I am having a discussion with my friend about healthcare. I want to know if Canada has private medicine. Do you have public medical service only, or do you have private hospitals and private insurance as well?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Canadian Healthcare
- Thread starter fannsx
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Canadian Healthcare is socialized. So we are all entitled to it, but must reside in Canada every 6 months.
We also have private healthcare for our politicians. Our federal politicians do not use the same system as the rest of us. Our military is the same way, they take care of their own.
Approximately 1/3 of our tax dollars goes to healthcare. We also have an incredible rate of inflation for our healthcare expenses (7% per year).
We also have private healthcare for our politicians. Our federal politicians do not use the same system as the rest of us. Our military is the same way, they take care of their own.
Approximately 1/3 of our tax dollars goes to healthcare. We also have an incredible rate of inflation for our healthcare expenses (7% per year).
So you are telling me that private medical care is not accessible by the public?
I can understand why the military has its own medical system, since it is tax money anyway. Why are the politicians an exception?
When i was growing up in Hong Kong ( under British rule), we had public hospitals as well as private. As long as you paid, you may choose a private one.
I can understand why the military has its own medical system, since it is tax money anyway. Why are the politicians an exception?
When i was growing up in Hong Kong ( under British rule), we had public hospitals as well as private. As long as you paid, you may choose a private one.
In fact there were private MRI suites in Ontario, and MDs in Ontario tried to set up a private system, where people could pay a 'membership fee' and then a fee per service. This was squashed. In Quebec there was a major lawsuit against the crown to allow private clinics, as a man died waiting for his day in the hospital.
Serveral Canadians do cross the border to receive certain surgeries as they don't have to wait. This is allowed, but you're not reimburssed. If you try to set up a private health care clinic and compete with the public system, they'll shut you down. This has angered many Canadians.
The feds get their own health care for god knows why. Probably so they don't have to wait like the rest of us.
Serveral Canadians do cross the border to receive certain surgeries as they don't have to wait. This is allowed, but you're not reimburssed. If you try to set up a private health care clinic and compete with the public system, they'll shut you down. This has angered many Canadians.
The feds get their own health care for god knows why. Probably so they don't have to wait like the rest of us.
That's BS. I guess US has the best medical system, though far from perfect.
Well, according to the World Health Organization, you guys spend the most per capita $5000 per person, per year, but rank 39th out of the 39 most developed countries in the world. Canada ranked 37.
So do people really die or prolong suffering while waiting for surgery in Canada or other socialized medical systems?
I don't know what WHO base the ranking on. At least we have more accessible care.
There is abuse in the US health system. Unnecessary tests and procedures can drive up the cost of medicine by a huge amount.
I don't know what WHO base the ranking on. At least we have more accessible care.
There is abuse in the US health system. Unnecessary tests and procedures can drive up the cost of medicine by a huge amount.
No I wouldn't say it's a huge problem. The advantage is that everyone has access to health care here. There may be a wait for certain procedures, or if you have a low priority problem at the ER, but you won't die waiting to be seen if you have a critical condition etc.
The WHO's ranking (here's the 2000 article http://whqlibdoc.who.int/bulletin/2000/Number 6/78(6)770-778.pdf)
is well known in the health care communities of both our countries. No question there is inflation of health care costs down there, but it's not unnecessary procedures alone. MDs make 4-10x what they do elsewhere and the administration of all of these insurance plans generates huge profits for the insurance companies as well. Here the government runs it which does have its own problems.
The WHO's ranking (here's the 2000 article http://whqlibdoc.who.int/bulletin/2000/Number 6/78(6)770-778.pdf)
is well known in the health care communities of both our countries. No question there is inflation of health care costs down there, but it's not unnecessary procedures alone. MDs make 4-10x what they do elsewhere and the administration of all of these insurance plans generates huge profits for the insurance companies as well. Here the government runs it which does have its own problems.
We've opted into a "private" system in Canada. You pay about $10k per year and get your own "Team" assigned to the family. You can call them anytime, day or night, they'll come to the house in certain circumstances and you certainly don't have to wait for appointments.
Its great until it has to interface with the public system, like you need an MRI or surgery - then there are some issues, but there are private surgical hospitals now, so you end up getting referred to them.
Some people poh-poh it saying that "two tiered" system is unfair since it allows the "rich" to get better heathcare which is a basic human right.
My argument is that BMW, Audi and Mercedes build WAY safer cars than a chevy minivan - but we don't subsidize people who can't afford mercedes' on the basis that their lives would be better protected in a safer car so its a basic human right to drive a BMer.
My feeling is that if allowed, enough people would opt out of the system that it would actually IMPROVE the system since it would have less users and the same $$$ as it always had - just like private school enrollment has increased and public school funding hasn't decreased.
Also, Doctors used to have the right to bill extra for their services, specialists, and popular/famous doctors used to charge an extra fee for a visit - the NDP removed this arguing it was "EXTRA BILLING" as opposed to the right to bill and co-payments. This also hurt our system because it forced doctors to earn less which causes them to try to get more cash from the system to make up for the loss of income.
I feel user fees are fair - and also, they should be waived for people who can't afford them (they should just need to ask) what's the shame in that?
I'd pay $30 per doctor visit (a Doctor only gets $35 from the government) to avoid paying $10k a year - I only go once or twice a year - what's the real cost?
Its great until it has to interface with the public system, like you need an MRI or surgery - then there are some issues, but there are private surgical hospitals now, so you end up getting referred to them.
Some people poh-poh it saying that "two tiered" system is unfair since it allows the "rich" to get better heathcare which is a basic human right.
My argument is that BMW, Audi and Mercedes build WAY safer cars than a chevy minivan - but we don't subsidize people who can't afford mercedes' on the basis that their lives would be better protected in a safer car so its a basic human right to drive a BMer.
My feeling is that if allowed, enough people would opt out of the system that it would actually IMPROVE the system since it would have less users and the same $$$ as it always had - just like private school enrollment has increased and public school funding hasn't decreased.
Also, Doctors used to have the right to bill extra for their services, specialists, and popular/famous doctors used to charge an extra fee for a visit - the NDP removed this arguing it was "EXTRA BILLING" as opposed to the right to bill and co-payments. This also hurt our system because it forced doctors to earn less which causes them to try to get more cash from the system to make up for the loss of income.
I feel user fees are fair - and also, they should be waived for people who can't afford them (they should just need to ask) what's the shame in that?
I'd pay $30 per doctor visit (a Doctor only gets $35 from the government) to avoid paying $10k a year - I only go once or twice a year - what's the real cost?
Without seeking to get too technical with laws, can you elaborate on what basis they can shut down a private enterprise/business? Is it related to not issuing a licnese/permit to practice medicine, if so on what premise - solely because it's a private and not public? Does the status of say being non-profit community based make a difference?
Look at it this way: I have the best credit card ever invented.
As a Canadian, I have a government issued health card (used to visit hospitals & healthcare professionals) ... Unlike Visa & M/C, it does not have a credit limit ... It does not have an expiry date ... All my family members get one ... best of all, I never get a monthly statement .... and most of the time I don't even need to have it in my wallet in order to benefit its use.
Now, how can you beat that!
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