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The Misinformation About the Canadian Health Care System
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by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | July 17, 2009 at 06:33 am
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If you want socialized health care your an idiot_
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For the past few days I have watched misinformation being bantered about in reference to the Canadian Health Care System. This article is not intended to sway anyone in the US on either side of the issue, but rather to set the record straight, as I see it.
The Republicans claim that the Obama Administration is trying to introduce a Canadian Style Health Care System. There are ads that claims that there are lotteries for doctors, long waiting lists, and the control over drugs that can be used.
While this may be true in some jurisdictions, I don't believe it to be true as a carde blanche rule. In some cases, where drug plans are available, doctors may be encouraged to prescribe generic drugs, but the patient always has the choice to go with the original if he/she is willing to pay for it.
From my perspective, the Administration's Health Care Plan is nowhere anything near what we have in Canada. Canada's Health Care is not operated as a National Health Care System, even though it is mandated under the Canada Health Act.
Jurisdictions in Canada (Provinces and Territories) are mandated to provide basic health care under the Canada Health Act. Each province provides its own health care. What that means is that when u move to another Province or Territory in Canada, you have to apply to be covered by that jurisdiction and there is normally a three months waiting period before you are covered by your new Province or Territory. The previous jurisdiction has to cover you during this waiting period.
For example, if I visit Manitoba, my Alberta health card is no good to me there should I have to visit a doctor. I have to claim those expenses once I return to Alberta and I will get reimbursed at the rate that Alberta provides for this procedure, as long as it is below Manitoba's rates. . That is why most Canadians will purchase supplementary insurance or travel insurance to cover any additional costs.
Some provinces have a drug plan, Alberta does not, except for Seniors, who are entitled to free Blue Cross coverage when they turn 65. Presently they pay roughly $25 for each prescription. This will soon change, since there will be a graduated plan, based on Seniors income.
Until recently, Alberta collected a $64 health care premium for each person. Employers normally covered half. Some jurisdictions collect a premium, while others don't. Many Canadians carry supplementary insurance to cover pharmaceuticals, ambulance service and some medical supplies.
For the most part, our Health Care Plans work well for the public. Is the system perfect? No, but neither are private plans in the US. Most waiting periods referred to are for elective surgery and non emergency MRIs or CT scans. In Alberta I have not heard of too many horror stories regarding this.
My doctor can order any lab work he deems necessary to diagnose me or to monitor me. The myth that he is being controlled by the province is just that. In the Alberta Health Region they also maintain electronic health records.
Drugs are readily available as required. In fact, for the most part, we pay less for the same drugs that are sold in the United States because our government negotiated drug prices. Thus a lot of American Seniors have used on line pharmacies or buses to Canada to get these cheaper drugs.
At the University of Alberta a lot of research is being done especially as far as cancer, cardiology and diabetes. We believe we have the best researchers doing good work in that institution. Much of that research is funded by the government.
Are there problems with the system? Of course, governments must set budget priorities and as such they determine what they cover above and beyond what is mandated by the Canada Health Act.
There is also a doctor shortage, in Alberta, mostly in rural areas. In Redwater all three doctors are from South Africa. I believe they are doing a great job as General Practicioners. Accessibility to Specialists is not a problem. The difference here is that you need the GPs referral. Personally, I have never waited very long for an appointment.
Recently I requested an MRI (non emergency), the appointment was within ten days. I had to cancel and reschedule and was told by some it would take a long time. Not so, I was rescheduled within a week.
In summary, while not perfect, the the Canadian Health Care System works for most Canadians. Decisions by governments on coverage and infrastructure does affect it. I think so will decisions by private providers who have to make a profit and are accountable to their stockholders.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (38)
at 07:18 on July 17th, 2009
well said
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 07:19 on July 17th, 2009
Thank you marianmo:).
at 07:42 on July 17th, 2009
Good post ACP. Thank you.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 07:44 on July 17th, 2009
Thank you Paschen.
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Parmeisan (not verified)at 07:49 on July 17th, 2009
Wow, I didn't know that about medical care in another province. I never really thought about it, I guess.
I have been grateful so many times that I live in Canada, because when I am feeling particularly unwell, I don't have to gamble on whether I might have something serious, I just get it checked out. I don't have to stress that, "Well, it might be something that's going to kill me, but it's probably not, and I can't really afford to find out until I really think it might kill me." Of course I don't go to the doctor for everything - especially with the new health line where you can call and talk to someone who can tell you whether or not you ought to visit a doctor - but there are plenty of times where I would have just suffered in ignorance if I had had to pay. And that could be very dangerous.
It's very likely that the increased wait times people talk about is due to the fact that more people are getting themselves to a doctor more often. Worth it? I think so, but then again, I've been sick a lot. And the wait times really don't seem bad to me - perhaps because I've never had anything else? Up to you guys, obviously, but I love the Canadian system.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 08:09 on July 17th, 2009
Parmeison, I only know that because I have lived in several provinces and had to go through the procedures. Normally getting health care in another province when you.re traveling is not a major problem. They will wait for payment until you can claim it from your home province. I had to jump through some hoops when we got emergency medical treatment in the US.
When we came home we applied to the province, they paid at their rate, then I had to claim the rest from another plan I had. It just took longer to get the money back.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 08:04 on July 17th, 2009
Roy I totally agree with you. Rushing something through haphazard because it may be the politically opportune thing to do will only bite you in the butt in the end.
