Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Many people in the Northwest Territories travel outside the North on a regular basis. Northerners are well-travelled folks, not the least of which the people in this very room. Being stuck away from home – I’m not one of those, though – injured or ill and finding out that you do not have medical travel insurance can be a very, very costly lesson.
Many NWT residents still don’t seem to know that the NWT Health Care Plan does not cover medical travel expenses that originate outside of the Northwest Territories. In Canada, residents covered by NWT Health Care will have necessary medical care paid for either directly or through reimbursement, but this coverage does not include medical travel costs, which is the expense for things like medevac, air or ground ambulance, the cost of transfers between hospitals, escorts, hotel or meals, or any other expense related to an accident or an illness when this originates outside of the Northwest Territories. Those fees could well run into the thousands of dollars. Emergency ambulance services for Inuit and treaty cardholders would be covered in some situations, but other expenses and flights home are not covered.
The story could be even worse for anyone travelling outside of Canada without medical travel insurance. Our travellers are only reimbursed at NWT rates for their necessary medical care. Let’s say the fee in a foreign country for necessary care from a doctor or in hospital was $1,000. If the NWT rate for that same service is only $250, then you are going to be out $750.
Our residents travelling abroad also have to pay for their own ambulances, travel, accommodations and similar costs. A medevac from another country, or even within Canada, is very expensive. Any time that you need a plane or an ambulance, you are looking at a very large bill.
I would remind everyone, if you are planning on travelling outside of the NWT, you should purchase medical travel insurance prior to travelling. Such coverage is available through many outlets such as banks or insurance companies, and can be purchased on-line or over the phone. You can purchase plans that cover you for one trip or several trips or for a year at a time. It is a very modest cost, especially compared to the expenses incurred in the case of required transportation costs of an accident or illness while travelling.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Do not fall into the tragic situation and financially devastating situation when you least expect it. It is up to you to protect yourself by buying independent medical travel insurance. Please purchase insurance for yourself and your family, your students that are out going to school, and remind your friends and neighbours of the risk of travelling outside of the Northwest Territories without medical travel insurance.
