News in Niagara

Old Ontario health cards may be useless

Siobhan Morris, 610 CKTB News
7/26/2012

Still have an old red & white Ontario health card tucked into your wallet?

It may not be any good to you.  It may have been cancelled.

The government says they send 3 notices to people with the old cards, with instructions to get a new photo health card with a 5-year expiry date.  If the card holder does nothing & doesn't use their red & white card for 7 years, the government void's it.

A spokesperson for Ontario's Health Minister says "This is done to protect the integrity of our system".

People who have, unbeknownst to them have their cards cancelled, may have to pay out of pocket to see a doctor.  OHIP will consider paying back those expenses.

More than 3.5-million Ontarians still have the old red & white health card.

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  1. WinnieC posted on 07/26/2012 03:32 PM
    I have one and have yet to receive a letter :s, my husband has got his done.When I did my drivers license I asked and she looked it up and said they haven't sent you anything yet., just wait till they do. LOL smile and nod I forgot I was dealing with the government. Guess I will go and stand in line.
  2. martyw_7436 posted on 07/26/2012 10:06 PM
    This seems to be an alarmist type of report. Would you please publish the source of your story, and provide more details....like a name ?
    It kinda feels a little vague and has no fact based text.
    My family has received no notice to replace our cards, and neither has anyone else I know.....It sounds like someone is trying create a stir without any grounds.
  3. CarolR_1361 posted on 07/27/2012 09:30 AM
    I still have the red and white card and have also never received a letter from the government to renew it. Every place I use it they tell me to keep it as long as possible as they do not like the new cards. They are busy and don't always remember to check expiry dates.
  4. HarleenS posted on 07/27/2012 09:58 AM
    Still have my red and white card, and NO notices / letters from Ministry of Health....heard quite a few years ago (10 + years) that we will get a letter to get the new cards made and that it would co-ordinate the timing with the Driver's License dates, so both could be renewed at the same time. Still waiting for notification......not surprised the government moves so slowly in implementing anything.
  5. ChrisM_8224 posted on 08/02/2012 09:32 PM
    i'm kinda curious as to why these are still being accepted the whole purpose of the new cards was to instrease security of the ohip system why are these still accected after over 10 years of moving to the new system
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