Access to healthcare is one of the most important rights every person should have access to. It’s one of the criteria in measuring the happiest countries in the world by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That’s why governments around the world try to implement comprehensive systems for people to have a better quality of life. Canada, for example, is highly renowned for its healthcare system which views universal access to publicly funded health services as a fundamental value. Let’s take a closer look into it to find out more.
Medicare
Delivery of healthcare in Canada is fully funded and it’s mostly colloquially known as Medicare. It consists of 13 universal health care insurance plans guided by the provisions of the Canada Health Act of 1984. Medicare entails all Canadian residents getting access to the necessary hospital and physician services without paying out-of-pocket.
The responsibility of these health care services is shared between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments. The federal government is responsible for setting national standards for the healthcare system through the Canada Health Act, providing financial support for provincial and territorial governments, and ensuring the delivery of health services to specific groups like First Nations people, veterans, inmates, and more.
What’s Covered?
Under the Canada Health Act, medicare coverage includes a wide range of services for any Canadian citizen eligible for it. These services include emergency room visits, family doctor visits, surgery, inpatient care, medication, bloodwork, scans, diagnostic tests, radiation therapy, and cancer support. One of the best things about the Canadian healthcare system is that it almost fully covers mental health services except in the following circumstances:
- Stays at mental health hospitals.
- Treatment by a psychologist is not covered unless the practitioner is also a medical doctor.
How Health Care Services Are Delivered
1. Primary Health Care Services
When a Canadian citizen needs medical care, their first point of contact with the health care system is primary health care services. These services are extremely comprehensive and include basic emergency services, treatment of common diseases and injuries, and referrals to other levels of care (specialist care, mental health care, rehabilitation services, maternity care, or end-of-life care). As for private practices, there is a fee-for-service policy where the doctor is paid for each service provided. The fees are determined between each provincial and territorial government and private practices in their jurisdiction.
2. Secondary Services
The second step depends on each provincial healthcare plan which is why the professionals at https://www.insurdinary.ca/canada-provincial-health-plans/ believe it’s important to have the full knowledge of what each plan offers. It can also provide alternatives if you need treatment that isn’t covered by your provincial health plan. Secondary services in medicare are usually when the patient is referred for additional specialized care at a specialized hospital or facility.
These services can also be provided in the home or community, and institutions after a medical professional have assessed the case. However, home and continuing care services are not covered by the Canada Health Act but most provinces and territories pay for some of these services.
3. Additional Services
Services that are not normally covered in the publicly funded health care system are covered by provinces and territories for certain citizens, including children, seniors, and low-income citizens. Services include dental care, vision care, prescription drugs outside hospitals, medical equipment, and appliances, and other health services like physiotherapy and Canadian citizens who do not fall in the categories of coverage either pay for such services out-of-pocket or through private health insurance plans.
Flaws In The Canadian Health System
Like any healthcare system implemented in any country, there are bound to be some areas that need improvement. When it comes to the Canadian health care system, it has been constantly criticized for the long wait times. Especially when it comes to having access to world-class care for urgent problems like heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.
With non-urgent matters, the wait is even longer, going up to many months or even years. Another point of criticism in the system is the gender gap regarding access to healthcare since women are generally less financially stable, are less likely to have private insurance, and have healthcare requirements, such as pregnancy, which widens the gap.
Now that you have all the needed information regarding the Canadian health system, you can proceed in choosing a suitable health plan. Despite its flaws, the Canadian health care system is known to be one of the strongest in the world. Medicare provides 70 percent of Canadians’ healthcare needs, and the rest can be paid for through the private sector. This makes it an ideal country for its citizens, knowing they are well taken care of whenever they are in need.