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health card
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:health-card
n. — Administration
an identification card proving eligibility for government-provided health care.
Type: 5. Frequency — The term health card refers to identification that enables "access to insured health care services" that are provided by government (see Service Canada reference). As seen in Chart 1, the term is most frequently used in Canada. The information found on a health card includes a person's name and personal health identification number, among other details. A health card must be shown at hospitals or clinics to receive medical service (see Citizenship and Immigration Canada reference). Moreover, it is often used as a piece of identification in Canada (see the 1999 quotation).
Since Canada's health care program is not a federal responsibility but is run separately by provinces and territories under the constraints of the federal Canada Health Act (see the 1982 quotation), the names for health cards vary provincially (see Health Canada reference). As seen in Chart 2, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, for instance, show low frequencies of the term as they have their own designations (see health care card for Alberta, CareCard for British Columbia and Chart 3 for the Quebec and Nunavut term health insurance card).
See also COD-2, s.v. "health card", which is marked "Cdn".
Since Canada's health care program is not a federal responsibility but is run separately by provinces and territories under the constraints of the federal Canada Health Act (see the 1982 quotation), the names for health cards vary provincially (see Health Canada reference). As seen in Chart 2, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, for instance, show low frequencies of the term as they have their own designations (see health care card for Alberta, CareCard for British Columbia and Chart 3 for the Quebec and Nunavut term health insurance card).
See also COD-2, s.v. "health card", which is marked "Cdn".
Quotations
1969
A spokesman for BOAC in Montreal said that the British High Commissioner in Ottawa has been in touch with London and confirmation has been received that a Canadian passport and health card are musts before immigration authorities in England permit travellers to enter the country.
1979
Good evening, I said. They exchanged grimaces on hearing my English. I took out my passport, rail ticket, and health card and waved them to deflect their attention. You'll find that I have a Mexican tourist card, smallpox vaccination, valid passport. Look. Then the ugliest one of the three stepped into the compartment and whacked his billy club against the luggage rack.
1982
They include plans for financial penalties for provinces judged to be in violation of standards, and for a speedy information system involving the provinces which would ensure Parliament gets annual reports on the status of the health system. Another proposal would give Ottawa more credit for transfer money, requiring a mention on such items as provincial health cards. And the federal money would be sent directly to health ministers instead of into the provinces' general revenue funds.
1999
Merchants, restaurants and attractions in the Sunshine State increasingly are recognizing the importance of wooing the Canadian customers and many will offer discounts: but only if you can prove you're Canadian.
So bring some identification -- a passport is best, but a driver's licence or health card should do it.
Finally: don't forget to buy health insurance. Just a couple of days in a Florida hospital could ruin you.
1999
Saskatchewan Health sent the renewal stickers out by mail, but about 28,000 packages containing 49,000 stickers have been returned by Canada Post because of incorrect addresses.
Health cards give people access to a wide range of health services, so it's crucial to renew your card.
So if you've moved recently and you don't have your renewal sticker, call 1-800-667-7551. Every household in the province should have had their renewal stickers by Oct. 8.
2008
His name, however, was masked by multiple sets of false identification. The forgeries were good: He had an Ontario driver's licence with his picture but a false name, a provincial health card and several credit cards.
One set of identification used the name Giuseppe Scarfo (his mother's maiden name) and another, Antonio Bertolotti.
References
- Service Canada • "Health Card"
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada • "Health care"
- Health Canada • "Health Care System"
- COD-2
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 29 May 2014
Chart 2: Regional Domain Search, 29 May 2014
