Thanks to a $30,000 air ambulance charge for an unplanned pregnancy, insurance carriers might have stumbled upon a potential new stream of revenue
Thanks to a $30,000 air ambulance charge for an unplanned pregnancy, insurance carriers might have stumbled upon a potential new stream of revenue
Most people would consider a ride in an ambulance to the hospital an essential service and covered by their provincial health insurance plan. Think again.
An Alberta woman was recently vacationing in Northern Ontario when she went into labour two months early. The local hospital wasn’t equipped to handle a premature birth and so she was transferred by air ambulance to a bigger facility in Sudbury.
The bill for her helicopter ride? More than $30,000.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for the new mother who was told of the cost before taking off but decided she’d deal with matter after her baby was born safe and sound. Every expected mother would do the same.
Alberta covers all in-hospital visits outside the province but not air ambulances.
"The Alberta government provides health coverage for services such as hospital stays and doctors’ visits for Albertans who are travelling in other provinces," said Timothy Wilson, press secretary to Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman in an email. "Albertans are responsible for the cost of emergency ambulance services and inter-facility transfers when travelling outside the province."
As a result of this gap in coverage, the new mom is struggling to find a way to repay the Ontario ambulance service, illustrating why travel insurance is essential for any clients travelling out of province, and not just out of the country.
“I don’t think a lot of Canadians understand there are gaps in a lot of areas, said Robin Ingle, CEO of Ingle International, a leading travel insurance provider here in Canada. “Air evacuations are one, land ambulances are another — anything outside of core services may not be covered.”
While it’s an expensive lesson for this poor woman, it’s a call to action for all advisors to start recommending their clients obtain full travel insurance whenever travelling out of province. Their financial as well as bodily health may depend on it.
Most people would consider a ride in an ambulance to the hospital an essential service and covered by their provincial health insurance plan. Think again.
An Alberta woman was recently vacationing in Northern Ontario when she went into labour two months early. The local hospital wasn’t equipped to handle a premature birth and so she was transferred by air ambulance to a bigger facility in Sudbury.
The bill for her helicopter ride? More than $30,000.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for the new mother who was told of the cost before taking off but decided she’d deal with matter after her baby was born safe and sound. Every expected mother would do the same.
Alberta covers all in-hospital visits outside the province but not air ambulances.
"The Alberta government provides health coverage for services such as hospital stays and doctors’ visits for Albertans who are travelling in other provinces," said Timothy Wilson, press secretary to Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman in an email. "Albertans are responsible for the cost of emergency ambulance services and inter-facility transfers when travelling outside the province."
As a result of this gap in coverage, the new mom is struggling to find a way to repay the Ontario ambulance service, illustrating why travel insurance is essential for any clients travelling out of province, and not just out of the country.
“I don’t think a lot of Canadians understand there are gaps in a lot of areas, said Robin Ingle, CEO of Ingle International, a leading travel insurance provider here in Canada. “Air evacuations are one, land ambulances are another — anything outside of core services may not be covered.”
While it’s an expensive lesson for this poor woman, it’s a call to action for all advisors to start recommending their clients obtain full travel insurance whenever travelling out of province. Their financial as well as bodily health may depend on it.
