Plastic health card replacements on the way, province says
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/02/2025 (225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
More than 200,000 Manitobans have so far applied for a new plastic health card to replace the decades-old paper version, the province said Friday.
“Applicants should begin to receive new health cards in the coming days,” a government spokesman said in an email Friday.
Paper health cards continue to be valid and accepted at health-care facilities. For years, there have been complaints about the flimsy, faded and dog-eared wallet-size documents.
In last year’s provincial budget, the NDP government promised to introduce plastic replacements. In the fall, Premier Wab Kinew posted a social media video saying the cards would be ready in December.
The Nov. 19 provincial throne speech said, “this December, you can apply for a new, plastic health card illuminated by the winning design, (the) northern lights.”
Manitobans were invited to apply for a replacement online on Jan. 15.
The switch to plastic includes transitioning to individual health cards for all Manitobans, including children who were previously listed on a family card, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said previously.
The change aligns with jurisdictions across Canada, updates outdated record-keeping and ensures that every child and youth in Manitoba a health card of their own.
The bilingual card now includes a field that allows residents to indicate their official language preference, English or French, making Manitoba the second jurisdiction in Canada to offer this feature, the government said. And they’re Canadian made.
“The cards are produced in Canada by a Canadian company,” the government spokesman said.
Switching to modern health cards was anticipated to cost less than what was spent to produce the COVID-19 vaccination card ($1.67 each ), the government said previously.
carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
To apply for or request a new Manitoba health card, visit https://manitoba.ca/health/mhsip/
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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