Great question! STI testing should be accessible, so there are other options if you don’t have a Manitoba Health Card.
If you are a Manitoba resident, get your Manitoba Health Card updated or replaced. If you are a resident of another Canadian province, bring your provincial health card (and identification) to the testing clinic.
If you are not a resident of Canada, you may have other options. There is an Interim Federal Health Propgram for refugees and other eligible groups which may provide coverage. You may have a coverage plan through employment or a student plan. Or you may be able to present your passport at the testing appointment, if that’s all you have.
Our advice is to phone the doctor’s office or STI testing clinic you plan to visit. Let them know your situation and they’ll be able to advise on the solution that fits for you.
Lastly, you can now access take home HIV self-tests in Manitoba. You don’t need a health card or identification to pick up a take home HIV test. Type your location into i-am.health to find out where you can access take home HIV self-tests. Unfortunatley there’s no take home testing for the other sexually transmitted infections, so it’s still recommended you visit a provider to get a full STI check up if you’re sexually active or use injection drugs.
