Out of country, out of pocket
CMAJ 2000;163(2):197
Nova Scotia will soon make patients from outside the country pay their medical costs before leaving hospital, regardless of whether they're insured. "We will be establishing a policy for full recovery, plus premium," says Health Minister Jamie Muir. That premium is about double the normal cost of a hospital stay. In Halifax, this might total $2400 a day for out-of-country visitors.
Presently, patients from outside Canada are not given a bill. If they are from a country with universal medical coverage, their government is billed directly. If a patient has personal health insurance, the bill is sent to the insurer. Under the new policy, slated to take effect next year, Nova Scotia will become the first province to ask for its money up front. The move is one of many being driven by the province's poor fiscal situation; in an era when most provinces are running budget surpluses, Nova Scotia still faces deficits.
Muir says these patients will not get preferential treatment over Nova Scotians. However, if foreign visitors become ill in Nova Scotia and can't afford to pay, they will still get medical treatment. — Donalee Moulton, Halifax
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