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Prince Edward Island

Provincial disease groups

It is usually possible to get a great deal of assistance and guidance by contacting the not-for-profit organization associated with your condition. Here is a list of the major groups in Prince Edward Island.

• Canadian Cancer Society
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• Asthma Society of Canada
• Heart and Stroke Foundation
• Canadian Mental Health Association

HEALTH SERVICES

Medical Services Plan (MSP)

Islanders are covered for medically necessary services from doctors and surgeons by the Medical Services Plan (MSP). There are no premiums for the coverage. You must show a valid PEI Health Card in order to have your services billed directly to MSP.

• Check the list of covered services.
• Check the list of services which are not covered.

Hospital services are covered separately under the Hospital Services Plan (HSP). In general, any service, supply or medication that you receive in a hospital or from a hospital employee is covered.

• Check the list of covered in-patient and out-patient services.
• Check the list of hospital services which are not covered.

To be eligible for MSP coverage, you must be legally entitled to remain in Canada and reside in PEI at least six months plus a day out of each calendar year. You must also not be covered under another Canadian public health insurance plan, such as the plan for the RCMP or the Armed Forces.

For questions about MSP or HSP contact the Medicare Office in the Montague Complex:
126 Douses Road
Montague, PE
C0A 1R0

Phone: (902) 838-0900
Toll-free: 1-800-321-5492
Fax: (902) 838-0940

A great information resource is InfoPEI
InfoPEI is a comprehensive reference source to life on Prince Edward Island from the Government of Prince Edward Island.

MSP coverage outside PEI

The Medical Services Plan (MSP) covers emergency care and care for sudden illnesses that occur while travelling in Canada. If you show your PEI health card in another province, your care will be billed directly to that province’s health insurance program just as it would be in PEI. The exception is Quebec, where doctors have the option to bill you directly or to bill MSP directly. If you incur emergency care expenses in Quebec, you can apply to have those costs reimbursed by MSP. Be sure to submit original, itemized invoices.

Non-emergency and elective medical care outside PEI will only be covered if you obtain prior permission from the Medical Director of the Department of Health and Services. Permission is usually granted only if there is a good reason why the service cannot be performed in PEI, for instance, if there are no medical practitioners offering the service on the Island.

To obtain permission for an out-of-province procedure or to claim expenses, contact the Out-of-Province Claims Clerk.

126 Douses Road
Montague, PE
C0A 1R0

Phone: (902) 838-0915
Fax: (902) 838-0940

MSP coverage outside Canada

The Medical Services Plan (MSP) will cover care for emergencies and sudden illnesses that are treated outside Canada, but only up to the amount that the same services would cost in PEI. In most cases, especially in the U.S., the actual bill will be much higher and the additional amounts will be your responsibility. For this reason it is highly recommended that you obtain private travel insurance for even short trips outside the country.

Non-emergency and elective medical care outside Canada will only be covered if you obtain prior permission from the Medical Director of the Department of Health and Services. Permission is usually granted only if there is a good reason why the service cannot be performed in Canada.

To obtain permission for an out-of-country procedure or to claim expenses, contact the Out-of-Province Claims Clerk.

126 Douses Road
Montague, PE
C0A 1R0

Phone: (902) 838-0915
Fax: (902) 838-0940

PEI Drug Programs

Islanders can get financial assistance with the cost of drugs if they are over 65, receive income assistance from the province, reside in a long-term care facility or are children in the care of the province. There is also a long list of specific conditions that qualify for drug cost assistance.

The various drug programs fall into three broad categories: programs delivered through community pharmacies, programs delivered through hospitals and programs delivered through the provincial pharmacy in Charlottetown.

Program delivered through...	Groups/diseases covered
Community pharmacies	children in provincial care diabetes low-income families with children Welfare Assistance recipients Multiple Sclerosis private nursing home residents rheumatoid arthritis Crohn’s disease seniors sexually transmitted disease, or contact with someone with an STD
Hospitals	needing kidney dialysis chronic renal failure rabies, or risk of rabies
Provincial pharmacy	HIV/AIDS cancer anti-psychotics cystic fibrosis growth hormones hepatitis immunizations residents of provincial institutions interferon alfa-2b injections meningitis children and pregnant women with nutritional deficiencies phenylketonuria rheumatic fever organ transplants tuberculosis

In some cases there is a co-payment which is sometimes adjusted for your income level. You usually have to apply to the program and be placed on its list before you can take advantage of it.

For more information on PEI's drug assistance programs, call the Drug Cost Assistance Programs Office toll-free in PEI at 1-877-577-3737.

Allied health professionals

The services of audiologists, chiropodists, chiropractors, dietitians, homeopaths, naturopaths, optometrists, osteopaths, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists and dentists are not covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP). The Hospital Services Plan (HSP) may cover costs from these allied health professionals as long as they are provided in a hospital or by hospital staff.

