Healthcare services covered by your Health Card

Insured healthcare services covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program (and other insured programs) and what services are not covered.

A Health Card gives you access to the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program and other insured programs. Through the program, the Government of Nova Scotia pays for many of the healthcare services you may need.

Covered services in Nova Scotia

If you’re a resident of Nova Scotia, most medically necessary healthcare services are covered at no cost to you.

Under the Health Services and Insurance Act and regulations, the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program (Medical Services Insurance (MSI) Plan) may cover the following services:

appointments with healthcare providers for insured services
complete obstetrical care, including pre-natal care, confinement, caesarean section, post-natal and newborn care or any complications of pregnancy (like miscarriage)
hearing and speech services
medical tests and diagnostic services (except tests and services available under insured hospital services)
pap tests and other preventative measures
physical examinations when medically necessary
referred specialist services, including consultations
some gender affirming care (not all surgeries are covered)
some home visits and virtual care appointments (phone or virtual platform) with healthcare providers for insured services
sterilization procedures (both male and female)
supervision of home dialysis
surgical services, including services of anesthetists and surgical assistants where necessary
treatment of fractures and dislocations
visits to walk-in clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals
well baby care

Contact MSI Assessment for more information and to confirm what healthcare services are covered in Nova Scotia.

Inpatient services

Under the Health Services and Insurance Act and regulations, the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program (Hospital Insurance Plan) may cover the following inpatient services:

accommodation and meals at the standard ward level
blood or therapeutic blood fractions
laboratory, radiological and other diagnostic procedures
necessary nursing services
relevant drugs, biologicals and related preparations
routine surgical supplies
services provided by persons who receive payment from the hospital
use of operating rooms, case rooms and anaesthetic services
use of radiotherapy facilities
use of physiotherapy facilities

Outpatient services

Under the Health Services and Insurance Act and regulations, the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program (Hospital Insurance Plan) may cover the following outpatient services:

blood or therapeutic blood protein fractions
chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
diagnostic procedures involving the use of radioactive isotopes
electrocardiograms
equipment for the treatment of erythromelalgia
hearing and speech services
hemodialysis
home parenteral nutrition
hospital services (where available) in connection with a day patient care clinic for the necessary training and instruction of diabetics (including necessary meals)
laboratory, radiological and electroencephalographic examinations
necessary nursing services
non-medical component (excluding drugs, biologicals and related preparations) of all other general diagnostic and treatment procedures (excluding dental procedures)
psychiatric services that are not medical services
radiotherapy for non-malignant conditions
relevant drugs, biologicals and related preparations
specific services and supplies in connection with relevant minor medical and surgical procedures
specific facilities, services and supplies when used for emergency diagnosis and treatment within 48 hours after an accident
ultrasonic diagnostic procedures
use of physiotherapy facilities
use of radiotherapy facilities for the treatment of malignancy

Covered services within Canada

In accordance with the Canada Health Act, the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program covers insured healthcare services received in another province or territory when they’re reciprocally billed under an interprovincial agreement. If the service isn’t reciprocally billed (like in Quebec), you may be asked to pay for the service, even if it's covered by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program. Keep your receipts so you can make a claim.

Medically necessary services received from a private facility may be insured by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program if the facility (where you receive the service) and service are eligible to be reciprocally billed to Nova Scotia or the service and facility are pre-approved by the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program. Without pre-approval, you’re responsible for all costs for travel, accommodation and services not covered by the program.

Learn more: Healthcare coverage within Canada: Health Card

Covered services outside Canada

If you’re travelling outside Canada and temporarily absent from Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program may provide reimbursement for out of country inpatient physician and hospital services due to an accident or sudden illness.

