80-year-old diabetic Calgarian shocked to receive $100 bill for COVID-19 vaccine

A Calgary senior, who says she's had diabetes and bosom disease for sir thomas more than deuce decades, is fighting plunk for after face of the earth billed for her COVID-19 vaccine despite being eligible for a free shot.

Sharon Mason, 80, received her COVID vaccine in early November, after calling Health Link to confirm she qualifies for a free dose.

So, Mason — who is on a fixed income, lives in subsidized seniors housing and receives the Alberta Seniors Benefit — was shocked when she got a bill in the mail from Alberta Health Services for $100.

“I don't feel very good about it to tell the truth," said Mason, who received a second notice in late November notifying her that her payment was almost overdue.

"It's just not right, you know? I've been diabetic since 2002 and had heart disease since 2002. What is going on with the government?"

Think you don't qualify for a free COVID shot? Double check

This season, the Alberta government is charging many people $100 for the COVID-19 vaccine.

But both diabetes and heart conditions are included on the Alberta government’s eligibility list for a free shot. And Mason told the public health nurse about her diabetes during her vaccine appointment.

People who receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit (financial assistance for low-income seniors) also qualify to get the COVID vaccine free of charge. This group was included in an early phase of the rollout. 

Mason wrote to Alberta Health Services (AHS), Premier Danielle Smith and others to share her concerns.

“I told them that I am not going to pay because I don’t need to. I’ve gone through the hoops already,” she said.

She received a response from the premier’s office stating that her email had been forwarded to the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services for consideration. As of Tuesday afternoon, she had not heard back from either the ministry or AHS.

In a statement, Primary Care Alberta said mistakes can happen and there is recourse.

“Any Albertan who believes they received a Primary Care Alberta COVID-19 vaccine bill in error is encouraged to contact the billing inquiry information listed on their invoice,” spokesperson Nicole Merrifield said in an email.

“It is rare, but occasionally clients receive an incorrect invoice, which can be reversed.”

According to Merrifield, Albertans can either call or email if they have concerns:

Mason called the toll-free number but struggled to get through and eventually hung up. She described the process as “frustrating.”

The provincial government has been criticized by a number of doctors and scientists for choosing to charge many Albertans for the COVID-19 vaccine this year. 

The rollout has also sparked confusion among people about who is eligible, and some Albertans struggled to book appointments early on.

"This is just one more reminder of why the vaccine should be free for everyone — that it is a public health initiative that benefits us all,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare.

"If there wasn't these different categories, with fees versus no fees and having to pay out of pocket, there wouldn't be any confusion. People would be more open to getting the shot."

Gallaway is calling for Mason's case to be resolved immediately.

“This is someone that’s facing a lot of anxiety now for paying for a shot that should be covered," he said.

"I would think that [the ministry] would proactively talk to their department and their own agency to figure out what happened and resolve it in a timely manner.”

He also believes the government should review the system and ensure there is a clear structure in place to handle appeals.

Mason said she’s hearing from other people who live in her subsidized seniors building who can’t afford the shot and are hesitant to book an appointment over fears the same thing will happen to them.

Jennifer Jackson, an associate professor in the faculty of nursing at the University of Calgary, is worried about any potential barriers to access.

“We know that a lot of people make health-care decisions based on word of mouth and what they hear from other people’s experiences, especially if the public guidelines are not as clear as they could be," said Jackson, who noted she can't comment on the specifics of Mason’s case. 

“I would be very sad to think anybody was worried about the cost and that was a barrier to them.”

She’s urging Albertans with any questions or concerns to call Health Link to ask about their eligibility for free COVID vaccine.

"We shouldn’t have cost for anyone in the first place. If the province is going to persist with the policy of charging for vaccines in certain circumstances, they need to make it very clear what options Albertans have if they feel that their files need to be corrected,” Jackson said.

“We have a right to accessibility and accountability with all our health-care services."

Reporter

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