Tourette Blog Long Distance Healthcare in Canada: Assistance for Travel and Accommodation Costs for Out-of-Area Medical Care

Do you live in a place where the closest TS specialist is a 2 hour plus car trip away? Do you have to leave your province to see a specialist or receive a medical treatment? It can be costly if you have to drive, fly, or take a bus or train to get the medical services you need. Transportation is expensive and time-consuming. Accommodations in major cities usually start at $100 a night. In some cases, you may have to accompany your son or daughter to their long-distance appointment forcing you to take time off work and pay transit and hotel costs for two or more people. Yet, for Canadians in rural or remote areas, this can be the price of receiving specialized, quality healthcare. Fortunately, Canada’s provincial governments are aware that specialized medical services are not always readily available. As a result, every province in Canada has some type of assistance program that helps pay for accommodation and transportation costs associated with travelling for medical care. To ensure that you can get the support you need, the TSFC has compiled a database of these programs, their eligibility requirements and their contact information. Please contact the National Office at 1-800-361-3120 or tsfc@tourette.ca to learn more.