Province extends partnership with Hope Air to support medical travel

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has extended a pilot partnership with a national charity aimed at helping residents access medical care outside their communities.

Lela Evans, minister of Labrador affairs and minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, announced the continuation of the program alongside Mark Rubinstein of Hope Air.

Hope Air provides non-emergency medical travel assistance to patients who must leave their home communities for specialized, insured care. The program is targeted at individuals and families facing financial and geographic barriers.

Under the partnership, eligible residents with household incomes of $70,000 or less can receive up to full coverage for travel costs. The charity coordinates flights and up to five nights of hotel accommodations, with no upfront expenses required from patients.

The provincial government says extending the pilot until March 31, 2027, will help improve access to necessary medical services and reduce cost-related barriers to care.

Hope Air, which is marking 40 years of service in Newfoundland and Labrador, provided more than 3,400 travel arrangements in 2025, including over 1,400 flights and more than 1,100 nights of accommodation for patients and their caregivers.