B.C. man collapsed, was diagnosed with cancer, then got a $3,700 bill
When Andy collapsed at work last month, he was grateful paramedics rushed him to Richmond Hospital where he was quickly seen by doctors.
When they diagnosed him with aggressive lung cancer hours later, he was shocked, but it was the handling of his medical coverage that left him stunned and deeply upset.
“Within 10 minutes they were asking me about my (Medical Services Plan),” said the Richmond resident, who asked his full name not be used out of concern it could impact the situation.
Andy said that he provided his Personal Health ID, which he’d used in the last few years when getting COVID-19 vaccinations, and was told he was not enrolled in MSP and that he’d have to pay for his visit. He provided the March 14 bill to CTV News, totalling $3,738.11 for using the emergency department, a doctor’s assessment, CT scan and “thoracic viscera.”
“I started crying,” Andy said, describing the encounter as accusatory and particularly frustrating since he hasn’t needed to use the medical system in decades. “Who cares if I haven't used it? That's on you guys. They made me feel like I'm some illegal alien.”
He has been unsure if his cancer treatment would come with subsequent bills that would dwarf the emergency room visit.
Grappling with the system
Andy’s sister tried to navigate the bureaucracy behind the health-care system and find out how his coverage could be non-existent when he’d lived in B.C. for decades and the province had eliminated user premiums in 2020, meaning he couldn’t have missed any payments.
“They have no explanation why he was dropped and they kept asking me if he was born in Canada, which he was,” said Gracie MacDonald. “He never goes to the doctor and he's never sick, so he just assumed everything's good. How would you know? I don't know how you would and it's a hard way to find out.”
MacDonald said one of the MSP call-takers made a reference to a “wrong address” and that Andy’s housing has been inconsistent and precarious, but that doesn’t explain why the full-time worker wouldn’t be covered. She says they were told it would take months to initiate coverage.
“When he went to St. Paul's about his biopsy there was some speculation that they should wait till he gets his MSP number and the surgeon decided it was urgent and they needed to go ahead with it anyway,” she said, expressing gratitude that they diagnosed his cancer and rushed him into chemotherapy to give him the best chance of survival.
Health ministry responds
CTV News spent two days communicating with the Ministry of Health about Andy’s situation and how smoothly MSP coverage is provided; hundreds of thousands of people have moved to the province in the last year and they must apply for coverage, which applies after someone has lived here for at least three months.
The health minister did not agree to an interview, but his staff said that Andy was approved for “retroactive coverage” going back to March 1, meaning he would not be responsible for the emergency bill or any subsequent cancer treatments. Despite their inquiries, they said they couldn’t figure out why Andy’s coverage had been cancelled except for some “missing documents” noted in his file dating back to 2015.
Andy and MacDonald are both grateful the ministry reacted after their interviews and are feeling optimistic about his treatment and the care he’s received.
“They’ve been overwhelmingly beautiful,” he said. “Every other doctor and nurse that I've spoken to has just been amazing and I'm feeling in great spirits about my treatment.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.