Out of Province Services

Out-of-Province Services (received in other provinces of Canada)

Saskatchewan Health covers most hospital and medical care you receive in Canada by a reciprocal billing arrangement. This arrangement means you do not need prior approval and you will not be billed for most services you receive in other provinces or territories while travelling within Canada.

For services to be covered, you must produce a valid Saskatchewan health services card. If you cannot do so, the hospital or physician has the right to ask you to pay your bill. (This also applies in the province).

Exceptions are:

• Prior approval is required for services in the following programs: alcohol and drug, mental health and problem gambling services.
• Cataract surgery services and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); since Saskatchewan Health doesn't normally cover them you need our prior approval.
• Certain services that Saskatchewan Health covers in Saskatchewan which have been excluded from the agreements and for which you may be billed directly. If this happens or you paid for a service because you were unable to produce your health services card, submit the bill to Saskatchewan Health. We will repay you at the rate in the province where the service was provided for physician services and in full for qualifying hospital services. (This also applies in the province).

Please note:

Hospital Services - Before you are admitted as an inpatient, the hospital staff will ask you to sign a form declaring that you have valid coverage from Saskatchewan.

Physician Services received in Quebec - The reciprocal arrangement for physician services applies to every province except for Quebec. Submit your physician bill and Saskatchewan Health will pay for insured services provided in Quebec at Saskatchewan rates.

Drug Plan Services - If you bought a prescription drug from a pharmacy in another province or territory, you may submit the original receipt to the Saskatchewan Drug Plan and Extended Benefits Branch. Saskatchewan Health recognizes prescriptions for drugs normally covered in Saskatchewan according to Saskatchewan prices and drug plan policies. Be sure to include your health services number with the original receipt and send to Saskatchewan Health Registration.

Physiotherapy - Only physiotherapy in hospital departments is covered out-of-province. Private clinics out-of-province are not covered.