Universal and Private Healthcare in Canada

There are many people who are disenchanted with Canadian Medicare these days. The system is old and was created in the 1966 by

Tommy Douglas

under the Lester B. Pearson government. Quebec has a shortage of doctors at this present time. But all Canadians are entitled to health care free of charge. If a Montrealer or Quebecer does not have a family doctor, he or she can go to any walk in center to be seen. Emergency services exist at hospitals and there are no insurance forms to fill out, or other things that would impede the the patient being seen.

Our system is simple; the government at the provincial level foots the bill ( it also gets some funds from the Canadian government) and the Canadian, just goes to the doctor, gets the care he or she needs and then goes home. A Canadian can go to any province and receive treatment. We all have what is called a medicare card to show our proof of residence. In Quebec, and Montreal the medicare card is called a carte du soleil. Everyone rich or poor is entitled to the same health care just by presenting this card. The card has to be renewed every four years. Some provinces will not cover dental or vision, but that is a small price to pay considering one does not have to pay for doctor visits, hospital stays, tests, treatments, operations, and more.

There is private insurance available that will cover the extras. Many employers have an insurance plan and a few dollars a week are deducted from the employees pay check for this service. For many companies participation in the coverage is optional. This type of private insurance is relatively inexpensive and covers different things depending on the insurer and the plan. It could cover dental, vision, some kinds of cosmetic surgery not covered by the general health plan, chiropractors, massages and so on.

The general medicare plan does not have any co-pay; all is free. The private insurance plans cover the extras which also includes semi-private or private hospital rooms. Some private coverage is fully covered while other plans pay up to 80 percent of the cost. For example, if you do not want to be in a ward with up to four other people you can opt for a private or semi-private room and pay nothing or only 20 percent of the cost of the room.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada

http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/medical-cost-disability-11/slideshow-top-11-medical-expenses?ecd=wnl_day_062511