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Error code

ESH — Not Eligible For Blank HN

Health number missing

The claim had no health number, and you aren't eligible to submit claims without one.

What to do: Get the patient's health number and version code, add them to the claim and resubmit.

Code
ESH
Description
Not Eligible For Blank HN

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

ESH means the claim was sent without a health number, but you aren't eligible to submit blank health number claims. Add the health number.

What it means

ESH (Not Eligible For Blank HN) means the claim had no health number, and the provider is not eligible to submit claims without one. Most OHIP claims must carry the patient's health number.

Common causes

  • The health number was left off the claim
  • The health number was lost when the claim was created or exported

How to fix it

  1. Get the patient's health number and version code.
  2. Add them to the claim.
  3. Resubmit the corrected claim within three months of the service date. If that window has passed but the claim was first submitted on time, use the Ministry's stale-dated resubmission process.

Don't resubmit if

  • You can't get the patient's health number.

How APEX handles it

APEX reads your error reports and remittance advice from MCEDT and lists claims rejected with this code in its Correction Centre for you to correct and resubmit. See how APEX works · Pricing

Related codes: ESN, VH1, VH2, VHB

Sources