Insurance Coverage In Canada

Morgan, S. G., Martin, D., & Lexchin, J. (2015). Pharmacare 2020: The future of drug coverage in Canada, 1, 7-15. Retrieved from http://pharmacare2020.ca/assets/pdf/The_Future_of_Drug_Coverage_in_Canada.pdf

Canada’s healthcare system started in 1946 and is made up of a group of socialized health insurance plans that provides coverage to all Canadian citizens. It is publicly funded and administered on a provincial or territorial basis with in the rules set by their federal government. Since the late 1960’s Canada essential has had a universal health insurance system covering all services provided by physicians and hospitals. In 1966 Lester B Pearson’s government subsequently expanded a policy of the universal healthcare with the medical care act. Canada’s healthcare system is the subject of political controversy and debate in the country. While healthcare in America began in the late 1800’s but was truly born in 1929 when Justin Kimball

In the first Hall Royal Commission, Pharmacare is outlined as recommend in joining the covered benefits for Canadian citizens - Canadians pays slightly less than their U.S. counterparts for Pharmaceuticals (Armstrong, p51). Privatization influences an unequal system - creating significant hindrances for impoverished people in Canada, again creating a rich-poor divide that does not influence equality, which is the essence of the Canadian Health Act. As pointed out in The Canadian Regime, “In European Countries, drugs are covered by public insurance schemes. Why not do the same in Canada?” (Malcolmson, p226). Further, Malcolmson describes the possibility for the government to generate a type of bulk buying scheme - where we as a country can

This paper looks into a proposal on the introduction of a universal pharmaceutical policy or pharmacare in Canada. Canada is a country that has a global reputation of offering a successful healthcare to its populations. The Canadians enjoys free healthcare facilities because when they get sick they just need to visit the hospital or their doctors even when they do not have money. The government funds for the universal health policy by use of government revenues. The government gets the funds to pay the policies through taxation of Canadians who are well-off. Most Canadians especially the ordinary Canadians have benefited from the universal healthcare as it has increased their accessibility to health services (Fierlbeck, 2011).

The Canada Healthcare act [R.S. 1985, c. C-6] passed in 1984. It ensures that all residents of Canada have an equal access to necessary physician services, no extra billing from physicians and hospital. The act is on five main principles, Public administration necessary services are to offer on a non-profit basis. Next, accessibility coverage with no extra charges and comprehensiveness coverage for all medically necessary services at all times. Portability coverage is to extend to all residents in all provinces and territories. The fifth principle is universality coverage for all eligible residents of all provinces and territories (SEDAP, 2007).

The Canadian health care system has many flaws and issues because of the many systems within it. Canada has fifteen different health care systems, these fifteen include thirteen provincial/territorial systems, a system for Aboriginals, and a system for veterans. Coincidentally because there is so many systems doctors work hours, location, and fees are different across the country. Many doctors charge extra fees for services such as pill refills and Pick the hours they work. Not only are things different with doctors from province to province but so are the services covered. The coverage of services such as eye, dental, and abortion services are not the same everywhere (O'Grady, Kathleen and Noralou, Roos). Issues with coverage and doctors are

It is expected that with the baby boomers significantly using the health care dollars, the provinces and territories will end up spending 60% of their GDP on health care services which accounts to $530 billion dollars of debt ( Robson, 2001). This discrepancy will put pressure on the federal government and encourage provincial policy makers to rely more on the federal government for funding instead of finding their own way to manage their health care systems better. Population aging affects the demand for and costs of health care services, given that seniors account for about 45% of provincial/ government health care dollars (Ng,Sanmartin,Tu, Manuel, 2014, pg 15). Seniors are not only the largest user group of health care, but their hospital visits and admissions are higher than any other age group. This is merely because seniors tend to have more chronic conditions which derive them to use the health care services. Due to the health care problems that many seniors face, it is important to address the future directions in which the sustainability of the universal health care resides.

The National Forum on Health (NFH), active from 1994 to 1997 under the direction of Prime Minister, Jean Chrétien, sought to find ways to address healthcare and the health of Canadians. (1) Among the long list of health related issues addressed by the NFH, the recommendation of a publically funded pharmacare program. This call has been echoed again by the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, (2)

Obamacare, Medicare, universal, privatized, public, parallel; these healthcare systems (HCS) may sound a little confusing and scary for a person who values their health and the health of their family. In the United States of America, there are several different options of health coverage to choose from: health insurance for people with disabilities, long term care insurance, traditional-fee-for-service, and preferred provider organization, this is just naming a few (USA.org, 2017). With all these choices, how do you know which one is the best for you and your family? Usa.org emphasizes that several questions must be considered when choosing a healthcare provider: Are there any deductibles? Can I see any doctors or go to any hospital? Will all medications be covered that the doctor prescribes? Again, seems confusing, right! Therefore, Canada's HCS is based on the patients' needs and not what they can afford (Government of Canada, 2012). Although Canada's HCS is widely known for their universal coverage, many Canadian citizens have various concerns; one being excessive wait times.

