Our British Columbia members asked us to address the inadequate out-of-country emergency services reimbursement rates of their provincial government. If you are a resident of British Columbia, join our grassroots advocacy campaign by writing to Colin Hansen, British Columbia Minister of Health Services. The method is simple!

We have drafted a letter that we encourage you to send to the minister by mail at the address below, by e-mail at colin.hansen.mla@leg.bc.ca, or by fax at (250) 356-9587. You can read this letter below and copy it, or download the letter and print it. Feel free to personalize our advocacy letter with your own experience, but please send the CSA a copy, so we can measure the success of our effort.

Many of our members in British Columbia know that their provincial reimbursement rate of $75 for out-of-country emergency in-patient services is the lowest in Canada. Furthermore, British Columbia does not reimburse emergency outpatient hospital services, a policy that does not recognize the importance of all stages in an emergency patient's recovery. Only by speaking with a strong and united voice can we fight such inadequate and reprehensible government policies.

Now is the time to act!

Copy the CSA letter to Minister Hansen from the text below:



Date:


The Honourable Colin Hansen
Minister of Health Services
Province of British Columbia
Stn Prov Govt, PO Box 9050
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2


SUBJECT: Out-of-country emergency services reimbursement


Dear Minister,

I am a snowbird and a member of the Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA). The CSA is a national non-partisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization dedicated to actively defending and improving the rights and privileges of travelling Canadians. As a snowbird, I often travel to foreign destinations to pursue a healthy lifestyle and alleviate the detrimental effects of Canadian winters.

I am writing to request that British Columbia comply with Section 11 (1)(b)(ii) of the Canada Health Act that requires a province or territory to pay the same amount for out-of-country health services as for similar health services within the province or territory.

The British Columbia reimbursement rate of $75 for out-of-country emergency in-patient services is the lowest in Canada. It has not increased in over three decades, and reflects neither inflation nor the rising costs of health care. Furthermore, British Columbia does not reimburse emergency outpatient hospital services, a policy that does not recognize the importance of all stages in an emergency patient's recovery. The result is that I am not deriving the benefit of my tax dollars as a British Columbian, and I am paying higher private travel health insurance premiums.

I believe that my government is violating the longstanding spirit of the Canada Health Act. I also believe that the declarations of support by your office for the Canada Health Act are inconsistent with provincial policy. While in Opposition, Premier Campbell wrote "a BC Liberal Government will ensure that BC health care is universal, accessible, portable, comprehensive and publicly administered, consistent with the five principles of the Canada Health Act." Minister Hansen, I am still waiting for my government to keep its promise. Please advise me as to what action your ministry intends to take on this serious matter.

Yours truly,




CSA member