Toronto midwife Manavi Handa has battled tirelessly for 25 years to ensure that pregnant individuals and their newborns receive necessary healthcare. However, the Ontario government's recent rollback on healthcare access for uninsured residents has led to adverse outcomes, according to Handa. A report released by the Health Network for Uninsured Communities (HNUC) in August 2024 corroborates her concerns, highlighting the negative ramifications this policy shift has had on uninsured individuals across the province.
Uninsured residents, despite fulfilling provincial requirements, face denial of Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) cards for their infants. Historically, midwives in Ontario have served those without provincial health insurance, including members of the Old Order Mennonite and Amish communities. However, the termination of the Ontario government's healthcare funding program in March 2023 has exacerbated difficulties for uninsured residents seeking medical care.
Hospitals are imposing exorbitant fees on uninsured clients for essential services such as triage and hospital beds. The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario reported a $21.3 billion shortfall in healthcare funding between 2022-23 and 2027-28. Consequently, clinics and community health centers are grappling with wage freezes and extensive waitlists due to funding constraints. Uninsured individuals frequently encounter prohibitive costs for healthcare services, an untenable situation for those financially struggling.
Despite a 2020 directive permitting midwives to bill OHIP, this provision was rescinded, compelling midwives to operate on a fee-for-service model. The financial burden is significant, with ward rooms for non-residents costing $4,916 per day and $2,458 per day for uninsured residents. Midwife Jenna Bly recounted how a nurse practitioner referred a client facing healthcare access issues due to lack of OHIP coverage.
The number of uninsured residents in Toronto is anticipated to rise in light of evolving immigration policies in Canada and the US.
"People were being asked to pay, virtually overnight." – Shezeen Suleman
Midwives like Handa and Bly witness firsthand the dire consequences of these policy changes.
"It’s like, you almost want to find a problem," – Jenna Bly
"And…I really wish that the people in power saw what I saw." – Jenna Bly
For Handa, this issue transcends professional duty; it is profoundly personal.
"It would be like abandoning my grandmother," – Manavi Handa
"I couldn’t deal with the bedside nightmare conversation one more time," – Manavi Handa
"The issue is very personal to me," – Shezeen Suleman
The pressing need for accessible healthcare resonates deeply within the community.
"Health For All Means Access Not Fear." – HNUC members and supporters
Handa warns of the imminent risks if current policies persist.
"There’s going to be a lot of bad outcomes." – Manavi Handa
"I really think we need to realize we’re about to go into a humanitarian crisis," – Manavi Handa
