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Saskatchewan

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 Saskatchewan.

• Canadian Cancer Society
• Canadian Diabetes Association
• Asthma Society of Canada
• Heart and Stroke Foundation
• Independent Living Resource Centre
• Canadian Mental Health Association

HEALTH SERVICES

Saskatchewan Health Insurance

Saskatchewan Health covers Saskatchewan residents for most medically necessary services and treatments. There are no premiums. To be eligible, you must reside in Saskatchewan for at least six months out of every calendar year and not be covered under any other Canadian government health insurance.

In general, doctor’s bills and hospital charges are covered. Other health services are often covered if ordered by a doctor. Some expenses arising from medical conditions, like home care and assistive devices, are partially covered. Cosmetic procedures are not covered, nor are services delivered by private allied health professionals who are not under contract to a Saskatchewan district health board.

In order to have your services billed directly to Saskatchewan Health, you need to present a valid health services card, and be registered (requires Adobe Reader) with Saskatchewan Health.

More information on Saskatchewan Health Insurance.

Saskatchewan Health
T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-0146 (General Inquiry)
Toll-free: 1-800-667-7766 (Saskatchewan only)
E-mail: info@health.gov.sk.ca

Health coverage outside Saskatchewan

If you present your Saskatchewan health card anywhere in Canada, your doctor and hospital fees will be billed directly back to Saskatchewan health without you having to pay anything out of pocket. An exception is Quebec, where doctors can elect to bill you directly or to bill Saskatchewan health. Also, some extra services such as mental health and addiction services are not covered by the interprovincial reciprocal billing agreements. If the services are insured in Saskatchewan, you can be reimbursed for your out-of-province charges by submitting your bill to Saskatchewan health. More about out-of-province coverage.

Send your claim to:

Benefits and Inquiries
Medical Services Branch
Saskatchewan Health
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Health coverage outside Canada

Saskatchewan health covers only emergency hospital and psychiatric fees outside Canada, and then only at the same rate as if those fees were incurred in Canada. These rates are usually much lower than the actual bill, so travellers are strongly advised to take out private travel insurance for even short trips out of the country. In order to be reimbursed for your foreign medical charges, you will need to provide itemized bills with certain specific information. See how to obtain a refund for services.

Send your claim to:

Benefits and Inquiries
Medical Services Branch
Saskatchewan Health
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Your doctor can refer you to treatment outside Canada with advance permission from Saskatchewan Health. In most cases, the doctor must be able to show that the equivalent service is not available in Canada.

The Saskatchewan Drug Plan

If you are a working person under 65 who does not require any government income assistance and has no chronic diseases or disabilities, you do not qualify for any assistance with your prescription drug costs in Saskatchewan. Otherwise, at least one of the programs under the Saskatchewan Drug Program will at least partially cover you.

Most of the plans require you to pay some of the cost of each prescription. The Special Support program protects you if your drug costs exceed a percentage of your income. Find out more about the various Saskatchewan drug programs.

Drugs are only covered by the Saskatchewan Drug Plan if they appear on the provincial Formulary. Your doctor or pharmacist can request that you be covered for a drug which isn’t on the Formulary if there is a sound reason why you can’t take the usual drug. Search the Saskatchewan Formulary for covered drugs.

If you have diabetes, your insulin, blood-testing agents, urine-testing agents, syringes, needles, lancets and swabs are covered by the Drug Plan without a prescription. The Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) program also has special coverage for people with the following disabling conditions:

• paraplegia
• cystic fibrosis
• end-stage renal disease
• ostomy needs
• visual impairment

If you have questions about your Saskatchewan drug plan, contact:

Saskatchewan Health
Drug Plan & Extended Benefits Branch
3475 Albert Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-3317
Toll-free: 1-800-667-7581 (Saskatchewan only)
Fax: (306) 787-8679

Allied health professionals

Saskatchewan Health will pay for physiotherapy and occupational therapy that is ordered by a doctor and provided in hospitals, special care homes, community agencies or by private clinics that have contracts with the district health board. Saskatchewan health care covers or partially covers a wide variety of services from other allied health professionals depending on your age, income status and the service required. Chiropractic, dental, optical, HIV testing, mental health, podiatry, audiology and addictions treatment may all be covered under different circumstances. Consult the Saskatchewan Health Insurance website for details.

Locate a...

• audiologist
• chiropractor
• dentist
• dietitian
• massage therapist
• midwife
• occupational therapist
• optometrist
• physiotherapist
• podiatrist (Select 'Directory Listing of Licensed Members')
• psychologist

Cancer care

If you get cancer in Saskatchewan, your care is coordinated through the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency (SCA), a separate health board funded by Saskatchewan Health. The Agency runs two cancer centres and a number of community oncology clinics that can provide chemotherapy close to where you live. The Agency provides comprehensive services to people with cancer, including counseling, home care, transportation, treatment and rehabilitation. The SCA will refer patients with terminal cancer to a palliative program. Find out more about the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.