Locate a...

• audiologist
• chiropractor
• dentist
• dietitian
• massage therapist
• occupational therapist
• optometrist
• physiotherapist
• psychologist

Cancer care

The main centre for cancer care in PEI is the Cancer Treatment Centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. The Canadian Cancer Society coordinates community supports for Islanders with cancer. In general, if you have cancer in PEI, you will be cared for through the in-patient and out-patient programs of the Cancer Treatment Centre.

P.O. Box 6600
60 Riverside Dr.
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 8T5

Phone: (902) 894-2027

You can get assistance with the high cost of cancer drugs through the high cost drug program.

P.O. Box 2000
16 Fitzroy Street
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7N8

Phone: (902) 368-4947
Toll-free in PEI: 1-877-577-3737
Fax: (902) 368-4905

The PEI division of the Canadian Cancer Society can offer some limited assistance with costs associated with cancer, such as drugs to ease chemotherapy side-effects, transportation to treatment centres and prostheses. Requests for assistance are evaluated on a case-by-case basis; contact the PEI division for more information.

Canadian Cancer Society, PEI Division
1 Rochford Street, Suite 1
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 9L2

Phone: (902) 566-4007
Toll-free: 1-866-566-4007
Fax: (902) 628-8281

Flu shot

See our Flu Vaccination Guide for information about seasonal flu vaccine availability by province or territory.

Mental health care

Mental health care on the Island is organized around Community Mental Health Centres that provide assessment, consultation, treatment, crisis intervention, medication, monitoring, outreach and ongoing support for mild to moderate mental health issues. More serious cases are referred to the various psychiatric wards in PEI’s hospitals.

Find your Community Mental Health Centre.

Palliative care

When you have a terminal illness from which you are not expected to recover, your doctor may refer you to palliative care. You can receive the care in hospital, a palliative care hospice, or at home depending on your preference and the complexity of your care.

PEI’s Home Care offices deliver palliative care in homes and hospices in PEI communities. Services may include medical, nursing and other professional care for pain and symptom management, respite care, emotional support, spiritual support, counselling, and ongoing bereavement support after death of a loved one.

Find your local Home Care office.

Starting in October 2008, a new Palliative Home Care Drug Program was introduced to PEI residents. If you are eligible, you can receive drug coverage for pain and symptom management in the place where you are living.

Eligibility for the program is not based on a financial needs assessment, but rather the patient’s need for end-of-life care. For more information, see this press release from PEI’s Department of Health.

Wait times

PEI posts wait times data for the four priority services offered in the province. They also outline a strategy for wait times reduction in these four areas.

PEI wait times.

See the article on wait times on this website for helpful advice and information on how to receive faster service for surgical procedures, certain diagnostic tests (such as an MRI) and appointments with a specialist doctor.

Workplace injuries

The PEI Workers Compensation Board (WCB) compensates Islanders who are injured on the job by replacing wages, assisting with medical costs and rehabilitation and retraining as necessary. If you are injured at work in PEI, you must:

• seek medical attention
• report the accident to your employer
• fill out a “Form 6” (requires Adobe Reader)
• follow all instructions from health professionals

Visit the PEI WCB website.

The Workers Compensation Board of PEI
14 Weymouth Street
P.O. Box 757
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7L7

Phone: (902) 368-5680
Toll-free: 1-800-237-5049 (in Atlantic Canada)
Fax: (902) 368-5696
Customer Liaison Service: 1-866-460-3074 (in Atlantic Canada)
Occupational Health & Safety 24 Hr Emergency Tel: (902) 628-7513

DISABILITY SUPPORT

Assistive devices

The PEI government does not have a program specifically aimed at assisting Islanders with the cost of assistive devices. However, the Home Care Program may be able to help seniors who are having difficulty locating or purchasing the devices they need. The PEI Disability Support Program may also help Islanders with the cost of devices, based on assessed need.

The PEI division of the Canadian Red Cross provides inexpensive rentals of medical equipment, including mobility devices. To find out more, contact the Red Cross PEI.

Check this comprehensive list of organizations serving people with disabilities in PEI. Any of these groups can help you to locate needed assistive devices.

More links to assistive devices in PEI.

Employment support for people with disabilities

Employment support for Islanders with a disability is offered through the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program. The program is funded and run through Human Resources Development Canada, the same agency that offers Employment Insurance (EI).

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program works with other disability service organizations to provide as much assistance as possible to help you return to work in some capacity. The Program can provide guidance, skills training, career counselling, workplace modifications and other services, as needed and available.

Get more information about the CPP Disability Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Or call 1-800-277-9914.