There are lots of public systems around the world that can be studied. The US send a guy to the moon, with the right attitude you can develop a health care system that will be almost perfect and that works for everyone.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 08:32 on July 17th, 2009
Thanks very much for this Roy:). Amazing what lobbyists can accomplish in Washington. Maybe a restriction on moving any research over to a private firm should exist if the research is done at a university with taxpayer money.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 08:51 on July 17th, 2009
Thanks for this Roy:).
at 08:56 on July 17th, 2009
I agree with you and I see the health care system the way you see it - good piece.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 09:00 on July 17th, 2009
Thanks very much Amy:) Nice to get another Canadian voice agreeing:)
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 10:40 on July 17th, 2009
Thank you for reading and commenting.
at 10:50 on July 17th, 2009
ACP, Thanks for the GREAT story, news without a spin on it is sorely lacking in the mainstream media today.
Roy, Great comments, I think the poor news is adding to the problems. It allows our elected politicians to do a ½ A** job and still get reelected, because most of the people that will vote don't realize how bad some of the laws coming out of washington or their state capitols actualy are.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 10:55 on July 17th, 2009
Thanks for your comments Spydermonkey. I just had to get it off my chest. LOL
at 13:13 on July 17th, 2009
A lot of good information.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 13:30 on July 17th, 2009
Alberta does not have a pharmacare plan except for Seniors. My private plan, which I pay for myself, is a group plan, that covers all drugs and some other procedures. I can't speak for Nova Scotia, so I don.t know the coverage there. The Blue Cross plan Alberta has works well, but will be cascaded in future for Seniors.
I'm not sure which new illnesses or private insurance your are referring to.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 13:57 on July 17th, 2009
Ok understood Sara, I have a different plan "Public Service Health Care Plan" which covers my drugs. It is a plan carried into retirement.
The Blue Cross plan for Seniors I was talking about is underwritten by the Province of Alberta. With the new drug plan for Seniors being introduced in Alberta next January, I believe, this plan will be income based. Based on income it will be either free or a premium will be charged cascaded according to income.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 18:02 on July 17th, 2009
It covers 80% of my drugs. I have paid into that fund since I was 18. This plan is no different then what the Auto Workers Union, Ontario Teachers Association gets and many other Union employees get.
at 13:34 on July 17th, 2009
SS, "they cover only new illnesses, not ones we already have"
The insurance companies will cover treatment of many conditions after one year of "uninterupted coverage", but that is for coverage thru an employer, I'd have to ask my dad (retired agent) for the typical limitations on private health insurance.
Duh, U'r in Canadia, I forgot :(
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 13:33 on July 17th, 2009
I think Sara was referring to something in Canada. Maybe I'm mistaken.
at 13:34 on July 17th, 2009
LOL almost instant meassaging :)
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 13:40 on July 17th, 2009
you bet lol
at 13:45 on July 17th, 2009
I appreciate you telling people that health care in Canada is completely different and much better than we are told it is by US health lobbyists. In fact, the infant mortality rate is less in Cuba than it is in the United States. The infant mortality rate is a standard metric that tells us how effectively a system is meeting the needs of the populace.
I've lived and spent time in four countries with national health programs: France, Nicaragua, England and, most recently, Brazil. I can say without a doubt that I've never seen anything so expensive, complex and frustrating as US health care. I simply can't stand it anymore.
Even if you pay in cash, you have to wait a month or more to see a dentist in the United States, and then months more for him/her to finish what in Brazil can be completed in a week, like a root canal and crown. And in Brazil, you can get the work done for 20% of what it would cost in the United States.
In France, even foreign students (which I was) are eligible for national health care that's far better than that which many workers pay for in the United States. I got better health care services with greater accessibility in France for $400.00 per year than I ever got in the United States while working for a large corporation and paying $400 per month.
Meanwhile, keep repeating the mantra that the US has the best health care in the world, like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ saying, "I wish I was in Kansas"! If wishes were horses then beggars would ride.
Buying health care in the US is like going to a Wendy's, waiting in a long line, and then paying $22.00 for a little sack of cold french fries.
As for those who object to socialized medicine, the buggaboo, let me just remind them that the infant mortality rate for Black people in the US south (17 per thousand) is almost three times higher than the rate in Cuba (6 per thousand). So, yes, I WOULD rather have socialized medicine. Statistically, a baby has a better chance of surviving his first year in Cuba than in the United States.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 14:17 on July 17th, 2009
Francis, I have spend some time in Europe as well and am somewhat familiar with the German system. The biggest obstacle to any good health care system is funding. I found an ongoing debate on health care in Germany quite interesting. As I followed the debate, the arguments were so similar to the ones I had heard in Canada, that I thought I was hearing an echo.
Governments are constantly wrestling with the funding problem and if they want to make changes to a system that works for the most part, they are faced with a public outcry. It will take an extraordinary effort to come up with a viable system in the U.S. That requires co-operation by all sides, without trying to rush it through.
There are many examples in the developed world that can be studied and emulated. An adhoc system will just create problems.
at 13:59 on July 17th, 2009
Great article albertacowpoke!
You guys really let it rip in these comments!! Great thread!
Go get 'em Roy C!!!! You have a have a way with words that I enjoy reading!
:>
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 14:01 on July 17th, 2009
Thank you Neil, glad u enjoy all the comments.:)
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 14:00 on July 17th, 2009
Thank you for your comments Francis.
at 14:04 on July 17th, 2009
Thanks for this story
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 14:08 on July 17th, 2009
You're very welcome politisite.
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Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpokeat 14:49 on July 17th, 2009
Send the plan to congress so they can study it ray:)