Fees & refunds
Insured care stays insured.
Other fees are disclosed first.
This policy explains when a service may carry a fee, how you will be told in advance, and how payment and refunds work.
Insured services
Medically necessary physician services for an eligible resident are generally insured by the provincial or territorial health plan. Where a physician is enrolled to bill the plan for a virtual service, that service is billed to the plan. Under the Canada Health Act and provincial and territorial health insurance laws, eligible residents must not be charged privately for insured services, whether directly, through a membership or access fee, or by bundling them with an uninsured service.
If coverage for a particular service, physician or jurisdiction cannot be confirmed, the service is not offered on a paid basis. Insured care is never conditioned on buying something else.
Uninsured services
Some services are not insured by a public plan. Examples include:
- Notes, letters and forms requested by a third party, such as an employer, school or insurer, where not covered by the plan or another payer.
- Care for people who are not covered by a Canadian public health plan.
- Physician-led educational webinars.
Before an uninsured service, you will be shown the fee, what it covers and any tax, and asked to agree. Fees are set to be reasonable, reflect the physician’s professional time and costs, and follow the applicable regulator’s guidance. No uniform nationwide fee has been approved; see pricing for the current proposal.
Fees are for professional time, not an outcome
A fee pays for the physician’s time and work. It is not contingent on receiving a particular document, wording, prescription or decision. A physician may conclude that a requested document cannot be supported.
How payment works
- When you book an uninsured service, your card is authorized for the disclosed amount. You are not charged at this point.
- Payment is captured only after the service has been delivered.
- If the physician declines before providing the service, for example because virtual care is not appropriate or the service is insured, the authorization is released and you are not charged.
- If a service is only partly provided, for example a form is reviewed but cannot be completed, any charge is limited to the portion actually provided, as explained to you before it is captured.
Card details are handled by our payment processor. We do not store full card numbers.
Financial hardship
You may ask for a reduced fee or a waiver because of financial hardship, before or after a service, at [support@doctorsnote.ca]. Requests are considered individually and confidentially, and asking will not affect your care.
No block fees for insured services
We do not charge annual, membership or block fees, and never in connection with insured services.
Third-party payers
Where an employer, insurer, government program or other organization requests or pays for a service, we confirm who pays before the service. If another payer is responsible, you are not charged for the same work. Some government programs pay physicians directly for specific reports; we do not bill twice.
GST/HST and QST
Most health-care services are exempt from GST/HST, but some medical reports, certificates and examinations are taxable depending on their purpose. The Canada Revenue Agency explains this in GST/HST Info Sheet P-256. Quebec Sales Tax may also apply. Any tax will be shown before you agree to a fee, and the tax treatment of each service will be confirmed by a tax adviser.
Medical record access in Quebec
In Quebec, physicians may not charge for access to a medical record, including transcription, reproduction, transmission or preliminary review and sorting for an access request. Other jurisdictions permit only the fees their law allows.
Webinars
Webinar fees are shown before registration. You may cancel for a full refund up to [webinar refund window] before the scheduled start. If a webinar is cancelled or rescheduled by us, you may choose a full refund. [Policy for missed sessions and access to any recording to be confirmed.]
Refund requests
If you believe you were charged in error, contact [support@doctorsnote.ca] within [refund request period]. We will respond within [X business days]. Refunds are returned to the original payment method.