TORONTO, ON — [July 20, 2026] — Hope Air released the results of its 2026 National Patient Survey, revealing that for many low-income Canadians, transportation costs to reach specialized care remains one of the country’s most overlooked barriers to health.
Conducted in April 2026, the survey gathered responses from 1,183 Hope Air patients from every region of Canada. The findings confirm that transportation costs remain one of the most significant barriers to equitable healthcare for Canadians living in rural, remote and underserved communities.
Financial Burden of Long-Distance Medical Travel For Hope Air patients, whose average pre-tax household income is
less than $40,000 per year, the financial burden of travelling for specialized medical care can be overwhelming.
Without the financial assistance for flights, accommodations, meals and ground transportation that Hope Air provides, our report shows:
- 58% of patients would delay or cancel their medical appointment if travel expenses were more than $500.
- A patient would pay roughly $2,600 per trip without Hope Air support; a cost 5x greater than this threshold to cancel.
- Among patients who would need to borrow money to pay for medical travel, 76% said the resulting debt would be unmanageable.
- 65% of patients who delayed care because of travel costs waited more than three months before receiving another appointment.
- One in five patients (20%) said they would cancel their medical appointment if financial assistance for hotel accommodation was unavailable.
Patients described borrowing money, relying on credit, using personal savings, missing work and making difficult financial sacrifices simply to attend medical appointments.
“Timely access to diagnosis and specialized treatment is one of the strongest predictors of better health outcomes,” said Mark Rubinstein, Chief Hope Officer of Hope Air.
“Yet for many thousands of Canadians, the greatest barrier to healthcare is not the availability of treatment—it is simply being able to afford the journey.” “
I’m a stay-at-home mom of 3, besides my boy’s medical appointments over the years I have an autistic daughter who requires a lot of attention and support as well. We probably wouldn’t have made it to all our appointments or would have had to borrow a vehicle to drive to our appointments without Hope Air. It’s very expensive, if we were to drive it would be a 14-hour drive and we don’t have the most reliable vehicles to make the trip safe. Hope Air has been a blessing in my life as it’s given me the financial support to get my children to their medical appointments and for that I will be forever grateful.” –
Shelby, 31, from Pouce Coupe, BC who began traveling with Hope Air due to pregnancy complications.
Better Access to Medical Travel Improves Health Outcomes When patients can consistently access specialized medical care, they report better health outcomes and less reliance on local healthcare services.
After receiving Hope Air support, patients reported:
- 33% reduction in visits to local emergency departments.
- 47% reduction in frequent (three or more) emergency department visits.
- 36% reduction in hospital admissions.
- 34% required fewer visits to local healthcare providers after receiving specialized care.
Transportation Is an Essential Part of Healthcare The survey demonstrates that transportation is far more than a logistical challenge; it is an essential component of accessing healthcare.
Transportation barriers affect whether people can access specialized healthcare, remain connected to treatment, maintain financial stability, and protect their emotional wellbeing. The burden of medical travel also extends beyond the patient, affecting families and caregivers financially, emotionally, and professionally.
Together, the findings reinforce that affordable medical travel is an essential component of equitable healthcare in Canada.
Healthcare Access Affects Entire Families Half of Hope Air’s patients travel with an escort, including all children and many seniors who require medically necessary support to reach their care. Hope Air’s national survey examined the experiences of caregivers, highlighting the significant impact that medical travel has on entire households.
- 97% of caregivers said they would experience financial hardship without Hope Air’s support.
- 53% reported missing four or more workdays each year while supporting a loved one receiving treatment.
These findings demonstrate that the burden of accessing healthcare extends beyond patients, with spouses, parents, children, and caregivers often sharing the financial, employment and emotional impacts of travelling for care.
About Hope Air For nearly 40 years, Hope Air has been Canada’s national charity dedicated to removing the financial barriers that prevent low-income Canadians from accessing the healthcare they need.
Hope Air provides free flights, accommodations, meals, ground transportation and other travel assistance so patients can reach specialized medical care, regardless of where they live or their limited income.
Since 1986, Hope Air has provided more than 275,000 travel arrangements for patients regardless of age or medical need.
Hope Air’s Impact in 2025 Nationally, Hope Air provided:
- More than 37,700 medical travel arrangements were provided for patients and their escorts.
- More than 14,200 flights arranged across Canada.
- More than 10,400 patient trips were supported.
- Patients travelled from over 700 communities nationwide.
In British Columbia, Hope Air provided more than
21,900 medical travel supports, including
9,300 flights, 5,000 hotel nights, 3,500 meal vouchers and nearly 4,000 ground transportation services.
In 2025, Hope Air supported
896 patient and escort trips for Newfoundlanders & Labradorians, representing 3406 medical travel arrangements. This includes over 1472 airline flights, 1142 nights of accommodation, 399 hotel meal vouchers, and 393 airport ground transportation trips.
Hope Air supports Canadians living with hundreds of serious medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, organ transplantation, pediatric illnesses, high-risk pregnancies and rare diseases.
Hope Air believes that where a person lives—or their limited financial means—should never determine whether they can access specialized healthcare.
Media Contact: Jodi Lumsden, Director, Marketing & Communications
jlumsden@hopeair.ca
647-688-5634
