Ticket to Ride

Processing your claim for Out of Country Hemodialysis Reimbursement

by Trish Reynolds

StoryBlocks.com

Starting January 1, 2020, reimbursements for hemodialysis treatments received outside of Canada are processed through a new system managed by the Ontario Renal Network and funded by the Ministry of Health. Ontario residents with a valid Ontario health card can travel outside of Canada and receive up to $210 CDN for hemodialysis treatments received out of the country.

Upon return to Canada, travelers will submit their application to the Ontario Renal Network with their original receipts in English, stating the dates of treatments, the cost of treatments in the currency paid and a letter from the treatment centre indicating that the account is “Paid in Full.” If you receive a travel loan from The Kidney Foundation, you can designate reimbursement of the loan back to The Kidney Foundation.

Assistance to make travel a reality for individuals requiring hemodialysis

The Kidney Foundation’s Travel Loan program is designed to help make travel more convenient and affordable for Ontarians on dialysis. Individuals who require dialysis cannot ignore their regular dialysis schedule even when traveling on vacation or business. The Travel Loan program is designed to assist hemodialysis patients with the upfront costs of out-of-country dialysis treatments. Upon return, the patient must submit all required documentation to Ontario Health/Ontario Renal Network and re-direct the reimbursement (the amount of the loan) back to The Kidney Foundation. The interest-free loans must be repaid upon the patient’s return.

Applications for travel loans are made through renal social workers at community units, hospital renal programs or kidney care clinics. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements and the total funds available for this program are limited. Potential applicants can apply to receive a maximum of six hemodialysis treatments at a maximum of $210 per treatment to help pay for the upfront treatment costs. 