Winnipeg Travelers Story
Surinder Singh became ill on June 2018 and had to spend close to two months at St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg. He received two surgeries in order to treat a critical stomach infection. Singh still owned the hospital $208,051 even after his travel insurance covered the maximum amount of $100,000.
Singh’s son Sahib Brar is a 27-year-old mechanical engineer. Brar has not worked for the past ten months due to a car accident that left him with a broken leg. He has been surviving with the employment insurance paid by Manitoba Public Insurance. Brar’s parents traveled from India to Manitoba to check up on him and help him out of the accident.
He expressed his disappointment that the community could not help him pay off the debts. Brar noted that his father has done a lot for him and that it is time to pay him back, he can’t say no.
Brar’s father began to feel unwell a couple of weeks after his visit. Singh’s colon was removed due to the discomfort and he was discharged on August 7 after the second surgery. While Singh was recovering, Brar met with the hospital to discuss how to pay off the bill. He was told he could pay off by installments.
Moreover, Brar started a GoFundMe and could only raise $30,000. He expressed disappointment that Manitobans could not help him despite their license plates read “Friendly Manitoba”. A Winnipeg Regional Health Authority spokesperson said in an email that the rates for those who are not covered by the provincial health insurance are set by Manitoba Health. She said that the hospital will work with the patient’s insurer before creating the bills to make sure that they are informed about the bills while receiving the care.
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