Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) emergency departments are here for serious and urgent health concerns. For other care needs, there may be options that can connect you with the care you need sooner.
Your health always comes first. Find the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Our team at Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) is here to help you understand the room options and fees before, during, and after childbirth.
During childbirth, all patients get a private room. There is no cost for a private room during labour and while giving birth if you are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP). This is the only time there is no cost for a private room during pregnancy and childbirth.
There is a fee you must pay to stay in a private and semi-private hospital room:
Ward room are always available at no cost for patients who are covered by OHIP.
Early in your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will give you the forms you need to choose a hospital room. This will give you lots of time to think about the type of room you want.
When you know what type of hospital room you want, you will include your choice on your forms. You can bring the forms to any hospital visit and hand them to the unit secretary. We will keep them in your hospital file.
We will ask you to fill out a form at every hospital admission and outpatient visit.
Your insurance policy will include details about the types of rooms it covers. It will also have information about any rules or restrictions. The hospital does not have access to this information. You can contact your insurance company if you need information or have questions.
It is your responsibility to understand what your private insurance covers. The hospital will bill you for any costs your insurance does not cover.
During childbirth, room fees start after your baby is born. There are no fees for your hospital room when you are in labour or giving birth.
After you give birth, you will pay extra room fees if you chose a semi-private or private hospital room. Ward rooms are always free if you are covered by OHIP.
You will also need to pay room fees if you choose a semi-private or private room when you:
WRHN calculates room fees in the following way:
Here are some examples:
These fees are the patient’s responsibility. The patient must pay their room fees if their private insurance does not cover them.
It is called an antenatal admission when you stay in the hospital:
In this situation, we charge fees based on the type of room you chose on your form. There are extra fees for private or semi-private rooms. Ward rooms are free if you are covered by OHIP.
We have a limited number of private rooms. This means one not always be available. We assign private rooms based on who requests them first.
Yes. After the baby is born, the birthing room is considered a private room.
If you choose to stay in a semi-private or private room, we will bill you for the one you choose. You can check with your private insurance to see if they will cover part or all of these fees.
If this happens, you will not have to pay extra fees. However, we may still move you to a room that matches your choice at any time. The hospital tries to match patients to the type of room they choose whenever possible.
Sometimes, the type of room a patient chooses is not available. If you choose a private room but stay in a semi-private room instead, you only pay for the type of room you stayed in. In this example, you would only pay for a semi-private room.
Yes, you can change your choice as long as the type of room you want is available. To do this, you will need to fill out a new room accommodation form. We will adjust your fees based on when you sign the new form. You must give your new signed form to the unit secretary.
If you stay for less than four hours after giving birth, we do not charge fees for private or semi-private rooms. It’s important to know that WRHN cannot guarantee you will be able to go home within four hours of giving birth. Your health and your baby’s health are our top priorities. There are many conditions that must be met before you can go home safely.
Yes, room fees apply no matter which unit you stay on in the hospital.
WRHN sets the hospital’s room fees in line with the room fees at other hospitals in Ontario. The room fees we charge are based on the type of room you chose on your form.
Please talk to the unit secretary or call Patient Accounts at 519-749-4300, ext. 3736 if you have questions about your room or fees. Nurses, doctors, and midwives do not know what your private insurance does or does not cover.
We may give a patient a private or semi-private room if they need to be in isolation. For example, they have an infectious illness or other serious medical concern. A doctor or the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) team would decide if a patient needs this.