Pediatric Out-of-Province Travel Assistance Program
Saskatchewan pediatric patients (children 16 years of age and younger) and a parent or guardian may be eligible for assistance with the costs associated with travelling outside of the province for medical treatment.
If a health care provider refers a pediatric patient to a Saskatchewan specialist and they determine the child requires a medically required service or diagnostic test which is not provided in Saskatchewan, the child may be referred outside of Saskatchewan for treatment.
The child's specialist may submit an application on their behalf for financial assistance with the costs of travelling to the appointment.
To be eligible for reimbursement, all requests must be approved by the Ministry of Health prior to receiving treatment.
Approved pediatric patients and one parent or guardian will be eligible for a combined reimbursement of expenses up to a maximum of $2,000 per trip.
The Pediatric Out-of-Province Travel Assistance Program is not intended to cover all costs but to reduce the financial impact on children and their families who have to seek medical treatment or diagnostic testing out-of-province when the medical services are not provided in Saskatchewan.
1. What type of expenses are covered?
Costs for transportation, accommodations and per diem expenses in relation to accessing medically required care outside of the province are eligible for reimbursement. This includes:
- Transportation Costs:
- One (1) round trip economy airfare for both patient and a parent or guardian ( paid receipts and boarding passes required)
- Travel by private vehicle is reimbursed at $0.5496 per kilometre and is calculated to/from either the patient's home or transferring medical facility within Saskatchewan (no receipts required).
- Economy travel by other commercial carriers such as rail or bus (receipts required for reimbursement).
- Ground and air ambulance expenses (receipts required).
- Accommodation Costs:
- Accommodation expenses are eligible to be submitted for reimbursement for all trips where overnight stay is required to receive treatment. Hospitals often keep referral lists of nearby approved accommodations that offer discounts to patients and/or families.
- If no receipt is provided due to staying with relatives, friends, etc., the allowable claim is $35.00 per night.
- Per Diem Expenses:
- This includes expenses such as meals, gratuities, taxis, etc.
- Per diem claims are to a maximum $61.00 per person per day for the patient and one parent / guardian (maximum $122/day combined).
- No receipts are required to request reimbursement of daily per diems.
Note: The Ministry of Health does not reimburse any value of travel points used to purchase tickets.
2. How do I know if I am eligible for reimbursement?
To be eligible, a health care professional must refer the child to a specialist or specialist program in Saskatchewan. The child must be assessed as requiring a medical or diagnostic service that is not provided in Saskatchewan. The specialist must send an application explaining why the medical treatment is required to be received outside of Saskatchewan.
It must be demonstrated that the services or diagnostics are medically necessary and not excluded from coverage (e.g. not experimental, of emerging technology or being performed on a trial basis).
The Ministry of Health will provide a written response to the parent/guardian and the specialist who submitted the application informing whether the application was approved.
3. How do I get reimbursed?
If eligible for assistance with travel costs, the Ministry of Health will send confirmation along with an expense reimbursement form. Keep all receipts including any boarding passes and submit them to the Ministry of Health after treatment has been received and you have returned to Saskatchewan.
Travel assistance will be reimbursed in Canadian funds.
4. How long do I have to claim expenses?
The timeline for submission of travel assistance reimbursement is one (1) year from the date the medical treatment was received. Expenses prior to April 1, 2024 or submitted after one year are not eligible for reimbursement.
Expense claims for reimbursement should be sent to:
Travel Assistance Program
Medical Services, Ministry of Health
2nd Floor, 3475 Albert Street, Regina SK S4S 6X6
Email: TravelAssistanceProgram@health.gov.sk.ca
5. If you have questions
If you have questions about the program, email TravelAssistanceProgram@health.gov.sk.ca.