This boy hurt in collision didn’t have an Indian status card, so Ottawa wouldn’t pay for medical evacuation
The family of a seven-year-old boy from Deer Lake First Nation is calling for changes to Ottawa’s Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program after he was denied medical transportation coverage due to not having an Indian status card. Jordan Harper was involved in a serious accident in January that resulted in him being airlifted to the Hamilton Health Sciences Centre for surgery to insert metal rods in his leg. However, when it came time to have the rods removed, his family faced challenges with NIHB staff in booking a scheduled medical evacuation from Deer Lake to Thunder Bay.
Jordan’s family was informed that he wasn’t covered under NIHB because he didn’t have an Indian status card, which his late grandmother had been trying to obtain for him. Despite the urgency of the care Jordan needed, an exception couldn’t be made while his family completed the application process for his status Indian card. The family had to wait over a week for a solution, during which time the Oji-Cree First Nation’s tribal council, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, stepped in to cover the costs of sending Jordan to Thunder Bay for his surgery.
The NIHB program provides coverage for First Nations and Inuit people across Canada for health benefits that aren’t covered under other programs. To qualify, individuals must be registered under the Indian Act, recognized by an Inuit land claim organization, or be a child under two years old with an eligible parent.
The miscommunications and challenges faced by Jordan’s family in accessing medical transportation highlight the need for improvements to the NIHB program. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has acknowledged the issues and is working to enhance the program’s capacity in the Sioux Lookout area. Steps taken include increasing staffing, creating a new senior manager position, and streamlining processes to respond to medical transportation requests more efficiently.
In addition to addressing challenges with medical transportation, there is a need for more support for individuals once they arrive in urban centers for care. Health-care providers become hesitant to schedule follow-up appointments when clients miss initial appointments due to travel issues. The Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority offers support services like accommodations, transportation, translators, and patient navigators to assist individuals in navigating the health-care system.
Despite the challenges faced by Jordan and his family, he is now recovering well following his surgery in Thunder Bay. His story serves as a reminder of the obstacles that individuals in remote communities face in accessing health care. By sharing their experience, Jordan’s family hopes to raise awareness of these challenges and advocate for improvements to ensure that no other family goes through similar situations.
