Enderby man passes away after battle with cancer

Photo: File photo

Enderby resident Ben Fuller, shown with his wife, Kris, passed away last week.

A North Okanagan man who was denied MSP coverage after opting out of the plan has died of complications from metastatic cancer.

Enderby resident Ben Fuller passed away last week.

“We are so heartbroken to share that Ben has passed away. He was an amazing husband to Kristina and she writes: 'I just loved him so much. There is nobody like him, he's just the best. It wasn't supposed to be like this. We just didn't have enough time together. He was my rock and my strength and I don't know what I'll do without him,'” said the post on a Gofundme page set up by Lisa Wright.

“Ben passed away on July 16, 2020 and we are now wrapping our sister in love in every way we can, including this fundraiser. We are holding a private family gathering to celebrate Ben's life. Please do not send flowers - she is surrounded by all the flowers in Ben's garden and that is all she wants.”

As of July 22, the fundraiser had reached half of its $10,000 goal with the money being used to help the family cover the financial challenges they are facing.

Last February, Ben was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 43.

Ben, as a healthy, middle-aged man, decided to opt out of his Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums two years ago. After the diagnosis, he tried to opt back in, but was denied until July.

When a person opts out of MSP coverage, the Ministry of Health will not pay for any medical bills for that 12-month period.

The Fullers submitted two appeal applications themselves, and were both denied. They then had two separate social workers each send an appeal in on their behalf, which were also both denied.