Financial support for people with disabilities

The PEI Disability Support Program provides financial assistance to Islanders with a disability and families of children with a disability. The amount of support is based on assessed need, and the focus is on helping recipients to achieve as much independence as possible.

Get more information on the Disability Support Program.

Home care

If you need help with daily living, medical treatments, therapy or other aspects of your care, the PEI Home Care program will supply it as long as it is feasible for you to receive the care in your home. Your needs are assessed by a caseworker and a plan for care in the home is created, or you are referred to appropriate residential solutions. Some services include:

• care coordination
• nursing
• personal care
• homemaking
• occupational and physical therapies
• adult protection
• community based dialysis

For more information contact your local Home Care office.

There are also a number of sources for private home care in PEI.

Assisted living for seniors

There are three options for seniors’ assisted living in PEI:

1. Community Care Facilities are residences housing five or more seniors and are licensed by the Community Care Facilities and Nursing Homes Board. They provide assistance with daily living, homemaking and personal care, but do not offer medical services. Find a Community Care Facility.
2. Government manors and nursing homes may be operated by the Department of Health or a private corporation, but each are regulated the same way and provide roughly the same services. These are long-term care facilities that provide 24 hour medical supervision and care in addition to all daily personal needs. If you cannot afford another option, you can be accommodated in these facilities at a subsidized rate. Find a government manor or nursing home.
3. Seniors’ housing is apartments that are built to be accessible for seniors and offer rental rates that are geared to your level of income (about 25%). There are no services included in the rent, so this is a good option for independent seniors looking for affordable, convenient housing with other people their age. Find seniors’ housing.

Assisted living for people with disabilities

PEI supports people with disabilities through the Family Support Program and the Home Care and Support Program. Family Support assists Islanders with a disability with the cost of housing, and Home Care and Support supplies necessary in-home care, such as assistance with hygiene and homemaking. There are a number of non-profit organizations on the Island that offer disability services - see the list.

The PEI Association for Community Living can assist Islanders with an intellectual disability to find housing in a residential environment with the supports they need.

PEI Association for Community Living
161 St. Peter's Road
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 5P7

Phone: (902) 566-4844
Toll-free: 1-888-360-8681
Fax: (902) 368-8057

Respite services

Respite for caregivers in PEI comes from the Home Care Program of the Department of Social Services and Seniors.

Find out more.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Medical records

Under the PEI Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, you have the right to see any medical records of yours that are kept by a doctor or hospital in PEI. The information in the records belongs to you, but the physical record itself belongs to the institution that created it. That means that you must be allowed to see the records and make copies in a reasonable amount of time and for no more than a reasonable fee.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (requires Adobe Reader)

If you have concerns about how your medical information has been handled, contact the Access and Privacy Coordinator at (902) 569-0568.

Power of Attorney and other legal relationships

Please note: The information provided here is provided for information purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

A Power of Attorney in PEI is empowered to handle your financial affairs for you. The Power of Attorney agreement in no way lessens your ability to control your own affairs. The Power of Attorney agreement should include the following:

• Designation of an attorney(s) who is over 18 and mentally capable of acting as your representative
• A description of the conditions under which your attorney can act (i.e. does the agreement become active immediately or only if you become incapable? Does your attorney have control over all your affairs on only specific accounts? Etc.)
• The signature of a witness who is not an immediate family member of you or the attorney
• Signatures of you and your attorney at a time when you are both mentally capable of understanding the agreement
• The appointment of someone to whom the attorney will be accountable for their actions on your behalf, and a description of the attorney’s responsibility to report to that person

It is not necessary for a lawyer to prepare the Power of Attorney agreement, but it is advisable.

Power of Attorney does not enable your attorney to make health care decisions on your behalf. To empower someone to do that in the event that you become incapable, you need to fill out a Health Care Directive. The Health Care Directive appoints a “proxy” who can consent to medical care on your behalf if you are unable to. You can appoint more than one proxy, and indicate if you want them to be able to make decisions for you separately or only if they both agree. The Directive may also stipulate your wishes for care, or withholding of care, under certain circumstances. You need two witnesses to the agreement who are not involved in the agreement or immediate family members of parties to the agreement.

Health Care Directive form. (requires Adobe Reader)

For questions about PEI Power of Attorney agreements you can contact the PEI Public Trustee:

PEI Public Trustee
95-105 Rochford Street
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7N8

Phone: (902) 368-4552
Fax: (902) 368-4563
E-mail: dndoiron@gov.pe.ca

Regulatory and administrative bodies

The PEI government body responsible for health is called the Department of Health and Wellness. Islanders medical services are insured under the Hospital and Medical Insurance Plans.

Doctors in PEI are regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI. Nurses are regulated by the Association of Registered Nurses of PEI.