New maximum provincial ambulance fee guidelines received from the Ministry of Health will be applied in Sunrise Health Region effective February 5, 2011. The last change was in 2006.
Ambulance operators will charge a maximum basic fee of $245 per call, up $25 from the previous charge. In addition to the basic fee, residents will be charged a per-kilometre fee of $2.30 per kilometre, up $0.10 per kilometre. Waiting time charges will remain the same.
Fees for seniors aged 65 and over will continue to be capped at $250 per ambulance trip and the province provides financial assistance to seniors and lower-income earners to help cover the cost of ambulance services. Costs can be eliminated or reduced through the Senior Citizens' Ambulance Assistance Program, Supplementary Health Benefits program and the Family Health Benefits program, which covers children who require emergency transport.
Unexpected ambulance costs are often challenging for people without financial assistance and residents should consider the purchase of private insurance coverage if they are not eligible for provincial assistance and, or if, their employment benefits do not include ambulance use. Ambulance use is a non-insured benefit of Saskatchewan Health and can be quite costly if the trip involves a large distance.
As an example a round trip of the ambulance from Yorkton to Regina would cost approximately $1,165.00 or more depending on the need for a nurse or paramedic escort or if waiting time is involved for the ambulance.