For more information about the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency please call the Quality of Care Coordinator at 1-866-577-6489 or (306) 585-1831 in Regina.

Flu shot

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

Mental health care

Saskatchewan provides mental health services to residents through the Regional Health Authorities (RHA). Services are broken down into four categories:

1. Child and youth services for minors with mental or behavioural problems, or at risk for these problems.
2. Adult community services such as marital counseling, family therapy and prevention of family violence.
3. Inpatient services for acute mental problems offered in psychiatric wards in hospitals.
4. Psychiatric rehabilitation services for people with a long-term mental disability.

All these services are covered by Saskatchewan Health, though there may be some charges for some individual program elements. To find out more, check the Saskatchewan Health website.

Or contact:
Community Care
T.C. Douglas Building, 1st Floor
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-7239
Fax: (306) 787-7095

HealthLine, Saskatchewan's nurse hotline, also offers mental health and addictions support services over the telephone. Social workers and registered psychiatric nurses are available to take crisis calls and can provide referrals.

Palliative care

If you have a terminal illness in Saskatchewan, you can opt for palliative care by asking your doctor to order it. You can receive palliative care through Saskatchewan Health at home, in a hospice or in a long-term care facility, depending on your preferences and the level of care you need. Your Regional Health Authority (RHA) will assess your condition and provide the necessary professional, home making and personal help for you to end your life in as much comfort as possible.

Palliative care drugs are covered 100% by the Palliative Care Drug program as long as they appear on the Saskatchewan Formulary. Your doctor can obtain coverage for drugs not on the Formulary by applying to the Exception Drug Status program if you need a different drug for some reason.

To find out more about palliative services in your area, check your RHA website.

Or contact one of these Drug and Extended Health Benefits offices:

General Inquiries
T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-3420
Fax: (306) 787-8679

Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living Program (SAIL)
Phone: (306) 787-7121
Fax: (306) 787-8679

Supplementary Health Program
Phone: (306) 787-3124
Fax: (306) 787-8679
Toll-free: 1-800-266-0695

Pharmaceutical Information Program (PIP)
Phone: (306) 787-8963
Toll-free: 1-800-667-1672

Wait times

The Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network (SSCN) collects surgical wait times information. Saskatchewan shows wait times in terms of a percentage of procedures that are performed within a benchmark time, and provides the number of people on the waiting list for a given procedure. If you are currently waiting for surgery or would like more information, please call the Surgical Care Co-ordinator/Regional Contact for your Health Region.

Saskatoon Surgical Care Coordinator: 1-866-543-6767
Regina Surgical Care Coordinator: 1-866-622-0222

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

Workers injured in Saskatchewan can have their medical care and rehabilitation covered and their lost wages replaced by the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) of Saskatchewan. If you are injured at work you should:

1. Get the medical attention you need.
2. Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible.
3. File a W1 form with the WCB by calling 1-800-787-9288, or online.
4. Follow the back-to-work plan created by you, your WCB case worker and your employer.

Saskatchewan Worker’s Compensation Board
Head Office
200-1881 Scarth Street
Regina SK
S4P 4L1

Phone: (306) 787-4370
Toll-Free: 1-800-667-7590
Fax: (306) 787-4311
Toll-Free Fax: 1-888-844-7773

Telephone support

You can call HealthLine Saskatchewan at 1-877-800-0002 and speak to a registered nurse about any health concern you have. The nurse can listen to your symptoms, answer questions and recommend next steps. The service operates 24 hours every day.

DISABILITY SUPPORT

Assistive devices

The Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) program will provide almost any devices and supplies necessary to assist people with long-term disabilities to live in their homes. The program coordinates with non-profit partners to assess your needs and design and provide the necessary equipment. Find out more about the SAIL program.

Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living Program (SAIL)
T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-7121
Fax: (306) 787-8679

Employment support for people with disabilities

Saskatchewan residents with a disability are assisted to get a job and go to work through the Employability Assistance for People with Disabilities (EAPD) program. Through the program, you can get help to make a plan to return to work, training to develop the required skills, the equipment and devices you might need at work and assistance finding a job. Employers can also get assistance to accommodate you with workplace modifications. Find out more about the EAPD program.

Programs for Adults with Disabilities
12th Floor, 1945 Hamilton Street
REGINA SK
S4P 2C8

Phone: (306) 787-5602
Fax: (306) 787-7182

Financial support for people with disabilities

People with disabilities in Saskatchewan can receive financial assistance for basic needs through the Social Assistance program of the Community Resources ministry.

