Lethbridge family facing massive hospital bill for father visiting from Philippines

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (OMNI) – It was supposed to be a family reunification in Alberta, but instead, it became a financial nightmare.

A family is warning others as they contemplate sending their 74-year-old father home to the Philippines with no immediate way to pay a health care bill set to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Bernardo Puno’s lifelong dream was to experience snow in Canada. The dream came true in 2019, when he made the trip from the Philippines to Lethbridge to reunite with his family.

“We brought him to Banff, Waterton, fishing, camping, sightseeing,” said family member Robin Galang. “It was the happiest days of his life. ‘A dream come true,’ he’d always say to me.”

Puno applied to become a permanent resident through the parent-grandparent program in September 2020. But after two months, the family says Puno started acting differently.

“The very next day, we are all shocked,” said Galang. “The doctors told me he has a stroke. It’s a huge one, it’s a severe one, so it’s a big damage on his brain.”

Puno has a visitor visa without health care and does not have travel insurance. Because he had applied for permanent residency, the family attempted to apply for an Alberta health-care card.

During the hospital visit, only general nursing care was provided due to the uncertainty of how a hospital bill would be paid.

“And when the result came, it was denied,” said Galang. “It was just so frustrating. We don’t know what to do next. That’s the only way we can cover his hospital bills.”

There’s no final bill yet, but the estimate is expected to be close to $400,000. Puno’s visitor status is set to expire next month and the family hasn’t heard back on his permanent residency application.

Meantime, Puno is getting better and is now medically stable. He still needs rehabilitation, but the family worries Puno may be discharged from the hospital because of the big bill.

Now, the family is facing the difficult decision of whether to send their father back to the Philippines, which will cost another $55,000.

“We only live here paycheque to paycheque but on top of that, the hospital is very expensive to have a patient in hospital here in Canada,” said Galang.

The family says the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary did reach out to them.

OMNI reached out to the Philippine Consulate for comment but has not heard back.

OMNI also reached out to Alberta Health Services, which said it can’t comment on specific cases but did say in a statement it’s sorry to hear about the circumstances.

“We also understand the associated medical bills may be a burden to them and their family,” the statement continued. “In cases where AHS is unable to make arrangements with patients to transfer their care to their home province or country, other government agencies may be asked to assist.”

The family has advice for those who have visitors from another country.

“And for those who have family that’s already here in Canada, I suggest you talk to your insurance company right away,” said Galang. “Before you invite your kamag-anak or relatives here, you have to think hundred times first.”