Saying there are serious problems with the Northern Health Travel Grant, an Ontario New Democrat MPP has introduced a bill to review and improve the program.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan’s Judith Monteith-Farrell says constituents complain the grant isn’t covering their travel costs, reimbursement rates are too low and wait times to be reimbursed are too long.
Her bill would establish an advisory committee to consult with northern families and health care workers and submit recommendations to the ministry to fix the program.
“People across northern Ontario have been clear that the Northern Health Travel Grant isn’t working for them, and that there are serious problems with it,” NDP MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan Judith Monteith-Farrell said.
“That the current travel grant program expects low-income families and seniors on a fixed income to pay for travel costs upfront and out-of-pocket is unacceptable. For many, this is not just difficult but impossible, especially given the long delays to get the money back.
“No one should have to rack up credit card debt because of a health care appointment, or have to go without seeing a doctor because they cannot afford it,” said Monteith-Farrell.
“By fixing the travel grant, we can ensure more people get the care they need, when they need it. Being sick is stressful enough; it’s time to fix the Travel Grant so Northerners can focus on getting better, rather than worrying about how they’ll afford to get medical care.”

(File photo: Queens Park photo courtesy www.citynews.ca)

Filed under: Judith Monteith-Farrell, Northern Health Travel Grant