Next time you or a loved one flies south for the winter or elsewhere abroad later this year, OHIP’s emergency travel insurance coverage could be gone.

Currently the Out-of-Country Traveller’s Program provides up to $400-a-day for inpatient services like intensive care, and up to $50-per-day for emergency outpatient services and doctor services.

Robin Martin, assistant to Health Minister Christine Elliott, explains why the Ford government’s considering eliminating it.

“It’s a proposal.  We’re still talking to stakeholders about it, but what we found is, it’s a very inefficient program.  It’s got a high administrative cost, and frankly when the coverage is given it ends up being about 5-cents on the dollar for the person looking for coverage.  It might add some clarity to people if they just bought the health insurance they probably should be buying to travel.  And it’s just something we’re looking at but it seems like it may be a program that is not delivering good value for (taxpayer) money,” said Martin.

The auditor general has flagged the cost of administering the program – $2.8-million-per-year to process about $9-million in claim payments.

The government’s accepting public feedback until Tuesday, and if approved the change could take effect October 1st.