What Verified means here
You are inviting someone into your home, often to care for a parent. Here is exactly what we check before a provider can appear on HealthStars — and what each badge on a listing really means.
1. Identity & business check
Every applicant submits their legal or business name, service city and contact details. We confirm the listing belongs to a real, reachable person or company before it can appear in search.
2. Credentials & registration
Regulated providers (RN, RPN, PSW, RMT, PT, OT) must show current registration with their Ontario college or association. Unregulated services state plainly what training they hold.
3. Insurance review
Providers who supply a valid liability insurance certificate get the Insurance verified marker, with an expiry date we track. Listings without it never show that marker.
4. Reviews from real clients only
A review can only be left by someone with a completed booking or an accepted quote with that provider. There is no way to post an anonymous or purchased review.
5. Ongoing monitoring
Response times, cancellations and client reports feed a quality score. Listings that slip, or whose insurance lapses, lose verified status until it is corrected.
Badge guide
| Badge | What it means |
|---|---|
| Verified | Identity, service details and credentials confirmed by our team. |
| Insurance verified | A current liability insurance certificate is on file and unexpired. |
| Pending | Documents submitted and under review — not yet confirmed. |
| Unverified | A claimed or imported listing with checks still outstanding. |
HealthStars is a directory — providers are independent businesses, not our employees. If a provider misrepresents their credentials, tell us and we will review the listing and remove it if warranted. In an emergency, call 911.