Whitehorse mother and daughter say they're on the hook for hotel bills after medical escort denied

Andrea Logan says she didn't anticipate that soon after being medevaced from Whitehorse to Vancouver, she would also have to set up a fundraiser to cover hotel costs for her mother to join her. 

Logan and her mother say they're now on the hook for thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses. 

"There needs to be a better explanation because it's such a whirlwind of, 'You need to go home and get your stuff right now,'" Logan said. 

Logan told CBC she can't walk well, and wanted her mother to come with her for support. 

"We probably still would have had to have mom come because I couldn't come by myself. But it would have been nice to know that before I went into surgery."

The Yukon's medical travel policy makes specific allowances for patients to have a medical escort with funding for the companion.

While in Vancouver, Logan said she found out that her escort request was not approved. The situation has left Logan and her mother Sherre with a mounting bill.

Logan said the fundraiser, through community support, has allowed her to partially cover the costs. 

She said the paperwork she filled out did not make it clear if her mother was approved to be with her as a medical companion. Looking into it, the health-care staff confirmed she was not, she said. 

Sherre, Logan's mother, said she was not given a reason for not being approved.

"We've tried to ask questions, but it's difficult ... people down here don't know much about [medical travel]," Sherre said. 

"My emotions are just over the top because I'm having to advocate for Andrea to get her cared for in the hospital." 

Sherre said she knows the program costs a lot for the government, but everybody should be entitled to have a companion if they have to go out of their home community for medical care.

Deborah McNevin is a member of Seniors Action Yukon, which advocates for seniors-related issues. She acknowledged that a recommendation in the the government's Putting People First report led to an increase in funding for medical travel beginning in 2021.

"Travel coverage is not sufficient if you're having to go to Vancouver at the height of summer or even in the off season now," McNevin said.

Health and Social Services denied an interview request from CBC, citing patient confidentiality. 

"We understand that travelling during a medical emergency is stressful and may not leave time to seek information. Emergency Medical Services staff are familiar with medical travel policies and can provide copies of the brochure as well as the air ambulance guide," a spokesperson wrote in an  email. 

The spokesperson also said the department is conducting longer-term work related to establishing medical travel residences in Whitehorse and Vancouver and are "exploring alternative short-term solutions."