Sask. family relieved SGI will cover at least some of $200K US medical bills

The mother of a 21-year-old paramedic from Prince Albert, Sask., who was struck by a car in Las Vegas said she's feeling less stressed now that she knows Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) will cover at least some of the associated medical expenses.

Roberta Sinclair previously told CBC that her daughter and her daughter's friend, who were hit by a car at a crosswalk in the U.S. city, would be facing around $200,000 US worth of bills.

SGI said it couldn't comment on specific cases due to privacy, but confirmed no-fault auto injury coverage is provided to Saskatchewan residents hurt by a vehicle anywhere in Canada or the United States, even if they don't hold a driver's licence or register a vehicle in Saskatchewan. This includes pedestrians hit by vehicles.

"No fault injury coverage includes benefits of income replacement, living assistance, or expenses related to the injuries sustained in the collision," SGI said in a statement. "If you need medical attention outside of Saskatchewan, you may be covered for things like getting an ambulance or staying in the hospital. It may also cover travel expenses to help you get home."

Sinclair said it's still not clear to her how much SGI will cover.

"I've been filling out forms, but my head is still in a fog so I don't know the exact details or how much is covered or if I'm hoping more is covered than what actually is," Sinclair said. "You never know, but SGI sounds like it will be a wonderful resource for us."

A GoFundMe campaign set up for the two injured women has amassed more than $90,000. Sinclair said that money will be split evenly between the two women.

Sinclair said she still believes the women will have to pay out of pocket for an air ambulance that transferred them. She told CBC that bill was around $45,000 US.

CBC asked Candace Glenney, a senior travel agent at CAA in Saskatoon, how to avoid having to pay out of pocket for medical costs on vacation.

Glenney said she wasn't able to comment on specific cases, but recommended travel insurance for any trips out of the province.

"We've heard stories and we've seen case studies from the insurance companies that we sell of people spending $50,000, $100,000 for something that could have been easily covered had they had insurance," Glenney said.

"These are devastating amounts of money, so it is really important just to ensure that you're covered."

Glenney said travel insurance should be considered even when travelling between provinces, since the cost of medical care may vary depending where you are in Canada.

"Most people just don't realize," Glenney said. "They assume that they're in Canada and they're covered, that's not the case."