Sask. family welcomes compensation for out-of-province medical costs

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For Alyssa Weber, $2,000 to help cover travel expenses will make a difference for her family as they prepare to travel to Toronto to get specialist care for their son.

But uncertainty remains.

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“Hopefully it will help us to get down there,” said Weber from Saskatoon on Thursday. “We’re still not sure what’s going to happen next week.”

This week, the province announced it would cover up to $2,000 when families must seek medical treatment outside of Saskatchewan for their children 16 years old and younger.

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“Expenses covered include the cost of transportation by airline or car, hotels or stays with family members and meals up to $2,000 per trip,” said a government news release announcing the program.

Weber and her 16-year-old son, Zachary Engen, came to the legislative building in late April to describe their experience seeking out-of-province medical treatment. Engen was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis when he was 12. The condition causes inflammation and contraction of the esophagus, making it hard for the young man to even swallow water and forcing him to rely on a gastrostomy tube to eat.

Currently, there are no pediatric gastroenterologists working in Saskatchewan.

“I’m glad us coming there helped them realize, helped them to do something until they get the specialists here,” said Weber.

Since that visit, Weber says “things have been rough.” Engen hasn’t been able to go to school and “is having trouble swallowing again. He’s choking a lot on water and saliva. His esophagus is closing again.”

While the program is a welcome change, she said she’s anxious about what the future holds.

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“My anxiety is so high. What’s going to happen with Zach?” Weber said. “What happens when he’s 17? What happens when he’s 18?”

Earlier this week, the province said it is still determining whether clients on Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) will be able to access the financial assistance.

For Carnduff resident Tim Raymond, it’s something he’d like to see.

“I think it’d be a good thing to expand it. I’m doing everything in Manitoba now,” said Raymond on Friday.

“I spent 14 months waiting for an MRI here. I got it in three months in Manitoba. It’s like two different countries.”

Raymond is on the SIS program and says money is tight. He’s been waiting years for a double hip replacement and said the government only pays $0.27 per kilometre for his travel from Carnduff to Brandon, Man. for treatment and appointments. Having first gone for a surgery consultation in-province in 2020, Raymond said he’s still waiting, and has gone out of Saskatchewan to get help.

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He said the wait in Saskatchewan has been incredibly frustrating and wishes, more than anything, that surgical wait times were lower and access to MRIs easier.

“I was told I’m not a priority,” he said. “I’m in pain, constant pain.”

Weber said it was heartening to hear about the program, but said more is needed as budgets and belts tighten in the face of medical expenses.

“We weren’t asking for millions of dollars, we just need help,” said Weber. “We’re barely getting by.”

The family flies to Toronto on May 7.

alsalloum@postmedia.com

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