FAQs about Uninsured Services and Block Fees

What are uninsured services?

Uninsured services are services that are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), because they are considered “not medically necessary”.

Uninsured services include filling pharmacy prescription renewals requests (outside of clinic appointments), filling out medical forms, compensation for no-show appointments, and responding to medical inquiries (outside of clinic appointments).

Are clinics allowed to charge for uninsured services?

Yes, the Ontario government permits clinics to charge for these services.

LMC has set pricing for uninsured services based on guidelines from the Ontario Medical Association (OMA)

What is a block fee?

For a flat fee, patients get 12 months of unlimited uninsured services. This also includes access to a dedicated email for non-emergency medical inquiries and access to a phone-line with live agents for appointment booking, cancellation, and re-booking requests, along with forgiveness for one no-show fee.

Do I need to be a block fee member to access the dedicated email for non-emergency medical inquiries and phone-line with live agents?

No. Patients who do not sign up for block fees can still pay for dedicated email for non-emergency medical inquiries on a one-off basis. They can also pay for a yearly subscription to access the phone-line with live agents.

What are the benefits of block fees?

The block fee program is designed to save patients money and better manage their medical expenses.

Will my insurance cover block fee costs?

Yes, many private insurance plans will cover the cost a block fee. Please contact your insurance provider for details.

Can the cost of a block fee be claimed on my taxes?

According to the Canada Revenue Agency, money paid to a medical clinic for services, such as block fees, are considered an eligible medical expense.

How do I sign up for the block fee program?

If you did not select to subscribe to the block fee program when you registered, you can subscribe at any time on the “My Profile” page.

Is paying for uninsured services or subscribing to the block fee program optional for patients?

Yes, these are both completely optional. Choosing to not purchase uninsured services/subscribe to the block fee program will in no way impact the health care we provide you or the access to our amazing physicians, PAs, DEP, pharmacists, eye care, foot care, and clinic staff.