Latest news with #OntarioHealthInsurancePlan
Hamilton Spectator
18-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
A Toronto woman was hurt in a violent hit-and-run in Texas. Now she's facing $100k in medical bills
A 22-year-old Toronto woman is recovering from a brazen hit-and-run in Dallas, Texas — stuck in the United States with a shattered foot, emotional scars and more than $100,000 in medical bills. Tesnim Hussein says she did not have travel insurance. She never thought about needing it. 'I was really stressed,' she told the Star. 'It's a lot of money to have to pull out of nowhere. We came for just a quick trip, to see our family, to have fun, and now I'll end up staying here for a month.' On July 1, Hussein travelled south for the 27th annual Harari Sports and Cultural Festival, a weeklong celebration of her Harari culture, community and history, held in different cities worldwide. The event is something she looks forward to each year, a chance for her to connect with her roots and catch up with family. This year, the timing made it extra special — Hussein and her cousin had just graduated from university, and she'd recently been promoted to manager at the fast-food restaurant where she works. 'I had a week of training left before I went for my vacation,' she said. But on the night of July 3, the course of that trip — and her summer — changed dramatically. After a soccer game at the University of Texas (UT) at Dallas campus, Hussein and her cousin, Khadija Ahmed, 22, said they were struck in the nearby parking lot by the driver of a white sedan. Before they could react, the women were thrown onto the hood and then slammed onto the pavement. As the car drove off, multiple passengers — they appeared to be teenagers — rolled down the windows and 'recklessly' launched fireworks into the crowd, according to Hussein and three other witnesses. A spokesperson for the UT Dallas police department said the driver, a 17-year-old boy, has been arrested and charged with failing to stop and render aid at an incident resulting in serious bodily harm. The investigation is ongoing. The incident left Hussein with a crushed left foot, four dislocated bones, a fracture and bruising and scars along the side of her body. She has undergone two surgeries and requires a third in the coming months. Doctors have told her she cannot fly home to Toronto until the end of July because it's too risky — she could develop blood clots. The physical toll is one thing, but the financial burden adds another challenge for Hussein and her family. As a Canadian citizen, Hussein said her Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not come close to covering every dollar of her U.S. hospital care. Without travel insurance, she and her family are now responsible for more than $100,000 (U.S.) She said her situation is an unfortunate reminder of the importance of buying additional protection when travelling abroad. 'Not buying travel insurance was a mistake I think a lot of people make, not because we're careless, but because you just don't expect the worst to happen,' she said. Hussein said she's travelled plenty before without any issues, and thought she'd be fine this time, too. 'It never crossed my mind that something so serious could happen.' By sharing her story, she hopes it helps others think twice and protect themselves. 'But more than that,' she said, 'I hope people can understand how quickly life can change and how much support really matters when it does.' Will McAleer, executive director of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada, described the U.S. as 'the most expensive place on the planet' for receiving medical care. He said a Code Blue emergency, which usually means a patient is having a cardiac or respiratory arrest, can cost as much as $10,000 a day or even per hour. OHIP's Travellers Program can cover some out-of-country emergency services, but it's limited. According to its website, the treatment or service must meet specific criteria, including being medically necessary and received at a licensed hospital or health facility. The plan says it will reimburse outpatient visits at $50 Canadian each day or the amount billed by the hospital, whichever is less. It can also pay up to $400 Canadian each day for in-hospital services, depending on the level of care required. Even if a patient is eligible for that higher payment, McAleer said the coverage amounts to a very small portion of the total costs incurred in places like the U.S. It also takes a long time to get reimbursed, he said. 'We know that, on an average, you might get three to five per cent of the cost of a medical emergency,' subject to that cap, McAleer said. Hussein was discharged from the hospital last week and is recovering at a relative's home in Dallas until she can return to Toronto. Recounting the events that unfolded the night of July 3, she told the Star she doesn't remember certain parts. She's looked to Ahmed and other witnesses to help fill in the gaps. It was around 11:30 p.m. Dozens of people had finished watching the final match in a soccer tournament and were headed to their cars. Hussein and Ahmed were chatting with other attendees while their cousins went to get the car. Just as the women were walking to meet them, a white sedan with tinted windows started trailing slowly behind them. 'I thought maybe they were trying to manoeuvre around the people,' Hussein said. 'It was a little crowded.' Her cousin, Ahmed, noticed the glare from the headlights. 