’t have your health card on hand? Can you go to the hospital without a health card in Nova Scotia?
Can I Go To The Hospital Without A Health Card In Nova Scotia?
Yes, you can go to the hospital without a health card in Nova Scotia. However, if you do, you might need to pay out-of-pocket for the cost of the care you receive.
You should let the hospital know immediately that you don’t have a health card. If you do have a MSI card, but it’s not with you at the time of visiting the hospital, you should let the hospital know to ensure you aren’t charged without consideration for your provincial coverage.
Will The Hospital Refuse Care If I Don’t Have A Health Card in Nova Scotia?
No, the hospital will not refuse care if you don’t have a MSI health card. The hospital is not allowed to deny care to someone who needs it. They’re obligated to help regardless of if you have a health card or not.
You don’t need your MSI health card to be treated at the hospital. Rather, the MSI card ensures that the treatment you receive is insured by the province’s provincial health plan.
What Happens When You Go To The Hospital Without A Nova Scotia Health Card
- Upon entering the hospital, a hospital staff member will ask for your health card. If you don’t have one, the staff member will likely inform you about billing for hospital costs and whether that is applicable to you.
- If you don’t have an MSI card at all, you will need to pay out-of-pocket for the care you receive. If you do have an MSI card, the hospital will follow up with you at a later time to ensure you’re covered by the provincial healthcare plan.
- The hospital will still need to try and identify you. Without a health card, they will ask for another form of government identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. If you don’t have any I.D. available, the hospital will still admit you, but they will need to confirm your identity at a later time.
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Understanding Your Nova Scotia MSI Card
An MSI card is an identification document which indicates that you are covered by Nova Scotia MSI, the province’s publicly-funded health care plan. Residents of Nova Scotia with an MSI card can receive medical care that is paid for by the government, but only on eligible expenses.
Eligible expenses include essential health care needs, like hospital stays and doctor visits. MSI generally doesn’t cover voluntary procedures, prescription drugs, vision care, or dental care — those expenses are covered through your private insurance or employee benefits.
