• Insured Health & Hearing Services
• Health Care Coverage for students
• Children's Drug and Optical Program
• Chronic Disease Program
• Coverage Outside Yukon
• Hearing Services
• Insured Health Benefits
• Medical Travel
• Pharmacare
• Yukon Health Card
• Yukon Organ Donation Program

Coverage Outside Yukon

Whether you leave the territory for business, a vacation or to visit families, you could be in for a severe financial shock if you have to see a doctor or go to the hospital while traveling.  If you are in an accident or become ill while traveling outside Yukon and need air or ground ambulance services, please note that your Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan does not provide coverage for these services, or for the cost of any related services such as hospital transfer, escorts, and return transportation charges.  Even if you are making a day trip to Skagway, Alaska or Atlin, B.C., you should visit your insurance agent to make sure you have adequate health care insurance.
 

Travel must originate in Yukon in order to be eligible for medical travel benefits.
 

Regardless of where you go in the world, if you maintain your Yukon residency and your registration with the Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan, you have basic coverage for medically necessary hospital and physician services. However, there are limitations to the coverage which you should know about before you begin your journey.

Restrictions on travel coverage

Travel for the purpose of receiving medical treatment is not insured if an accident or illness occurs while you are out of the Yukon. This applies equally to the United States, Europe or any other Canadian province.

If you need an ambulance or air medevac, even to return to Whitehorse from Skagway, the full cost will be your responsibility.

An accident or illness in Haines, Alaska could mean a medical evacuation to Whitehorse at a cost to you in excess of $1500.

Travel outside Canada

There are financial limitations to your coverage for medical or hospital services outside Canada. The additional charges are your responsibility. Costs for treating an illness or injury in the United States, Europe or any foreign jurisdiction may be significantly greater than your basic Yukon physician and hospital insurance coverage. The amount you will be responsible for could amount to thousands of dollars. Purchasing additional health care insurance when traveling is a good idea.

Physician services: doctor fees outside Canada are paid at Yukon rates. The actual rates charged by a physician may be higher. You will be required to pay the difference. Physicians outside Canada are not required to accept your health care card as proof they will be paid. You may be asked to pay in advance.

Hospital charges: American hospitals, especially in Alaska, Hawaii and western states charge a much higher rate than the Yukon for each day of care. The extra amount can exceed $1000 per day.

Travel within Canada

Extra coverage should also be purchased when traveling to other parts of Canada. In some areas, physicians will bill you directly for the medical services they provide to you. Other doctors have chosen to extra-bill patients, which means you will be asked to pay the difference between the approved provincial rate and the physician’s rate.

Other medical travel costs could include hospital transfers, air ambulance charges, escort charges and the cost of return transportation to the Yukon.

If you cannot present a valid Yukon Health Care Insurance Plan card, out-of-Yukon hospitals and physicians may ask you to pay directly for their services, or they may bill you instead of the Yukon government. Physicians and hospitals in most parts of Canada will accept your health care card as proof they will be paid.

Before you go

Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself:

• Check your existing coverage and its limitations. You may have supplementary benefits through a union or employer group plan.
• See your travel/insurance agent, to arrange for extra health care coverage. Consider trip cancellation coverage, medical and hospital fees, ambulance and other medical travel. Be sure you and your family are covered for illness and disability as well as accidents.
• Check your health care insurance card to make sure information is accurate. If it is not, contact the Health Services Branch before you go.
• Make sure you carry your extra insurance policies with you.

For more information, call 867-667-5209.