Learn more: Healthcare coverage outside Canada: Health Card

Extended healthcare benefits and partially covered services in Nova Scotia

Extended healthcare benefits

The Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program may cover or partially cover the following extended healthcare benefits:

dental programs
- Children’s Oral Health Program
- Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Program
- Exceptional Circumstances Request
- Individuals with Special Needs Oral Health Program
- Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Program
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Program
EHS Community-based paramedic services; may include in-home palliative care (like pain and symptom management) and other services
Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia programs and supports
medical devices
- Insulin Pump Program
- Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring Program
mental health and addictions programs and supports
- IWK Mental Health and Addictions Support
- Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions Program
nurses and nurse practitioner services
optometry programs
prostheses programs

Your healthcare provider can provide more information and confirm that the healthcare services you may receive are covered.

Other partially covered services

You may need to pay for all or part of the following services:

ambulance services within Nova Scotia (see ambulance fees)
drug and prescription costs (see Nova Scotia Pharmacare for programs that can help you pay for prescribed medications and supplies listed in the Nova Scotia Formulary)

Services not covered

Your Health Card doesn’t cover some healthcare services like:

acupuncture
annual or periodic complete physicals where no disease or symptoms are present
completion of forms for certificate of illness, government, insurance and day care
examination, physicals and tests (like tests for bloodwork or tuberculosis and x-rays) that are not covered when unrelated to treatment of an illness or medical symptom, like:
- employment
- immigration
- insurance
- motor vehicle or pilot licence
- private adoption
- school, camp or sports physical
ground ambulance and air ambulance transportation isn’t covered outside Nova Scotia
group immunizations (except those approved by Department of Health and Wellness)
health aids and devices
- crutches
- eyeglasses and hearing aids
- orthotic and prosthetic appliances (except those insured under prostheses programs)
- surgical appliances
- trusses
- wheelchairs
medical-legal services
- correspondence for legal purposes
- court appearances as witness
medical supplies
- sutures and dressings
- vaccines not issued by Department of Health and Wellness
missed appointments (office and surgery appointments)
office expenses
- advice by telephone (except when in compliance with the Provision of Publicly Funded Virtual Health Services Policy (PDF)), long distance telephone charges and costs associated with preparation of reports or certificates by a physician
- chart transfer costs
- photocopies
patient requested services
- cosmetic surgery (like liposuction, breast augmentation, facelift, removal of tattoos)
- cosmetic treatment of varicose veins
- ear piercing
- in-vitro fertilization
services available under the Workers’ Compensation Act, Department of Veteran’s Affairs or any other statute
services of chiropractors, dental hygienists, massage therapists, naturopaths, osteopaths, psychologists, podiatrists and services delivered by sole practitioners
some dental services
- preventative routine extractions of wisdom teeth and extractions for crowding purposes are not covered
some hospital services
- drugs and biologicals ordered after discharge from hospital
- preferred accommodation at the patient's request
- procedures performed as part of clinical research trials
- telephones and televisions
some pharmacist services
some physician services
- acupuncture
- comprehensive visits when there are no signs, symptoms or family history of disease or disability
- diagnostic, preventive or other physician's services available through the Nova Scotia Hospital Insurance Program, Department of Health and Wellness and other government agencies
- drugs and dressings
- electrolysis
- group immunizations performed without pre-approval by MSI
- in-vitro fertilization
- mileage or travelling time
- newborn circumcision
- physician's advice by telephone (except insured virtual care services), letter, fax or email (some exceptions apply)
- physician's services provided to their own families
- provision of a prescription or requisition for a diagnostic or therapeutic service provided to a patient without a clinical evaluation
- provision of travel vaccines
- release of tongue tie in newborn
- removal of cerumen, except in the case of a febrile child
- reversal of sterilization
- services available to residents of Nova Scotia who are covered under any statute or law of any other jurisdiction within or outside of Canada
- services like gastric bypass for morbid obesity, breast reduction or augmentation and newborn circumcision (these services may be insured when approved as special consideration for medical reasons only)
- services performed for cosmetic purposes only
- services, supplies and other materials not part of office overhead (like photocopying or other costs associated with transfer of records)
- services that are not medically necessary that are required by third parties like insurance companies
- treatment of warts (some treatments can be insured) or other benign conditions of the skin