Effective December 1, 2016, most patients receiving social assistance (ODSP or OW) will no longer be issued a paper drug card as proof of social assistance eligibility. Instead, optometrists can accept other forms of proof of eligibility – such as the patient’s monthly Statement of Assistance (SOA) – to confirm eligibility for coverage for periodic oculo-visual assessments (POVAs).
Patients who are not eligible for an Ontario health card number will continue to receive paper drug eligibility cards until they obtain a health card.
If a patient does not provide proof of eligibility, optometrists can call the Social Assistance Verification Helpline toll-free at 1-888-284-3928 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays).
To learn more about how to process claims for patients receiving social assistance, please review the following (all documents PDF):