2012 July 06, Today I went to the local ServiceOntario centre the Motor Vehicle agent to get my address changed on my drivers’ license and motor vehicle registration. I got the first woman of three behind the counter and everything went smooth until she finished and asked me if I also wanted to change the address on my OHIP (Health card). I said sure; and as she entered the data into the computer she made some strange faces and told me that my OHIP Health Insurance had been cancelled and that I needed to get a new card to get it reinstated. I said I was confused as I knew they were changing over to new photo ID cards, but not that they were cancelling the old ones. I also said that I have used it the past few months and no one said anything.

Anyway, I didn’t want to be without any health insurance, so I went home and got my birth certificate and SIN card (to PROVE my identity) and went back to the agency and waited in line. As luck would have it, I didn’t get the same woman I went to earlier. Instead I got the second one, the same nasty ignorant woman that I had before when I had a problem with getting my vehicle license for my Honda. Says 57 But I was open to see what would happen this time so I gave her my documents and she filled out the data on her computer and then asked me to sign a form she handed me. She hassled me on my signature going out of the lines and I finally, after two failed attempts, scribbled a miniature signature BETWEEN THE LINES IN SMALL RECTANGULAR BOX. That made her happy, even though it didn’t look like my signature. When all was finished, I said, I’ll like to have my card back so that….. “ But before I even finished, she sarcastically stated that I couldn’t get it back. I was angry at her cutting me off and at her tone of voice. I said calmly. “You never even let me finish what I was saying before you rudely and ignorantly cut me off… Can you listen to what I have to say? She again interrupted and stated belligerently,” You can’t have your card back.”

I wasn’t going to let this die, so now I raised my voice so that everyone in the office could hear me and again repeated myself, “Can I finish what I was saying and will you listen?” But this time, before she could open her mouth, I continued, “I have some important information taped to the back of the card regarding certain drugs that I am allergic to. I want to copy them down so that I can transfer it to the new card when I get it so that if I happen to be in an accident and unconscious and someone goes through my wallet and finds my health card, they will also see what drugs NOT to give me.”

She stared coldly at me and again stated that she can’t return the card. Just then, the third woman in the office chimed in and asked this brain dead bureaucrat if there was something written on the card. The woman replied, yes, there is. The third woman then said, “Why don’t you just give him a photo copy of the health card with his notes on it?” She looked stunned. She then slowly turned, rolled off her stool, and waddled to the photocopier, made a copy, returned to her station and shoved the copy at me. I took it and said in a sarcastic tone, “Now was that so hard?” As I turned to leave, I noticed that the first woman that had previously served me was giving me a dirty look. I glared back at her but didn’t say anything as I knew, she knew what I was thinking and she quickly lowered her head and turned back to her computer monitor. Some people waiting in line smiled as I made my way past them, while others looked pissed off. I smiled at them all.