Preferred Accommodation – Frequently Asked Questions
What is Preferred Accommodation?
If you stay as an inpatient at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, you can request your preference of one of three types of patient rooms:
- Ward (three or more beds in the room) – Free of charge for OHIP patients
- Semi-private (two beds in the room) – $325 per day
- Private (one bed in the room) – $425 per day ($475 on Obstetrical Unit)
All OHIP-insured patients are provided with a ward room free of charge. Private and semi-private room accommodation is optional for patients who wish to have more privacy during their stay.
How and when can I make my selection?
You will be asked about your room preference during pre-admission or during admission by one of our accommodation coordinators. We will need you to complete the Responsibility for Payment Form with your preferred request which can be completed with our accommodation coordinators. You may adjust your request at any point during your stay by contacting a member of the accommodation team by email at accommodation@sunnybrook.ca.
For Maternity patient admissions in our birthing unit please complete the online request form, prior to your delivery date.
I have a third party insurance. Can you bill my insurance directly?
If you have private insurance coverage as long as you provide the information to us during your stay we are able to attempt to bill insurances directly. If your insurance only covers a portion of the room cost you will receive an invoice by mail after your stay.
Please note that while we try our best to work with insurances if they are not responsive to our invoices or contact attempts we will be required to seek payment directly from patients.
If you are an Obstetrical Patient we do not bill insurances directly, please see our FAQ page for Obstetrical Patients for more details.
How do I know if I have coverage?
It is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider to verify your coverage. Please note that your coverage may change from year to year. If your insurance covers only part of your accommodation request, then you will be responsible for paying the remainder of the bill. You will be invoiced for this amount.
How can I change my accommodation request?
If at any point during your hospital stay you no longer want a private or semi-private room, it is your responsibility to contact a Preferred Accommodation Coordinator and sign a new form. You will be responsible for any charges up to that date.
Am I guaranteed to get the room I choose?
We will try our best to give you the room you have requested. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. However, sometimes the room you request may not be available due to medical or infection control needs.
If I stay in a room that is different from the type of room I requested how will I be billed?
| If you request a: | And you receive a: | You will be billed: |
|---|---|---|
|
Semi-private or private room |
Ward room |
No charge |
|
Semi-private room |
Semi-private or private room |
For a semi-private room |
|
Private room |
Semi-private room |
For a semi-private room |
|
Private room |
Private room |
For a private room |
OHIP patients requesting ward rooms will not be charged no matter what room type they are placed in.
What if I do not have OHIP Coverage?
If you no not have OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) and have questions regarding your stay please visit our Non-OHIP information page.
When will I receive an invoice?
For the majority of patient stays we wait until after discharge to mail out invoices. If your stay is longer, then an interim bill may be sent while you are still in the hospital.
If you provided insurance information during your stay we will first attempt to send all invoices to your supplementary insurance provider(s). Once we have we have received payment from the insurance provider(s) or the insurance provider(s) are refusing payment/ignoring our contact attempts we will mail an invoice to you for the remaining balance if there is one.
How do I pay my bill?
All information regarding how you can pay your bill can be found on our website here.
Why am I being charged for an ambulance
If you have a valid Ontario Health Card there is a standard co-payment charge of $45.00 for ambulance services rendered in the province of Ontario.
If you do not have a valid Ontario Health Card this co-payment charge is $240.00.
For more information regarding why you are being charged for an Ambulance visit the Ministry of Health Ambulance Services Billing website.
Will my room request get me into a room faster?
If you are in the Emergency Department awaiting placement into a room you will be placed into the first available bed regardless of the room type you requested. While we attempt to place patients directly into their desired room it is not always possible. Patients are first placed into rooms for medical requirements. If you are not directly placed into a private or semi-private room and you have requested one the nursing staff on the unit you are on will look move you into your preferred room once one becomes available.
What if I have other Questions?
We're happy to answer any other questions you may have. Please contact our Preferred Accommodation Coordinator team by email at accommodation@sunnybrook.ca.
Please note: If you are admitted as an Obstetrical patient billing is separate from the process described above. Please visit our Preferred Accommodations page for Obstetrical Patients for more information regarding preferred accommodation while on the Obstetrical unit.
