2025 Hope Air National Patient Survey Confirms Significant Better Health Care Outcomes with Reduction in Financial Barriers in Access to treatment
95% of Hope Air patients report improved health care outcomes through timely access to essential medical treatment
Toronto, ON – August 19, 2025: A newly released survey of 1375 Hope Air patients reveals new insights on the impact of Hope Air services for low-income Canadians, who must travel far to reach vital medical care. The 2025 Hope Air National Patient Survey illustrates a vivid picture of lives transformed, barriers overcome, and communities supported from coast to coast.
Removing Financial Barriers, Enabling Care
For thousands of Canadians living in rural or under-served communities, accessing essential medical treatment means facing overwhelming travel costs and impossible choices.
If not for Hope Air, 93.8% of patients would have experienced financial difficulty with the costs of medical travel such as airline and hotel accommodation.
Over 40% of patients would have gone into debt, with others turning to family, charity, or even missing care entirely.
Greatest Financial Impact on Canada’s Most Vulnerable
The average Hope Air patient household income reported is approx. $26,977 a year.
As a result of Hope Air’s intervention, respondents avoided an average of 7.76 days off work that would have otherwise been needed for medical travel.
This represents $765 in avoided wage losses for 27.7% of employed patients resulting in Hope Air helping to save $888,575 in lost wages across Canada.
Timely, Life-Changing Access to Medical Care
Missed or delayed medical appointments dropped dramatically for patients receiving Hope Air support including a 42% decrease in missed appointments.
Mental Health and Emotional Well-BeingBeyond financial relief, 95% of patients reported that Hope Air’s support had a positive impact on their mental and emotional health, removing stress and uncertainty during difficult times.
System-Wide Benefits: Easing Pressure on Local Healthcare
By ensuring patients receive timely care at well-equipped centers, Hope Air reduced the strain on local hospitals, ERs, and prevented complications from delayed treatment.
After receiving Hope Air’s support, patient ER visits decreased 16%.
After receiving Hope Air’s support, Hospital admissions decreased by 14%.
Not only have Hope Air services improved patient health outcomes, local hospitals and clinics, often unequipped to provide specialized treatment, are relieved of excess strain, while patients receive the right care at the right time.
The findings revealed through this national survey, confirm that better health care outcomes for vulnerable people living in rural or under-served communities, is inextricably connected to eliminating financial barriers for medical travel” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Office, Hope Air”. “Through Hope Air programs, patients can reach medical care on a timely basis, significantly reducing their financial, emotional and mental stress”.
The Hope Air survey was conducted with 1375 respondents in March 2025. The data included representation from respondents living in every province, diverse age, gender and community size.
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity dedicated to providing free flights and accommodations for low-income Canadians, who must travel long distances to access medical specialty care. Hope Air eliminates barriers of distance and cost so that patients in financial need, can travel to access the best available treatment for many life-threatening health conditions. Founded in 1986, Hope Air has facilitated over 235,980 travel arrangements across over 640 communities.
Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
647-688-5634
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
Removing Financial Barriers, Enabling Care
Greatest Financial Impact on Canada’s Most Vulnerable
Timely, Life-Changing Access to Medical Care
Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being
System-Wide Benefits: Easing Pressure on Local Healthcare
The findings revealed through this national survey, confirm that better health care outcomes for vulnerable people living in rural or under-served communities, is inextricably connected to eliminating financial barriers for medical travel” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Office, Hope Air”. “Through Hope Air programs, patients can reach medical care on a timely basis, significantly reducing their financial, emotional and mental stress”.
The Hope Air survey was conducted with 1375 respondents in March 2025. The data included representation from respondents living in every province, diverse age, gender and community size.
About Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada’s national charity dedicated to providing free flights and accommodations for low-income Canadians, who must travel long distances to access medical specialty care. Hope Air eliminates barriers of distance and cost so that patients in financial need, can travel to access the best available treatment for many life-threatening health conditions. Founded in 1986, Hope Air has facilitated over 235,980 travel arrangements across over 640 communities.
Media Contact:
Jodi Lumsden
Director of Marketing & Communications
647-688-5634
jlumsden@hopeair.ca