The Canadian healthcare system is one that I believe has been long coveted by many Americans. One thing I found particularly unique and also a bit of an eye-opener was this quote from the text, “ Wealthy or poor, employed or jobless, retired or younger than 18, every Canadian receives the same health insurance, financed in the same way. No Canadian would even imagine that leaving, changing, retiring from, or losing a job has anything to do with health insurance.” Canada has it right, health insurance should be a right regardless of age, employment status or income. A few months ago I

Canada’s health care system “can be described as a publicly-funded, privately-provided, universal, comprehensive, affordable, single-payer, provincially administered national health care system” (Bernard, 1992, p.103). Health care in Canada is provincial responsibility, with the Canada Health act being a federal legislation (Bernard, 1992, p. 102). Federal budget cuts, has caused various problems within Medicare such as increased waiting times and lack of new technology. Another problem with Medicare is that The Canada Heath Act does not cover expenditures for prescriptions drugs. All these issue has caused individuals to suggest making Medicare privatized. Although, Canada’s health care system consists of shortcomings, our universal

For example, “in Ontario, the provincial program covers all people aged 65 and over, residents of long-term care homes, recipients of home care services and social assistance, and people with high drug costs in relation to their income (a catastrophic insurance plan)” (Allin & Rudoler, 2015, p.22).

The birth of Medicare was in Saskatchewan on July 1, 1962. Medicare was the first government controlled, comprehensive, universal single payer medical insurance plan in Canada. Many insurance industries and all the medical institutions were against the idea of having Medicare. They feared that Medicare will become popular and will spread across the globe. Once the plan was successful all of Canada was protected by a medical insurance system that was based on the Saskatchewan plan and no politician would be allowed to openly oppose it. In addition, the Canadian health care system is a group of socialized health insurance plan that covers the medical costs of all Canadian citizens. The Canadian health care system is publicly subsidized and overseen on a Provincial and or territorial basis, within guidelines set by the Federal government. Canadian citizens are protected under the health care system, for their medical treatments from primary care physicians, access to hospitals, and additional medical services. Every Canadian citizen qualifies for health care coverage regardless of their income, lifestyle, and medical history. Although Canadians are protected for a portion of their health care there are still many services that are not protected under the health care system, such as dental services, prescription medication, and optometrists.

Canada 's healthcare system is praised globally for its universal and free healthcare. It started to take shape after World War II in 1945. Health insurance was introduced and was attempted, but was not successful even though there was an increase in the spending of health related services and goods. Fast forward a few years to 1961 where Tommy Douglas, the premier of Saskatchewan, developed the idea for an all-inclusive insurance plan. He later inspired the Medical Care Act in Canada in 1967, when he pointed out health care is a right for all Canadians. From this one thought, Canada has become of the many countries with a universal health care system. Ever since Tommy Douglas sparked the idea for health care coverage, Canada is praised for the way it carries out its system because of several key features. This system is publically funded, is universal and is accessible to everyone across the nation. Because this is a public system, funding comes from the tax payers and some federal funding, so there is no extra cost for the patients. Also, being a universal system it has offered care to all Canadians, immigrants and visitors. Unlike the U.S who does not provide healthcare to its entire population because it is a private system; access depends on how much someone could afford, and how

In America confidence in the health care system diminishes with aging. Americans believe that as they grow older, health care will be unaffordable to them. Seniors especially believe that once they depend on fixed budgets, that the American government will selectively rid them of attaining affordable health care. Just being able to afford their prescription drugs will be a situation where seniors will have to choose between food or medicine because of their decrease in household incomes. The one feature that is most effective in providing comprehensive health care in Canada is the participation of the government where citizens are completely covered for their health insurance. The best feature of health insurance in America is group health insurance. Group coverage normally offers the best benefits at a lower rate. The least effective feature of American health care is the cost of medical prescriptions and extended times of waiting to see the physicians. The least effective feature of Canada's medical health care system is also the lengthy time of waiting to see the physicians. Since most private health insurance companies in the US tell you which doctors to visit, specify which hospitals you may enter, this could be a deterrent to your treatment. In Canada this is not the case, if you are ill you may go to any hospital regardless of financial means or insurance coverage and get treated. Canadians and Americans found that increasing health care