Remittance Advice · Payment-time (remittance)
OHIP explanatory code E1
Service date prior to start of eligibility
What E1 means
The Ministry of Health’s official wording for E1 is: “Service date prior to start of eligibility.”
This code appears as an explanatory code on your monthly Remittance Advice (RA). It means the claim was adjudicated — paid, reduced, or refused — for the reason below. A claim already on your RA generally shouldn't be blindly resubmitted; follow the suggested action.
How to fix E1
Check the patient eligibility and health card for the service date. If they were covered, file a Remittance Advice Inquiry; otherwise bill the correct payer.
Payment-time codes appear on the monthly Remittance Advice after adjudication. Some are informational, some explain a reduced or refused payment. Where you disagree with the outcome, the usual route is a Remittance Advice Inquiry or written inquiry — not resubmitting the same claim, which can create a duplicate.
Related codes
- DRSelf-Referred Diagnostic Services Payable at 50%
- DVService is included in Monthly Management Fee for Long-Term Care (LTC) patients
- DWProcedure paid previously not allowed in addition to monthly management. For long-term care patients-fee adjusted to pay the difference.
- DXDiagnostic code not eligible with Fee Schedule Code
- E2Incorrect version code for service date
- E3Version Code not on File for HN (Health Number)
- E4Service date after the eligibility termination date
- E5Service date not within an eligible period
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Code meaning per Ontario Ministry of Health — Remittance Advice Explanatory Codes / Messages (March 2026). The suggested action is general information for Ontario physicians, not billing, legal, or tax advice — codes and rules change, so verify against the current Ministry of Health documents before relying on a claim.