Remittance Advice · Payment-time (remittance)
OHIP explanatory code W3
Warning: - Service date is older than 3 months
What W3 means
The Ministry of Health’s official wording for W3 is: “Warning: - Service date is older than 3 months.”
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 W3
Warning only - the claim was processed. Note the issue (for example an aging service date) and submit future claims sooner.
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
- VPAllowed with special visit only
- VRVisit reduced premium not applicable
- VSDate of service was a Saturday, Sunday or statutory holiday
- VXComplexity premium not applicable to visit fee
- W4Warning:-service location indicator code missing
- X2Gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract includes cine and video tape
- X3Gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract includes survey film of abdomen
- X4Only one Bone Mineral Density (BMD) allowed within a 36 month period for a low risk patient
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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.