The Saskatchewan Party followed through on another of its campaign promises Wednesday.
One day after introducing the Saskatchewan Economic Recovery Rebate — which it had promised to do in the runup to the Oct. 26 provincial election — the Sask. Party made a commitment to reduce ambulance fees for seniors from $275 per trip to $135 per trip.
As well, the government eliminated the cost to seniors for transfers between health-care facilities such as hospitals, health centres, mental health and addiction centres, and special-care homes.
The cost of those transfers will be covered under the Senior Citizens’ Ambulance Assistance Program (SCAAP), which is to come into effect Dec. 14.
“Our government is living up to its promise to provide Saskatchewan’s seniors with quality, affordable health care,” Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan’s mental health and addictions, seniors and rural and remote health minister, said in a media release.
“The investments we make now will help to address the future needs of our province’s growing senior population, while demonstrating our commitment to those who helped build our great province.”
The funding for SCAAP is estimated to cost $2.2 million for the rest of the 2020-21 fiscal year, and $6.6 million annually.
To be eligible for coverage, residents must be at least 65 years of age, hold a valid Saskatchewan health card and not have insured coverage by any other government service such as Health Canada, Workers Compensation or Saskatchewan Government Insurance.