'Oh my god,' she recalled thinking. 'This car is so bright.' That's when the car bumped them. Just as Ahmed turned around, she said the car accelerated again. This time, it was much faster. She and Hussein rolled onto the hood and hit the windshield, but the driver didn't stop. 'They just kept going,' she said. Suddenly, the driver slammed on the brakes 'really hard,' said Sara Ali, 22, who was watching the incident unfold from her car just metres away. Before Ali could do anything, she said passengers in the sedan launched 'huge fireworks' from the windows into the crowds. At this point, Ahmed said she was on the ground. Her hijab had come off. She remembers looking up and seeing the headlights. Worried the driver was going to strike again, she said she screamed at Hussein to 'get up' and ran for cover behind another vehicle. Hussein couldn't move; she was 'screaming in pain' recalled Ahmed. The driver of the sedan then reversed and sped off. Bystanders immediately called police and rushed to help Hussein. Weeks later, Hussein and Ahmed said they are still in shock, unable to comprehend why the suspects would do such a thing — and why she and her cousin were the targets. 'Just throwing fireworks is one thing, and then to hit someone (with a car) and keep on going. There was no remorse,' Ahmed said. Hussein said she hopes justice is served to prevent a similar incident from happening. 'If they could do that to us, they can do that again.' In the wake of the incident, Hussein's family has organized a GoFundMe page to help offset the rising medical bills. It raised more than $55,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. In the message on the fundraiser page, the organizer stated that the donations would help cover the costs of surgeries and medical procedures, the hospital stay, post-operative recovery and mobility support, including crutches and therapy. 'Tesnim didn't ask for this,' the message reads. 'She was a victim of a reckless, public act — something no one should ever have to go through. Her story has been witnessed by many, and now we ask you to be a part of her healing journey.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Vancouver Sun
27-06-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
Ontario ends legal battle to avoid covering surgery for non-binary resident who wants a vagina while keeping a penis
A non-binary Ontario resident's years-long battle for a publicly funded, out-of-country surgery to have a vagina surgically created while maintaining a penis is over. The Ontario government says it won't ask the Supreme Court of Canada to review a lower court's ruling in April declaring that the novel phallus-preserving surgery qualifies as an insured service under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) — the latest win for the patient, identified only as K.S. The province had until June 23 to seek leave to appeal the April court ruling to the country's highest court. In an email to National Post this week, a spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General said the government won't pursue the case. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It's not clear how requests for similar niche gender surgeries will be decided or adjudicated in the future. The lengthy legal battle between K.S., who was born male, dates back to 2022. K.S. does not identify as either exclusively female or male, but is female dominant and uses feminine or neutral pronounces (she/her/they/them). According to court records, K.S. 'has experienced significant gender dysphoria since her teenage years, as well as physical, mental and economic hardships to transition her gender expression to align with her gender identity.' In 2022, her Ottawa doctor requested pre-approval from OHIP for a vaginoplasty — the surgical creation of a vaginal cavity — but without a penectomy, which is when the penis is removed. In a letter to OHIP, K.S.' doctor said that her patient 'identifies as trans feminine but not completely on the 'feminine' end of the spectrum and for this reason it's important for her to have a vagina while maintaining a penis.' A vaginoplasty without a penectomy isn't available in Canada and, therefore, the funding was to have the procedure done at the Crane Center for Transgender Surgery in Austin, Texas, which 'has an excellent reputation (for gender-affirming surgery) and especially with these more complicated procedures,' the doctor wrote to OHIP. OHIP denied the coverage, arguing a vaginoplasty without removal of the penis isn't listed as a separate, specific procedure under its schedule of benefits, and therefore didn't qualify for coverage. K.S. appealed OHIP's denial of coverage to a tribunal. K.S. testified to concerns about the risk of urinary incontinence if she went through with a penectomy, 'the risk of losing the ability to experience an orgasm and the concern that removing her penis would invalidate her non-binary identity,' according to court documents. The review board overturned OHIP's refusal, arguing that vaginoplasty and penectomy are listed as separate, sex reassignment procedures covered by OHIP, and that a vaginoplasty need not inherently include removal of the penis. OHIP appealed to the Ontario Divisional Court, but lost again when a three-member panel of judges unanimously backed the tribunal's position. That court also said that denying the procedure would infringe on K.S.' Charter-protected rights. The court concluded that insisting that a transgender or non-binary person born a biological male 'remove their penis to receive state funding for a vaginoplasty would be inconsistent with the values of equality and security of the person.' OHIP appealed again, losing a third time to the Ontario Court of Appeal which, in another unanimous decision released in April, dismissed OHIP's appeal and confirmed the lower court's ruling. The three-member panel of judges for the appeal court said a penectomy was 'neither recommended by K.S.' health professionals nor desired by K.S.' and that it was up to the drafters of OHIP's list of insured services to describe each sex reassignment procedure 'in broad or narrow terms. 