Justice For Workers: Young undocumented teenager billed $90,000 for lifesaving hospital care in Ontario
The following is from Justice For Workers:
Imagine being a teenager coming to Ontario to join your mother. You work as a painter just to help your family get by. One day, struck by a sudden illness, you end up in the hospital in a coma. The doctors say need emergency surgery and a multiple week hospital stay.
And when its all said and done, the doctors had to amputate both your legs to save your life. You no can longer go to work because of your permanent disability. And you are told you have to pay almost $90,000 in hospital bills.
This is what happened to Josue, an undocumented migrant in Ontario who suffered from sepsis and required an urgent leg amputation. Five days after Josue was admitted to Humber River Hospital, the Ford government cut healthcare coverage for migrants. Watch this CityNews coverage of this brave young man sharing his story.
Recently Health Minister Sylvia Jones misrepresented the reality faced by many undocumented migrants seeking healthcare in Ontario when she said, “If you need emergency surgery in the province of Ontario, you will get it, and you will not be charged in an Ontario hospital.”
But contrary to the Minister’s claims, people like Josue (who face massive hospital bills for lifesaving care) highlight the gaps in our healthcare system.
Sharon, can I count on you to do 3 things to support undocumented migrants like Josue?
- Share Josue’s story on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook and tag Sylvia Jones and Premier Doug Ford.
- Sign and share the petition to Premier Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones calling on them to immediately reinstate the pandemic-era program that extended healthcare to uninsured people. And then urgently work towards a permanent and universal program that provides equal healthcare access to everyone living and working in Ontario.
- Send an email to the federal government calling for permanent resident status for all undocumented people.
Everyone living or working in Ontario needs access to healthcare regardless of their immigration status. Lack of access to healthcare leads to immense and preventable suffering. It also adds more strain to our health care systems as people are forced to delay seeking care until they absolutely have no choice.
The Ford government did the right thing during the pandemic by providing healthcare for all. We need them to do it again and to be on the side of equal rights and justice.
In solidarity,
Nisha & Sarah on behalf of the Healthcare for All team
P.S Please consider donating to support Josue’s medical expenses.
–
Nisha Kansal MD, Family Physician
Member of Healthcare for All and Decent Work and Health Network
Sarah Shahid
Coordinator of the Decent Work and Health Network
