B.C. birth experience exposes challenges for returning Canadians

A baby’s love doesn’t cost a thing but for one Vancouver Island mom, bringing her child into the world sure did.

The new parent has a massive birthing bill after returning home to Canada pregnant when her relationship in the U.K. ended.

People moving to B.C. must usually wait a period of three months before they are eligible for MSP coverage. The problem, Holly Noot says, is her baby came before her waiting period was up.

“To date, I’ve got about $14,400 (in bills) for having given birth. That’s including my midwifery costs, the anesthesiology costs, and or costs, hospital costs, all the rest of it,” she told CityNews.

Not being eligible for coverage at the time of the birth, Noot says she’s now on the hook for all the related medical costs.

‘It didn’t go to plan’

She explains she tried to get private insurance when she got back but says her situation wasn’t covered. Noot also explored other possibilities to keep costs down.

“My plan was to have a home birth because I thought that would be cheaper, ultimately, but I also thought I’m okay trying to have a home birth as well. It didn’t go to plan. I ended up having to go to hospital and having an emergency C-section,” she said.

The result was a baby boy and a hefty bill. While she’s elated with her new loved one, she admits the costs associated with the birth have added a bit of stress.

“I started getting the bills basically immediately after giving birth which, of course, put a bit of stress on me. It’s my first child, I have a newborn, and I’m receiving all of these medical costs,” Noot said.

The province has twice denied her applications to waive the waiting period, saying it’s there “for the protection of the publicly funded healthcare system, discouraging individuals that are non-residents from seeking medical treatment in B.C. and returning to their usual place of residence.”

“Routine pre-natal and post-natal care and the birth of a newborn does not typically meet the requirement of being diagnosed in the wait period. Furthermore, birth is not typically an unexpected event for the new or returning resident,” the Ministry of Health tells CityNews in a statement.

“The Ministry recognizes there may be circumstances where a recent arrival may need pre-natal and post-natal care in Canada due to extenuating circumstances. For individuals who must serve the mandatory wait period and who require unexpected medical care while in their wait period, there is an existing structured and well-defined process by which the wait period can be reviewed and waived.”

‘I don’t think pregnancy should be penalized’

Noot says she’s been told that her pregnancy and delivery “does not put enough of a financial burden” on her situation.

While she has family support to help with the bill, she says she doesn’t want others who may end up in her situation to be penalized.

“With that said, I am living off of maternity pay at the moment, which is not great, it’s from my job in the U.K., and I don’t have a lot of extra income at the moment. I’m not really receiving any child care, I get the odd amount but not much,” Noot explained, adding she’s living with her parents for the time being.

She says the whole situation feels punitive to women and pregnancy.

“I feel like it’s a bit of an injustice against women in general, in my situation. I don’t think pregnancy should be penalized. I’ve been a Canadian citizen my, well, entire life, a working Canadian citizen for the majority of my working life, paying taxes except for one year while I was away. I do feel there should be some sort of leeway to give there, but I’ve been denied,” Noot said.

For now, Noot says she’s enjoying time getting to know her new son. She plans to get back to work in B.C. as a nurse when she gets her licencing sorted out.