Healthcare in Canada

Healthcare in Canada

The More You Know: The Complete Online Guide to the Healthcare System in Canada

It is easy to look over the border at Canada and its healthcare system, and maybe go “Wow! It’s absolutely perfect over there!” We’ve heard a lot about it in recent years from some of our politicians such as Sen.Bernie Sanders, and it certainly sounds like a good deal when we look at our current private insurance industry. And while there is certainly something to appreciate about Canada transformation to a single-payer system, and it has helped countless Canadians, it is important to understand what the Canadian Healthcare System is all about and what kinds of coverage it affords. For example, if you read this, you’ll see one example of how just one of Canada’s provinces handles its provincial healthcare. So, read on and learn about what the Canadian Healthcare System is like.

The Rise of Canada’s Medicare

Canada didn’t always have a universal healthcare system. In fact, it wasn’t until 1944 when a boy by the name of Tommy Douglas almost lost one of his legs to a bone infection. How did this come to pass? His parents weren’t able to afford to get him treatment. And if it weren’t for a surgeon agreeing to save the boy’s leg for free in exchange of allowing medical students to observe the procedure, Tommy Douglas would’ve gone on to have his leg amputated.

Fast forward to when Tommy Douglas gets elected as the Premier of Saskatchewan, he would push the agenda for a universal, single-payer healthcare system. Thanks to the 1966 Medical Care Act, this would be done by having the Canadian government negotiate payment with the doctors, and ultimately paying half of the bill while the province pays for the other half. But it would take six years later until all the provinces and territories had adopted the universal insurance plans.

Why did it take so long to get the healthcare plan into action and practice? A lot of it had to do with the same fears that are currently being debated in the United States. Fear of loss of income. Fear of loss of business. Some opposition even tried racist tactics, conjuring fears of an invasion of immigrant doctors that would somehow steal all the business.

And none of these fears came to pass.

Understanding How It Works: Canadian Healthcare is Done by Province

The management of hospitals falls to each individual province and territory, and so it made sense that it all began with a single province taking action to adopt universal healthcare. Since then, every province has had the responsibility of managing how their provincial healthcare is managed, what things are covered by that healthcare, and what may require supplementary insurance to assist with costs.

While there is a private health insurance industry in Canada, but it is incredibly small because Canada law only allows private coverage for services that are not covered already by the public provincial plan. 

Also, while Canada touts their healthcare as universal healthcare, it is important to know that this universality only applies to its citizenry. Non-citizens coming to Canada would be required to have their own private insurance provider to help with costs.

Whether you’re born a Canadian or you become a citizen, when it’s time to get your health coverage and you enroll, you receive what is called health card from the Provincial Ministry of Health. There is a wide variety of basic care that comes with this health card, and a lot of it you won’t ever need to pay a dime for it, and if you do have to pay, it won’t be too much. For example, if you’re a citizen of Ontario, you would have coverage for your doctor visits, hospital visits and stays, ambulance service, dental surgery if it’s in a hospital, some eye health care may be covered, foot care services, and medical/surgical abortions. So long as the service you’re receiving is deemed medically necessary, chances are you won’t have to pay a cent for it. But that goes without saying, cosmetic surgery is not medically necessary, so be ready to pay up for that if you’re looking for it. 

Not all provincial plans are the same, however. For example, Ontario’s eye health care is provided for people of age 19 and under, and age 65 and over. But if you look at another province’s eye health, it might only cover for children under the age of 19. While there are similarities, it is important to consider the differences if you are thinking of moving to Canada or just moving to another province from your own.

Which brings us to the next topic: The limitations of Canada’s healthcare.

The Limitations of Canadian Healthcare

While there are a great lot of services provided for by the provincial healthcare plans, there are some holes in the plans that leave Canadians needing to purchase supplementary private health insurance in order to plug those holes.

Some of these include prescription drugs often not getting covered if they’re prescribed outside of a hospital setting, like antibiotics from your family doctor. If you go to a private dentist’s office instead of a dentist at a hospital, you usually won’t get covered by a provincial plan. And glasses are not generally covered either. So long as you’re in a hospital receiving service, chances are you will be covered or covered mostly. But the moment you step outside the hospital, you will need supplementary insurance to help.

Conclusion: There are New Challenges that Canadian Healthcare Must Face Today

While the universal healthcare plan provides a lot of vital services to Canadians all around, there are matters that will need to be addressed in order for the system to keep up with the times. One major issue that the system is facing is how the system was originally developed to take on more acute medical cases and issues as they came. But with a growing population of chronic illnesses, such as the rise of diabetes, the hospitals will be challenged in ways they hadn’t been before. And the governments will need to adjust and adapt to these changes. There are still plenty of acute and intense medical cases to be cared for, but flexibility will be required to not leave others, such as home care patients, with any less support as those who are in the hospital.

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