Debates of October 20, 2006 (day 12)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This morning I would like to speak about health care plans, Mr. Speaker. It’s something that every employer, including this government, counts on very heavily to be a major benefit and a part of recruiting and keeping people and helping them through their lives.

Mr. Speaker, up until this summer, when employees of this government needed doctor-prescribed medical supplies, there are things like materials that help them manage diabetes or perhaps walkers or mobility assists or specialized dressings, they were able to get good service through our life insurance or our medical insurance provider and pharmacies. In other words, they paid 20 percent upfront and the rest of the bill was looked after through direct billing. However, a change in service this summer, Mr. Speaker, has caused considerable inconvenience for some employees and their families who need these medically prescribed supplies. It’s a large inconvenience for some of them when the cost of these supplies runs into several hundred dollars a month. They have to front this cost and then apply to our Inuvik office for reimbursement. All of this takes time, Mr. Speaker, and adds a considerable new paper load on our own health care system.

So I wanted to bring this to the attention of the Assembly, Mr. Speaker, because our health care plans are something we value very highly and when we get this kind of interference or inconvenience, it’s something we need to put our attention to because it does have such an impact on some families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.