New Online Service for MSI, Pharmacare

Nova Scotia has launched a new web-based portal that allows people to update their Medical Services Insurance (MSI) information, renew a health card, register for programs and submit inquiries and forms electronically.

MSI Online is available to people 19 and older who have a health card and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Nova Scotia.

“We continue to expand the suite of digital health tools that support Nova Scotians to access healthcare programs, services, information and care from wherever they are,” said Yarmouth MLA Nick Hilton, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “This will make it easier and more convenient for people to access, manage and update their MSI and pharmacare program information.”

People can access MSI Online using any internet-enabled device that supports a common web browser – Safari, Chrome or Microsoft Edge, for example – or through the YourHealthNS app. Once logged in, users can:

• register an email address to receive electronic notifications for items such as health card renewal
• request a replacement Nova Scotia health card
• update their address and contact information
• register for the Nova Scotia Seniors’ Pharmacare Program or renew seniors' or family pharmacare coverage
• update their organ and tissue donation status
• opt in to participate in medical research opportunities
• submit inquiries and forms electronically for MSI to process
• contact MSI.

Nova Scotians will continue to receive health card renewals by mail unless they choose to receive communication electronically through their MSI Online account. Some other correspondence – including cheques, service verification letters and exception status drug letters – will continue to be sent by mail.

Quick Facts:

• about 25,000 Nova Scotia health card renewal notices are issued every month
• as of February, more than 160,400 people are registered for the Seniors’ Pharmacare Program, and more than 24,000 families are registered for the Family Pharmacare Program
• patients may receive service verification letters to confirm they received a specific service from a provider
• an exception status drug letter is a notification sent to patients and providers approving or denying coverage for specific medications per exception status criteria

Additional Resources:

MSI Online: https://novascotia.ca/MSIonline

Nova Scotia Health Insurance Program: https://www.novascotia.ca/programs-and-services/nova-scotia-health-insurance-program

Seniors’ Pharmacare Program: https://www.novascotia.ca/register-seniors-pharmacare-program

Family Pharmacare Program: https://www.novascotia.ca/register-family-pharmacare-program

News releases about YourHealthNS: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=324