Cost of ambulance may prevent seniors from dialling 911
Universal health care means different things to different people. The majority of Canadians know that, when they are sick or injured, they will be taken care of at a clinic or emergency room at no cost. For some, though, the biggest hurdle to receiving health care arises before they even reach the health care facility — with ambulance fees, which are often paid out of pocket, even by those on limited incomes.
That’s why the Saskatchewan Seniors Mechanism (SSM) is trying to change things — not only for seniors, but for all Saskatchewan residents. “Ambulance fees need to be covered by our health care system,” says Holly Schick, who has been the executive director for SSM for the past seven years. “Ideally for all people, but I think that for seniors and other vulnerable populations that are unable to pay, it’s more important for them.”
A non-profit organization, SSM represents various seniors’ organizations across the province that work together to contribute to a better quality of life for older adults. SSM currently represents 16 member organizations, such as the National Association of Federal Retirees, the Saskatchewan Union Retirees Federation and the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan.
“We’ve had a chance to make government aware of the issue, but we haven’t had changes as of yet. I’ve got to say that, in terms of the government, they are willing to listen to our concerns, even though we don’t always see the results we might like,” said Schick.
SSM has passed two resolutions: one for the elimination of all ambulance fees for seniors, and the other for the elimination of ambulance fees to transfer patients — regardless of their age — from one facility to another. This includes the wait time of an ambulance during medical appointments and tests, or when the patient is being transported to and from special medical vehicles like the STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) helicopter. “In our opinion, no one should be charged for transfer between health facilities. That seems like a cost that shouldn’t be there for anyone,” says Schick.
Ambulance services in Saskatchewan can be costly. Basic services range from $245 to $325, there is a per kilometer rate for rural residents, wait time fees are between $50 to $100 per hour, and there is an additional special escort fee if a nurse, therapist or health professional is riding with you,
Additional fees include Saskatchewan Air Ambulance at $385 per flight and STARS charges $385 per flight. Neither of these fees includes the cost of a ground ambulance that may deliver a patient to and/or from the special medical vehicle.
The government of Saskatchewan currently offers assistance programs for seniors, lowerincome families, and people who live in northern Saskatchewan to help cover the costs of ambulance fees. If you are over the age of 65, ambulance fees are capped at $275 per ambulance trip. Also, SGI and Worker’s Compensation cover ambulance costs, but only if it’s related to a workplace accident.
Unless seniors have health care benefits as part of their retirement package or pay for third party medical insurance, they could be on the hook for hundreds of dollars in case of an emergency. The reality is that some people avoid calling 911 if there is an emergency, because they simply can’t afford it.
“Many people are coming from jobs where there wasn’t a pension plan other than CPP, or there wasn’t additional health insurance that follows them after they retire. There are not a lot of alternatives out there for people, so if you’re on a fixed income you have to make decisions. You’ll have to get the money from family or make decisions to do away with something else,” explains Schick. “The fact is that for seniors in particular, they are on a fixed income and often can’t earn more due to health concerns. The pension is their income and that’s it. That could be a real concern for people.”
In Saskatchewan, the wellbeing of seniors falls under the Ministry of Health and is found specifically within the Community Care branch. As a unified voice that represents more than 100,000 seniors, SSM currently has quarterly meetings with the Community Care branch, and meets directly with the minister every six months.
Anyone can help make ambulance fees part of Saskatchewan’s universal health care system by making their views known to government by writing letters, for example.
To learn more about how SSM is working to provide a better life for all seniors in Saskatchewan, and how you can provide support for this and many other issues, visit