Error report · Referral & provider
OHIP error code EQ3
Claim submitted as Pay Patient - Health care provider is registered as OPTED-IN for date of service
What EQ3 means
The Ministry of Health’s official wording for EQ3 is: “Claim submitted as Pay Patient - Health care provider is registered as OPTED-IN for date of service.”
This code appears on your Claims Error Report (downloaded through MCEDT). It means the claim was rejected at submission and was never adjudicated for payment — fix the issue below and resubmit the claim.
How to fix EQ3
You're opted-in for this date - resubmit the claim as Pay Provider rather than Pay Patient.
Referral and provider codes relate to the referring or rendering provider number, specialty restrictions, or referral requirements attached to the fee code. Verify the provider numbers on the claim and whether the code requires a valid referral.
Related codes
- EP5Incorrect FSC for Group Type
- EQ1Clinic/Doctor Not on File - Practitioner not registered with OHIP
- EQ2Specialty mismatch – Specialty Code is inactive or not registered on date of service
- EQ4Claim submitted as Pay Provider - Health care provider is registered as OPTED-OUT for date of service
- EQ5Lab inactive on Service date
- EQ6Incorrect Referral Number - Referring/requisitioning health care provider number is not registered with the Ministry of Health
- EQ9Lab Number not on File
- EQBSolo practitioner inactive on service date Practitioner number is Midwife (700000-722899) referral only Claims submitted by Chiropractors using their Claim Submission Number (CSN) Physician Registered as group billing only
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Code meaning per Ontario Ministry of Health — Error Report Rejection Conditions / Error Codes (December 2022). 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.