Thread: Sarah Burke dies, leaves debt to her family.

Originally Posted by USA-1

Sarah Burke's skiing tragedy leaves family with big debt

Why didn't she have health insurance?
550K bill.

Honestly?

It's possible she didn't even realise that OHIP (I think she was from Ontario) doesn't necessarily cover all medical costs while you're in the US. Many Canadians make the mistake when travelling to the US. Even though the government will cover parts of costs, or depending the entire cost, there are very specific guidelines on what they deem necessary, excessive or what not. Canadians are still encouraged to get additional travel insurance but a lot just disregard that and think, "I'm not going to get sick."

I'm only aware of that because I've worked for the govenment and in healthcare and I've heard some real horror stories about Canadians who've gotten sick or injured in the US.

Try being an American in America. We middle class are so screwed when it comes to health care. Obama tried to fix it but was blocked every which way by the repubs.

Originally Posted by Inkslinger

I would think any country that has athletes participating in international games like the Olympics would have their representatives covered.

Canada is absolutely terrible for helping athletes, generally, with any kind of costs they might incur related to their talents. Our training programs are lacking and many athletes pay out of pocket for everything unless they have endorsements or whatever. It's actually an embarrassment. Obviously, the government really upped the ante for Vancouver but, having not heard about anything in recent times, I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was again reduced since the next winter Olympics is not in Canada.

So, it's not likely that the government would have covered her.

Outside of hockey there is literally no support for athletes. I would imagine that sponsors would give equipment but only the independently wealthy can compete in any sport other than Hockey. There is even a Big Box Hardware store chain here (Home Depot) that prides itself on hiring competative athletes and "supporting their training schedule". That means our Olympic athletes work for 9 bucks an hour stacking warehouse shelves - but their company gives them flexible hours so they can train after their full-time job making less in a year than the cost of 10 international flights.

Compare that to China where kids are trained in government facilities from toddlers, Japan where corporations hire athletes as full-time employees and their job is to train for their sport in the company facilities, or the US where there's just so much money in sponsorship that success leads to financial reward.

Hockey is literally the only sport you can make more money than you spend in.

But goddamn it WERE RIGHT. These are amateur sports, and the idea behind them was amateur athletes from all nations on an even footing. An Australian raised from age 5 in one of their federally funded sports-science academies, or a guy getting 5 million a year from sponsors and government rewards are NOT amateurs. They are professionals.

As usual, the ones who follow the rules and respect the ideals just get pissed on by all the bastards.

Anyway - it IS ridiculous that someone who travelled as extensively as her did not know she needed insurance. By now most Canadians who can read should know their Provincial plan is not going to cover their 6 digit foreign hospital stays. I wonder what happened. There must be a reason.

*Edit. According to CBC her Association insures athletes for sanctioned competitions, but this was an unsanctioend competition. hard to believe this isn't something they would be aware of. But I've been guilty of short trips across the border myself. There but by the Grace of God...

Her final bill was 250K ish - and donations have already exceeded that. AND her Ontario plan will actually cover some of it. Looks like the familiy has actually made enough to start a foundation in her name.