Understanding Your Hospital Charges
Welcome to our Accommodations, Services and Fees section. Here, you will find clear and detailed information to help you understand the costs associated with your care. This section of the website includes: room accommodation information, ambulance fee information, and information about OHIP, WSIB and private insurance guidance.
Our goal is to provide transparency and support so you can make informed decisions about your healthcare.
Please note: If you do not have Ontario or other Canadian provincial or federal health insurance, you will be required to pay all estimated fees in advance.
Patient Room Accommodations
If you are admitted to Sault Area Hospital, you can request your preference of 3 room types. During admission or pre-admission, you will be asked about your room preference, to sign a request form and provide your insurance information, if available.
Ward (3 or more beds)
No charge with OHIP coverage.
Semi-Private (2 beds)
$230 per day with OHIP coverage.
Private (1 bed)
$280 per day with OHIP coverage.
We try to accommodate all requests, but rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. We may also need to change your room during your stay due to medical or infection control needs.
If you stay in a room that is different from the type of room you requested, you or your insurance company will only be billed for the type of room you actually stay in (or the type of room you requested, whichever is less), for example:
You requested a private room and one was available. You will be billed $280/day for your private room.
You request a Ward room but only Semi-Private is available. You will be given the Semi-Private room and no additional charges will be billed.
You request a Semi-Private room but only Private is available. You will be given the Private room for the $230/day Semi-Private rate
You request a Semi-Private room but only Ward rooms are available. The $230/day Semi-Private rate is waived and no charges will be billed.
You request a Private room but only Semi-Private are available. You are assigned a Semi-Private room and will be billed $230/day Semi-Private rate instead of the $280/day Private Rate.
If you have a planned stay, please confirm your room coverage with your insurance company or employer to find out if you have Extended Health coverage for Preferred Accommodation and bring your insurance information with you.
Ambulance Services Fees
In accordance with Ministry of Health Legislation (Health Insurance Act, Reg. 552) hospitals are required to bill a co-payment charge to patients for the use of an ambulance.
Ambulance Rates
- All ground ambulance transport costs $240.
- If you are covered by OHIP, $195 of your ambulance fees are waived.
- You are responsible to pay the remaining $45.
- $240 for a medically unnecessary ambulance
- $240 for a Non-resident of Canada or an Uninsured resident
- $240 for Out of Province Health Insurance
These rates are set by the Ministry of Health. For more information, click the link below to be redirected to the Ministry of Health website.
OHIP Coverage and Your Health Card
Understanding your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage is essential for making informed healthcare decisions. OHIP covers many essential medical services, including hospital stays, medical tests, and surgeries. However, some services—such as prescription medications, and cosmetic procedures—are not covered under OHIP.
Want to know exactly what’s covered and what’s not? See below for more detailed information.
Services covered by OHIP
- Hospital visits and stays
- Laboratory testing in community labs or hospitals
- Medical or surgical abortions
- Eligible dental surgery in hospital
- Eligible optometry (eye-health services)
- Podiatry (foot-health services)
- Ambulance services
- Travel for health services if you live in Northern Ontario
Services not covered by OHIP
- Ambulance services
- Preferred accommodation such as private or semi-private rooms
- Assistive devices – such as crutches, canes, splints, casts, gel wraps, etc.
- Cosmetic surgery
- De-listed procedures – including tattoo removal, repair of benign skin lesions, travel vaccinations, earlobe repair from earrings
- Chronic co-payment
- Certain ophthalmology procedures and implants
If you have private insurance, your insurance plan may cover the costs of some of the above services.
For more information...
Your Health Card
If your health card is invalid, please contact Service Ontario at (705) 253-8887 or visit the office at 420 Queen St. E. Unit 101, (corner of Queen and Elgin) or 237 Bruce Street (corner of Bruce and Wilson).
Once your health card is validated, please call Patient Billing (705) 759-3434 ext. 5415 to advise of the updated health card information (version code).
Ontario Health Card
Your health card is your key to accessing publicly funded healthcare services in Canada. It verifies your eligibility for coverage and ensures you receive the care you need when you visit doctors, hospitals, or clinics. Keeping your health card up to date is important to avoid delays in service.
If you’ve lost your Ontario health card, don’t worry—replacing it is easy. You can contact Service Ontario at (705) 253-8887 or visit their office at 420 Queen St. E. Unit 101 to get a new card.
Using Your Out-of-Province Health Card in Ontario
If you have a health card from another Canadian province or territory, most healthcare services you receive in Ontario will be covered through reciprocal agreements between the regions. When you arrive at SAH, be sure to provide your home address, your provincial or territorial health card, and the card’s expiry date to ensure smooth processing.
If you’ve lost your health card, contact your home province or territory’s health care office to find out how to replace it.
For More Information
WSIB: Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Your Treatment and Billing for Work-Related Injuries/Illnesses
If you were injured at work and your treatment at Sault Area Hospital is related to your work injury, you must provide your WSIB claim number when you receive treatment.
If you are treated in the Emergency Department for a work-related injury and you have not submitted a claim with WSIB, please tell your health care team that this was a work-related injury and complete a form. Your employer should complete WSIB Form 7 and you should complete WSIB Form 6.
For More Information
Your Private Health Insurance
If you have private insurance coverage, including student health plans, please note that we require pre-authorization from your insurance provider before your admission. Some services—such as appointments, assessments, diagnostic tests, procedures, treatments, assistive devices, medications, and follow-up visits—may incur fees that must be paid upfront.
To avoid any surprises, we encourage you to review your private insurance policy carefully to understand what is covered and what isn’t before your appointment.
Take a moment now to check your coverage and ensure a smooth experience.
Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides limited, temporary coverage of health-care benefits to people in the following groups who aren’t eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance:
- protected persons, including resettled refugees;
- refugee claimants; and
- certain other groups.
The IFHP does not coordinate benefits with other insurance plans/programs so co-payments aren’t possible.
If you are covered under the Interim Federal Health Program, you must tell the registration clerk when you arrive at SAH and provide a copy of your refugee papers.