Ontario man gets hit with a $12K air ambulance bill from Alberta. Should you get insurance when travelling domestically?

Doug McGinley always purchased out-of-country travel insurance when travelling abroad, he told CTV News (1). But the Oakville, ON resident didn't usually purchase travel medical coverage when exploring within Canada — now he owes over $12,000 in ambulance fees to Alberta Health Services.

McGinley was driving through the prairies of Saskatchewan when he began to feel chest pains. Upon reaching Alberta, he was admitted into a hospital in Medicine Hat. Hospital staff determined McGinley had suffered or was suffering from a mild heart attack, CTV reported, and McGinley was flown by air ambulance to Calgary for emergency treatment. Following the scare, he received a bill from Alberta Health Services for $12,483, even after he was repeatedly told the treatments would be covered.

“I was told it was covered. They came back and said transportation is not covered under the Health Care Act and you owe us the money,” McGinley told the news outlet.

Why McGinley’s ambulance fees weren’t covered

McGinley’s story is confusing. Canada is known for its robust public healthcare system funded by Canadian tax dollars (2). Why then, did he have to pay out of pocket?

According to the Canadian government, eligible Canadians will be covered for “emergency hospital and physician services” even if you are out of your province of residence for a few weeks (2). However, some services that are not considered "medically necessary” may not be covered, it states, listing “ambulance services” as an example.

“Air ambulance services originating out-of-province are not an insured benefit under OHIP [Ontario Health Insurance Plan]” Alex Bittner, vice president of Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, told the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (3).

Because McGinley took an air ambulance from one Albertan hospital to the next, and since he wasn’t an Alberta resident, he had to pay for the service out of pocket.

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How travel insurance protects you

When travelling abroad, it is highly recommended you purchase travel medical insurance in case you require emergency medical assistance overseas. Canadian healthcare may not cover any medical bills for your emergency care and many overseas medical institutions can demand payment upfront (3). This can leave you shelling out thousands of dollars out-of-pocket during a vulnerable time.

Travel insurance covers these expenses instead of you having to pay out of pocket, up to a certain amount, depending on the plan you purchase. It can also include coverage for medical evacuations (4). However, travel insurance may not cover high-risk activities such as scuba-diving or parachuting, and may not cover any medical expenses you incur while visiting countries that are under a travel advisory warning from the government.

Inter-provincial travel insurance covers any costs that would not normally be covered under standard Canadian healthcare — including ambulance fees (6). Costs for this kind of insurance vary depending on the comprehension of the plan purchased. For instance, the Alberta Motor Association offers emergency medical coverage for $7 per day (6), whereas Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure, told CTV that the cost of “Travel Within Canada” insurance is “less than a dollar a day.”

Should you purchase inter-provincial travel coverage?

McGinley’s five-figure ambulance bill might make you nervous about an upcoming trip, and understandably so. But should you immediately jump to purchase insurance for short road trips or weekend getaways? Here are some tips to help you decide when to purchase travel insurance for domestic trips.

• Determine your risk. While you can’t predict having a medical emergency like a heart attack, activities like snowboarding on the Rockies do involve more risk. If you’re traversing the Great White North to find a new adrenaline high, travel insurance makes sense.
• Review your credit card perks. Purchasing travel insurance for a Canadian road trip might be unnecessary if you’re using a travel credit card that comes with an emergency medical plan. Be sure to review its terms and conditions closely.
• Think about your travel plans. Many insurance companies offer bundles coverage, such as medical and trip interruption/cancellation insurance. If you’re travelling across multiple provinces, it might be prudent to purchase a travel insurance bundle that includes inter-provincial medical coverage. Then you have peace of mind about aspects of your trip.

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Bottom line

Facing a $12,000 medical bill in a country known for its robust public healthcare system sounds like a contradiction in terms. But it just goes to show that even travelling across a few provinces can be financially risky if something goes wrong. Make sure you’re adequately prepared.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

CTV News (1); Canada.ca (2, 4); Travel Industry Council of Ontario (3); Canada Life (5);