Saskatchewan Social Assistance
Toll-free: 1-866-221-5200 (TTY 1-866-995-0099)

You can receive more funding as part of a plan to obtain employment through the Employability Assistance for People with a Disability (EAPD) program.

Programs for Adults with Disabilities
12th Floor, 1945 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK
S4P 2C8

Phone: (306) 787-5602
Fax: (306) 787-7182

People with a disability may qualify for assistance with the cost of rent, and of modifying their home for access, through the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement.

Building Independence Contact Centre
Phone: (306) 787-4723 (TTY 787-1090)
Toll-free: 1-888-488-6385 (TTY 1-800-683-9052)

Home care

The Saskatchewan Regional Health Authorities (RHA) provide home care for a fee that is adjusted to your income level. Services include housework, personal care, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, nursing and other services based on assessed need. Learn more about home care.

Community Care
T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-4587
Fax: (306) 787-7095

Assisted living for seniors

Saskatchewan’s focus is on helping seniors to remain in their homes as long as possible through the home care programs offered by the Regional Health Authorities (RHA). However, if you need a higher level of care, you can get 24-hour professional care in a provincially funded nursing home. Nursing home fees are set based on your income. Find out about Saskatchewan nursing homes.

Community Care
T.C. Douglas Building
3475 Albert Street
Regina, SK
S4S 6X6

Phone: (306) 787-4587
Fax: (306) 787-7095

Assisted living for people with disabilities

If you have an intellectual disability, Saskatchewan Community Resources can provide community living solutions where you live as independently as possible in the community with support from trained staff. There are various levels of support, including single apartments, group homes, the Valley View Centre and various accredited private homes. Vocational programs are also offered in day workshops or employment settings. To find out more about Community Living Service Delivery, contact the office closest to you.

Services for people with only a physical disability come through the various home care programs offered by the Regional Health Authorities (RHA), and the Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) program. To learn more about home care services contact the director of community services or the manager of home care for your health region. You can also contact the Ministry of Health's Community Care Branch at (306) 787-4587.

Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living Program (SAIL)
Phone: (306) 787-7121
Fax: (306) 787-8679

Respite services

Respite for caregivers of seniors, special needs children and people with a disability is available as part of your Regional Health Authority’s home care program. RHA home care

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Medical records

Your medical information belongs to you, but the physical file itself belongs to the office that created it. This means that you have the right to see your medical file in Saskatchewan and to make copies, but not to alter or remove any information from it. If you feel that there is an error in your file, and the holder of the file refuses to correct it, you can include a note in the file outlining your disagreement. Doctors and Regional Health Authorities are only allowed to charge a reasonable fee for copies of your file.

If you have a concern with the way your medical information is being handled, you should contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner
503 - 1801 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK
S4P 4B4

Phone: (306) 787-8350
Toll free: 1-877-748-2298 (Saskatchewan only)
Fax: (306) 798-1603

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.

Saskatchewan Power of Attorney agreements give a third party some power to act on your behalf in your financial matters. There are a number of different terms that can be attached to your Power of Attorney agreement to make it work in different ways:

• Enduring Power of Attorney agreements stay in effect even if you lose the ability to understand and direct your attorney.
• Contingent Power of Attorney agreements come into effect only if you lose the ability to make your own financial decisions.
• General Power of Attorney agreements give your attorney the power to manage all your financial affairs.

Specific Power of Attorney agreements limit the attorney’s power to a particular aspect of your finances, perhaps a single transaction or bank account.

These can be combined, for instance, a general contingent Power of Attorney would be able to manage all your financial affairs in the event that you became incapable of doing so yourself. Learn more about Power of Attorney.

Saskatchewan Power of Attorney agreements do not give your attorney the ability to make personal or health decisions on your behalf. That requires a Health Directive, which is a document that sets out your wishes for treatment in the event that you are unable to communicate, and names a proxy or proxies who can act to make medical decisions for you if you are unable. Learn more about Health Care Directives.

If you have questions about Power of Attorney or Health Care Directives you should contact the Public Guardian and Trustee.

Public Guardian and Trustee of Saskatchewan
100 - 1871 Smith St.
Regina SK
S4P 4W4

Phone: (306) 787-5424
Toll-free: 1-877-787-5424
Fax: (306) 787-5065
E-mail: pgt@gov.sk.ca

Regulatory and administrative bodies

Saskatchewan Health is the provincial government ministry in charge of health and the public insurer of medical services in Saskatchewan. Those services are delivered through the Regional Health Authorities.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan licences and regulates doctors and the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association performs the same function for nurses.

Concerns about how medical information is used should be directed to the Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan.