Tammy O\u2019Brien has a brain tumour on her vestibular auditory nerve. <\/p>\n
In June of 2025, she learned the tumour was growing and needed Gamma Knife radiosurgery, a treatment not available in Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien booked the procedure in Edmonton and was informed by her surgeon\u2019s office that travel and accommodation would not be covered. She then contacted the province\u2019s Ministry of Health, where she said the minister\u2019s assistant confirmed the same information.<\/p>\n
During a phone conversation, O\u2019Brien said she explained to the minister\u2019s assistant that she is on a fixed income due to her disability and the travel costs would be a great hardship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien said she was given a list of charities to access and was then told at the end of the call that she could try crowdfunding to cover the costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was humiliating,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked, I felt dismissed and degraded.\u201d<\/p>\n
When O\u2019Brien returned from Edmonton, she sent the $854 bill to the health minister\u2019s office, asking for reimbursement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saved as much as I could on my flight. I stayed at the outpatient residence, so it was a low cost for the government,\u201d O\u2019Brien said, adding she was again told the costs would not be covered.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien said she wants the province to reconsider its policies when it comes to covering travel costs, especially for those on a fixed income.<\/p>\n
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health noted that while the treatment was paid for, it does not cover patients\u2019 travel expenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of the patient\u2019s treatment was covered. Saskatchewan health provides coverage for publicly funded essential medical services such as hospital and physician visits, even if these are received in another province,\u201d the ministry said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Ministry of Health does not provide coverage or reimbursement for travel, accommodations and meal expenses incurred while receiving medical treatment outside of the province or country. In certain circumstances, the Canada Revenue Agency may allow travel, accommodation, and meal expenses to be claimed as tax deductions under the Income Tax Act. There are also a number of community organizations throughout Saskatchewan that may offer assistance to individuals and families in similar situations who may require travel for care, such as Hope Air and the Kinsmen Foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sask. NDP critic Keith Jorgenson echoed O\u2019Brien\u2019s comments, stating travel accommodations should be reimbursed for patients who can\u2019t afford access to treatments or with life threatening conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we would hate to see is people dying because they can\u2019t go and get treatment in other provinces, and that\u2019s kind of the precedent that the government is setting,\u201d Jorgenson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNever, ever, should somebody have to set up a GoFundMe page in order to have a brain tumour removed,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s completely inappropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n
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