'Here, the description chosen, 'vaginoplasty,' is broad enough to encompass different techniques,' the appeal court said. 'There is no suggestion that the existence of different techniques of performing a vaginoplasty detract from the more basic notion that the procedure recommended for K.S. is still vaginoplasty.' Egale Canada, which appeared as an intervener for K.S., has described the surgical care K.S. sought as one that 'challenges expectations and stereotypes of gender and surgical transition.' 'An interpretation of the eligibility criteria for gender-affirming surgeries that relies on binary stereotypes is discriminatory and denies equal dignity and autonomy to nonbinary people,' the LGBTQ rights group has said. K.S.'s lawyer, reached Friday, referred National Post to previous comments, made after a prior victory in the courts. 'K.S. is pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision, which is now the third unanimous ruling confirming that her gender affirming surgery is covered under Ontario's Health Insurance Act and its regulations,' John McIntyre said. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
27-06-2025
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Ontario ends legal battle to avoid covering surgery for non-binary resident who wants a vagina while keeping a penis
Article content A non-binary Ontario resident's years-long battle for a publicly funded, out-of-country surgery to have a vagina surgically created while maintaining a penis is over. The Ontario government says it won't ask the Supreme Court of Canada to review a lower court's ruling in April declaring that the novel phallus-preserving surgery qualifies as an insured service under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) — the latest win for the patient, identified only as K.S.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Posthaste: Ready for summer travel? Your checklist may have some holes
Most Canadians looking to stay closer to home this summer season are doing so without travel insurance despite the risks. Half of the 73 per cent of Canadians intending to travel this summer are looking to stay in Canada as the country faces a trade war with the United States, according to a recent survey by Toronto-Dominion Bank. Still, 49 per cent of Canadian travellers aren't planning to buy travel insurance for their domestic travel, and just 42 per cent plan to buy just emergency travel medical coverage. Most Canadians are skipping out on travel insurance because they believe they are already covered through their provincial coverage, employer or credit card, but, as TD points out, passing on travel insurance leaves some holes in coverage that can leave you exposed. 'Planning for the unexpected is just as important as planning your trip,' Anthony Ricci, associate vice-president of Life, Health & Credit Protection at TD Insurance, said in a release. 'Don't assume your existing provincial or territorial health plan is enough — travel medical insurance can fill critical gaps.' TD points to an example in Nova Scotia, where Ontarians solely covered through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) could be on the hook for more than $700 for an ambulance ride in that province. 'There's an assumption that because you're in Canada, you don't have the same risks as going abroad, but that simply may not be the case,' Ricci said. 'Canada is a very big country — it's a longer distance to fly from St. John's to Vancouver than it is from Toronto to Paris — and a lot can happen to upset your vacation in that distance.' Still, domestic travel insurance is growing in popularity. The British Columbia Automobile Association last week said purchases of travel insurance for trips within Canada have climbed 22 per cent this year, while similar purchases for U.S. travel have fallen 18 per cent. To support the influx of Canadians exploring this summer, the federal government announced the 'Canada Strong Pass,' which includes free admission to national parks and national historic sites, free admission to museums for children under the age of 17 and free VIA Rail travel for those under 17. 