Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Demands Health Coverage Be Extended to Uninsured ResidentsOn May 11, the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour sent a letter to the provincial government urging that during the COVID-19 pandemic they extend health care coverage to those Nova Scotia residents who are currently uninsured and do not meet the eligibility criteria for provincial health care coverage. The letter, signed by the Federation's President Danny Cavanagh, states in part: "We know that migrant workers, international students, and undocumented migrant workers cannot travel home and/or some will be coming into the province to work. We need to ensure they have medical coverage as the COVID-19 health crisis continues. "We know that the health of our province depends on the health of all Nova Scotians. When the most vulnerable people are denied health care and believe they are unable to access free testing and treatment for COVID-19, it puts our entire community at risk of a more rapid and greater spread of the virus. Migrant workers, international students, and undocumented migrants who have lost their status are all at risk of contracting the virus and spreading it without access to easily acceptable public healthcare." The letter then highlights that some of these workers and international students have private emergency service insurance, but it may not cover COVID-19 assessments, testing or treatment. Others will face the impossible barrier of paying upfront for services and waiting for insurance companies to reimburse them in those cases where the insurance covers COVID-19 situations. And still others have no health insurance at all. This means, states the letter, that, along with the fear of possible detention or deportation that hangs over their head, this is another pressure to keep these members of the community from seeking health care services, which increases the risk of the spread of the virus in the community. Free and easily accessible health care coverage for the most vulnerable people is therefore a need to protect their health, help flatten the curve of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of all, the letter concludes.
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