In Canada, 70 per cent of all health-care services are insured (paid for by the government). The remaining 30 per cent is up to you, as the patient, to pay for or obtain through your own health insurance. Dental fees and prescription drug costs are two examples where government doesn’t pay for all the services.
 
Services provided by doctors but not paid by the government are called non-insured services. Doctors may charge patients for these services.
 
Each doctor decides whether to charge for a non-insured service and sets the fee. You can talk to your doctor’s office about their policy and fees for non-insured services.

Residents of Nova Scotia receive general health-care coverage through Nova Scotia’s Medical Service Insurance (MSI). Anyone moving permanently to Nova Scotia should contact MSI upon arrival to ensure coverage starts as early as possible.