Benifits Derived from the Canadian Health Care System

The history of providing medical care and other charities for the poor in Canada is older than Canada itself. It goes back to the colony of New France now known as Quebec, and Montreal key players such as Jeanne Mance, Margaret BOURGEOYS, and Margaret D'Youville lead the way. Hotel-Dieu is the oldest hospital in Canada and is located on St. Urbain Street in Montreal.

Universal Healthcare in Canada

Benefits of Canadian universal health care

Think of this, no loss of coverage with the universal health care program in Canada. You do not lose your coverage because you changed jobs, you are not excluded for certain coverage because of pre-existing conditions as happens in America, and you don't have a co-pay to worry about unless you opted for private coverage that will pick up the the features not covered by our universal health care system. Canadians can go to any doctor they want. They are not prevented from taking a certain GP because the insurance company does not approve. If a specialist is required, the GP gives the referral and the individual again, makes the appointment and sees the specialist free of charge.

Also included in the health care package is medication but contrary to what Americans understand, medication is not covered. However, this is something the private insurance plan will cover, either with or without a co-pay.

Low income families can get provincial help and pay $15.00 dollars a month (in Quebec) maximum for all the medications you require, which could be in the hundreds of dollars each month. People paying their own medication (some self employed individuals) can claim a refund on their Quebec tax return. Individuals on social assistance get their medication free.

Since the public health care is paid with public funds, this is the only intervention from the government. The government pays the hospitals, the pharmacies, and the doctors.

Canadian spent on average of 10 percent of the gross national product on health care in 2007, while Americans (a bigger country, more people) spend about 16 percent. The biggest amount was paid out for pharmaceuticals in Canada. The funding to hospitals and doctors has decreased since then but pharmaceuticals are on the rise in Canada. The high cost of pharmaceuticals is felt throughout Canada and the USA, only Canadians pay next to nothing as the government or private insurance foots most of the bill.

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