Do I bill the age premium for patients 65 and over in Manitoba?
No. In Manitoba you bill only the visit tariff, and Manitoba Health adds the age premium: 10% for patients aged 65 to 69 and 20% for patients 70 or older (Physician's Manual, page A-119). It goes on tariffs 8540, 8529, 8510, 8442 and 8321 and on the provisional tariffs ~8640 and ~8350. On 8529 ($41.02) that is $4.10 at 10% or $8.20 at 20%, rounded to the cent.
Last checked: Checked against the Manitoba Physician's Manual (April 1, 2026 edition, with the October 1, 2026 update) by Unbilled on . Not yet reviewed by a medical biller.
Manitoba tariffs that get the age premium
| Tariff | Description | Fee | Manual page | Manual dated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8540 | Complete history and physical examination | $93.66 | A-119 | |
| 8529 | Regional intermediate visit | $41.02 | A-119 | |
| 8510 | Regional history and examination, or subsequent visit (hospital care) | $41.02 | A-128 | |
| 8442 | Comprehensive virtual assessment by telephone or video | $93.66 | A-121 | |
| 8321 | Intermediate virtual visit by telephone or video | $41.02 | A-121 | |
| ~8640 | Extended visit (provisional) | $70.00 | A-120 | |
| ~8350 | Extended virtual visit by video (provisional) | $70.00 | A-121 |
What Manitoba Health adds
| Tariff | Fee | Patient 65 to 69 (10%) | Patient 70 or older (20%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8540, 8442 | $93.66 | $9.37 | $18.73 |
| 8529, 8510, 8321 | $41.02 | $4.10 | $8.20 |
| ~8640, ~8350 | $70.00 | $7.00 | $14.00 |
When it applies
- “10% will automatically be applied to tariffs 8540, 8529, 8510, 8442, 8321, ~8640 or ~8350 for patients between the ages of 65 to 69 years.” (A-119)
- “20% will automatically be applied to tariffs 8540, 8529, 8510, 8442, 8321, ~8640 or ~8350 for patients 70 years of age or older.” (A-119)
- The notes for ~8640 and ~8350 repeat it. For ~8350: “If applicable, an age premium will automatically be applied to tariff ~8350.” (A-122) The ~8640 note says the same for ~8640. (A-120)
- There is no claim line for it. The manual lists no separate tariff for the age premium. (A-119)
When it does not apply
- Tariffs not on the list, such as 8509 (regional basic visit), 8345 (basic virtual visit by telephone or video) and 8340 (episodic virtual visit by phone). (A-119)
- Patients under 65. (A-119)
The separate over-65 condition
- 8529 and 8321 have their own condition: “The visit shall be a minimum of ten (10) minutes of physician time or the patient is over 65 years of age.” This decides whether the tariff applies. It is not the premium. (A-120; A-121)
- The premium starts at age 65. This condition says “over 65”. The manual does not say how it treats a patient who is exactly 65.
Worked example
A 72-year-old patient comes in for a medication check. You take a history of the presenting complaint, examine the related systems, review recent results, give advice and write it all in the note. The visit takes 8 minutes.
The patient is over 65, so 8529 applies even though the visit took less than 10 minutes. Bill 8529: $41.02. Do not add a premium line.
Manitoba Health adds 20% because the patient is 70 or older. 20% of $41.02 is $8.20, rounded to the cent. The payment is $49.22.
What is often not billed
A short visit with a patient over 65 can still be 8529, not 8509. 8529 ($41.02) has no 10-minute minimum for a patient over 65. Manitoba Health adds the age premium to it. 8509 ($29.28) is not on the age-premium list. The note must show what 8529 requires: a history of the presenting complaint, an exam of the related parts or systems, a review of pertinent investigations, and a written record and advice. (A-119 to A-120)
Source
Manitoba Physician's Manual, April 1, 2026 edition (with the October 1, 2026 update), pages A-119 to A-122 and A-128, and Rule of Application 56 (page Rules-12). Manitoba Health publishes the manual at gov.mb.ca/health/manual.
Last checked: Checked against the Manitoba Physician's Manual (April 1, 2026 edition, with the October 1, 2026 update) by Unbilled on . Not yet reviewed by a medical biller.
Unbilled is not Manitoba Health or Doctors Manitoba. This page is general information, not a ruling on any claim. Manitoba Health decides what is payable. Check the current manual before you bill.
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