'Our Canada Strong Pass aims to make it even easier for families to choose Canada — to discover the beauty of our country, connect with nature, and enjoy our culture all summer long,' Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a release. TD recommends checking what your coverage entails before your vacation, bringing all insurance documents with you on the trip and checking with your insurance provider to learn about what limitations your policy may have. to get Posthaste delivered straight to your sales fell 1.1 per cent in May in what is considered another sign Canadians are pulling back from spending as tariffs weigh down the economy. The decline marked the biggest such fall in a year and more than reversed the 0.3 per cent gain from April. The Canadian economy is expected to stall on contract this quarter. Read more here. Toronto tech week begins Today's Data: U.S. existing home sales for May, Canadian travel between countries for AprilThe national 'emergency' that is hitting Canadians where it hurts — in their paycheques Canadian retail sales fell 1.1% in May, largest drop in a year Will the conflicts in the Middle East affect mortgage rates? Charles St-Arnaud: Carney's 'One Canadian Economy' a much-needed move in the right direction, but questions remain For beneficiaries of a while who are stressed out about the lengthy process, it's important to understand it can take more than a year to process a will due to immense backlog in some areas. Concerns can be sent to the executor of a will, but patience helps in these situations. Read more here. Are you worried about having enough for retirement? Do you need to adjust your portfolio? Are you starting out or making a change and wondering how to build wealth? Are you trying to make ends meet? Drop us a line at wealth@ with your contact info and the gist of your problem and we'll find some experts to help you out while writing a Family Finance story about it (we'll keep your name out of it, of course). Want to learn more about mortgages? Mortgage strategist Robert McLister's Financial Post column can help navigate the complex sector, from the latest trends to financing opportunities you won't want to miss. Plus check his mortgage rate page for Canada's lowest national mortgage rates, updated daily. Visit the Financial Post's YouTube channel for interviews with Canada's leading experts in business, economics, housing, the energy sector and more. Today's Posthaste was written by Ben Cousins with additional reporting from Financial Post staff, The Canadian Press and Bloomberg. Have a story idea, pitch, embargoed report, or a suggestion for this newsletter? Email us at posthaste@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Niagara Falls MPP backs cross-party push to extend OHIP for prostate cancer testing
Momentum continues to grow for Wayne Gates' push to extend OHIP coverage for prostate cancer screening. On Thursday, the New Democrat supported independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady's motion to extend Ontario Health Insurance Plan coverage for PSA testing — a cause Gates has championed at Queen's Park for the past six years. 'This isn't about politics — it's about saving lives,' said Gates. 'Every year, thousands of men are diagnosed too late because cost is a barrier to early testing. We can fix that. I'm proud to support MPP Brady's motion and I hope every member in the legislature does the same.' Brady, the province's lone independent MPP, representing nearby Haldimand-Norfolk, said she has previously stood and called on the government to support Gates' effort. 'Seeing no movement on this initiative and inspired by the longtime calls for this important change from my colleague Wayne Gates … I have renewed the call with the motion asking the Ford government to cover the cost of PSA tests through OHIP when referred by a health-care provider.' Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady. The call to action comes just ahead of Father's Day — a time Gates said is 'perfect' for raising awareness of men's health. He said prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men. PSA testing now is not covered by OHIP unless there are symptoms evident, often making it too late for early intervention, said Gates. The motion wants OHIP to cover the cost of tests for patients referred by a health-care provider, saving them the roughly $40 charged by private labs in Ontario. Although earlier readings of Gates' bill won all-party support, the government defeated the bill last year. Canadian Cancer Society's Dr. Stuart Edmonds. A cancer diagnosis costs Canadians an average of $33,000 in their lifetime — on top of that, there are other out-of-pocket expenses like PSA testing, said Dr. Stuart Edmonds, executive vice-president of mission research and advocacy at the Canadian Cancer Society. He said prostate cancer strikes one in eight Canadian men. 'We believe that early detection of prostate cancer shouldn't come with a price tag. The question shouldn't be, 'Can you afford the test?' It should be, 'Do you need it?'' Gates said the latest motion will be debated at a later date, adding it's significant to have Brady — a woman — at the forefront of the effort. 'I think it's really important because it affects the entire family — it may be men that get prostate cancer, but it affects their spouses, the kids. It's good news for us as we try to put more pressure on the government to do this.' He said there's also growing support from firefighter groups across Ontario. 'Firefighters are more likely to get prostate cancer than the general public by 1.41 per cent, so this is now one that the provincial association and the local firefighters are now raising the awareness of trying to get it covered.' Gates said continued awareness is also important. 'Early detection is the key. We think it's a very important motion. I'm glad that it's supported by the Liberals. I'm glad that it's supported by the Greens. I'm glad it's supported by Bobbi Ann. Let's make this the year we get it done — together.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
