A new report released today by the Health Coalition titled “Illegal, Unlawful and Unethical: Case Studies of Patients Charged for Medical Care in Ontario’s Private Clinics” sheds light on the issue of user fees being charged in private clinics across Ontario. The report, featuring evidence from over a hundred patients, highlights how patients, particularly seniors on fixed incomes, have been charged exorbitant amounts for medical care in for-profit clinics.
The Health Coalition held press conferences to unveil the report, where patients shared their experiences of being charged hundreds or even thousands of dollars for access to care. Many patients reported being financially strained, with some forced to return to work or dip into savings to cover the bills.
According to the Coalition, Premier Doug Ford’s promise that Ontarians would only have to pay with their OHIP card has been contradicted by the reality of patients being charged user fees in private clinics. Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Health Coalition, criticized the lack of real guardrails to protect patients and accused the government of widening the door to privatization with less oversight.
In response to patient complaints, the Coalition conducted a province-wide survey and found that out of 231 patients surveyed, 120 were unlawfully charged by private clinics. The report also includes eighteen in-depth case studies to illustrate the challenges faced by patients.
The most common fees reported were related to eye surgeries, with patients being charged anywhere from $50 to $8,000 for procedures that are covered by OHIP. Patients were misled into believing that they had to pay for medically necessary surgeries and were denied vital information about OHIP-covered services.
Natalie Mehra warned against the expansion of privatization in for-profit clinics, stressing the need for Ontarians to speak out against the erosion of medicare protection laws. She emphasized that the situation has never been worse, urging action to stop the privatization of public hospitals’ services.
Patients shared their stories, highlighting the financial burden and lack of transparency they faced when seeking medical care. Kate Armstrong, Shalom Schachter, Maureen Monro, and Mike Suta recounted their experiences of being misled into paying hefty fees for necessary procedures.
As the debate over healthcare privatization intensifies, patients and advocacy groups are calling for greater accountability and protection for patients accessing medical care in Ontario’s private clinics.
