Is My Ultrasound Covered by OHIP?
What's Free and What Isn't

Yes, your ultrasound is covered by OHIP if two things are true: you have a valid Ontario health card, and a licensed Ontario healthcare provider has ordered the scan on a signed requisition. In that case you pay nothing at Bluewater Imaging, and there is no facility fee. What isn’t covered is elective scans and exams for people without OHIP.

That’s the short version. The rest of this article walks through the details, because the questions we hear at the front desk are usually about the edges: keepsake scans, health cards that haven’t arrived yet, and what happens if you want a scan your doctor didn’t order.

What OHIP covers for ultrasound

When an ultrasound is medically needed and ordered by your provider, OHIP pays the clinic directly. You won’t see a bill. That includes the full range of diagnostic ultrasound we do, such as:

• abdominal scans (liver, gallbladder, kidneys, pancreas and spleen)
• pelvic and transvaginal scans
• pregnancy scans ordered by your doctor or midwife, including dating, IPS/NT and the 18 to 20 week anatomy scan
• vascular and Doppler studies, like carotid and leg vein scans
• thyroid, breast and soft tissue scans
• musculoskeletal scans of a shoulder, knee, wrist or heel

Ontario’s rules are clear on charging. The province says community diagnostic centres may not charge you for services that are insured by OHIP, and that you must be offered the option of receiving only insured services. So if your exam is covered, it’s covered in full.

The same page notes that a requisition for an insured service is valid at any Ontario location that provides the same service. Your doctor may have printed it on another clinic’s form. That’s fine. We accept requisitions from any licensed Ontario provider, on any form.

What you need on the day

Bring two things: your health card and your signed requisition. A list of your current medications helps too. Some ultrasounds need a little preparation, such as an empty stomach for an abdominal scan or a full bladder for a pelvic scan. Check our preparation instructions for your exam the day before so you don’t have to rebook.

Is an ultrasound covered by OHIP without a requisition?

No. OHIP pays for diagnostic ultrasound when a provider has ordered it. If you’d like a scan for your own peace of mind and no one has ordered it, OHIP won’t cover it, and we’d encourage you to talk to your doctor first. They can decide whether a scan makes sense and send a requisition if it does.

There’s one related exception worth knowing about. In Ontario you can book a screening mammogram yourself through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) if you’re eligible, without a referral, and it’s covered by OHIP. That’s a mammogram, not an ultrasound, but it’s the question that often comes up next. Our self-referral mammogram page explains who qualifies.

What isn’t covered

Elective 3D/4D keepsake scans

A 3D/4D ultrasound is a bonding session where you see your baby’s face and movements in more detail. It’s lovely, but it isn’t a medical exam, so OHIP doesn’t pay for it. At Bluewater these sessions start at $99 and run from 15 to 40 minutes depending on the package. You can pay online when you book and save 10%. You don’t need a requisition. A keepsake scan doesn’t replace the pregnancy scans your doctor or midwife orders. Those are separate, and they’re covered.

Exams for people without a valid Ontario health card

If you’re new to Ontario and your coverage hasn’t started, visiting from another country, or otherwise not covered by OHIP, you can still have an ultrasound. You pay for the exam yourself. Our cash fee schedule lists every price. As of October 2026, some common examples are:

You’ll find the full list in our cash fee schedule (PDF). These prices are for services not covered by OHIP or other insurance, and they’re payable at the time of your appointment. You’ll still need a requisition from a licensed provider for a diagnostic ultrasound.

Things that sit around the exam

A few patients ask whether there’s a charge for the report going to their doctor. There isn’t. The radiologist’s report is part of the insured service and goes to the provider who ordered your scan.

Missed appointments are different. Please give us at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice, and missed appointments, have a $50 fee, including for OHIP-covered exams. Our cancellation policy has the details.

“My health card expired.” Am I still covered?

Your health card needs to be valid on the day of your scan. If it’s expired or you’ve lost it, renew or replace it through ServiceOntario before your appointment if you can.

If you’re not sure whether you’re eligible, the province explains who qualifies for OHIP and how to apply. We also wrote a guide for getting imaging done when you’re new to Canada.

Does where I go change what I pay?

For a covered ultrasound, no. With a valid health card and requisition, an OHIP-insured ultrasound is free at any of our clinics. All ten of our locations offer ultrasound, from downtown Toronto to Belleville. Pick the one that’s easiest for you to get to.

What can change from place to place is the price of elective or self-pay scans, because each clinic sets its own. If you’re comparing prices for a scan you’re paying for yourself, our article on private ultrasound costs in Toronto explains why prices differ.

Ready to book?

If you have your health card and requisition, you’re all set. You can book an ultrasound online, or call our call centre at 416-462-0064 (Monday to Thursday 8am to 6pm, Friday 8am to 5pm, Saturday 8am to 4pm). Have your requisition handy and we’ll help you find a clinic and a time that works. You can also read more about the exam on our ultrasound page.