Why Canadian taxpayers spend millions on U.S. medical treatments – CBC

Over $200 million spent to send Ontario patients to foreign clinics for treatment — mostly in the U.S.

Sep 26, 2025

Hundreds of Ontario patients have been sent to U.S. hospitals and clinics for government-reimbursed medical care since 2018, according to exclusive data obtained by CBC News.

The costs — over $212 million — were covered by taxpayers money through OHIP, the province’s publicly funded health-care plan.

Among the approved applications for out-of-country care are radiation treatments for children in Florida, inpatient treatment for eating disorders in Wisconsin, genomic cancer therapy in New York, Massachusetts and Ohio, and consultations for gender-affirming surgeries in California.

The long-standing program, which has equivalents in every province, is for patients who need treatments or surgeries that aren’t available in Canada, or who could die if care is delayed.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/ontario-millions-us-treatments-1.7643753