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Healthcare System information/Insurance news |
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Healthcare in Canada is delivered through a publicly-funded healthcare system, which is mostly free at the point of use. In general, costs are paid through funding from income taxes. Provinces also impose a fixed monthly premium, which maybe waived or reduced for certain groups of people, (for example, senior citizens, children and social assistance recipients) for health services that are not generally covered under the publicly funded healthcare system.
The healthcare system was founded based on the principles that healthcare is i) generally available to permanent residents; ii) comprehensive in the services it provides; iii) accessible without income barriers; iv) portable within and outside the country; and v) publicly managed.
In general, Canada provides a good healthcare system though not perfect. The level of coverage varies across the country and many citizens have supplemental private insurance coverage, which covers the cost of these supplementary services.
“Medicare” is the national health insurance program in Canada. This is a program that offers universal healthcare services to meet peoples’ needs rather than their ability to pay. All residents have access to hospitals and doctors on a prepaid basis. The responsibilities of Canada's healthcare system are shared between the federal and provincial governments. Each province is therefore responsible for its own health services and administrative regulations. Medicare covers services such as examination and treatment by family doctors, X-rays, hospital care, many laboratory tests, most vaccinations and emergency services, etc. However, there are some services that are not covered by Medicare. For example, ambulance services, prescription drugs, dental care, regular eye checkups, spectacles and contact lenses are all excluded from public coverage. For those services that are not covered by the publicly funded healthcare system, one can choose to either buy private insurance for additional coverage or make out-of-pocket payment for treatment, however, medical treatments in Canada could be expensive.
Overall, the quality of healthcare in Canada is pretty good, nevertheless, in recent years crowded hospitals and long waiting times for treatments have lead to a public protest for better service and private healthcare centers. Long waiting times for access to certain health care procedures, some may even take months to see a physician, have been a major issue in the Canadian healthcare system. As the government of Canada struggle to reduce healthcare waiting times, provincial and federal ministries of health have adopted a range of policies and strategies to address lengthy waits for service. To support the reduction of waiting times, in 2004, the Federal Government has committed to invest $4.5 billion to develop a 10-year plan to improve access and reduce waiting times in several key areas including hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery.
Apart from the patient waiting times, other concerns of the Canadian healthcare system also include the overall healthcare funding and shortage of medical staff. The total healthcare expenditure as % of GDP in Canada is 10% while the density of doctors and nurses per one thousand population is 2.2 and 9.0 respectively. These figures are lower than that of 2.4 doctors and 10.6 nurses per one thousand population in the United States.
More nurses in Canada are abandoning the public health system to join private agencies. They get paid much higher wages and are offered flexible working hours. There is also a rising trend that many doctors and nurses move over from Canada to USA, for the same reason that they can earn a better salary in the USA. Another reason is that in Canada, each Province has its own regulations for the practitioners and nurses’ qualifications, they will have to recertify if they move between Provinces. However, this will not be an issue if they relocate to the USA.
Another issue in the Canadian healthcare system is that inconsistency does exist in the regional healthcare quality in Canada. The rural and remote northern communities in Canada do not have the same level of quality healthcare than in the southern cities.
If you are an expat planning to work in Canada, it is therefore very important to ensure that you are covered by medical and health insurance. Depending on where you live, you are advised to contact the Ministry of Health in the province in order to verify your medical status and eligibility for health coverage. However, even if you are eligible for Canada healthcare insurance, most provinces will request for a waiting period (up to 3 months). During the waiting period, it is highly recommended to buy health insurance from a private company.
Globalsurance is a one-stop insurance brokerage service provider for you when travelling to Canada. We offer a wide range of policies to meet your individual needs, including benefits such as dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations and many others. Contact our professional advisers today to enjoy a full insurance protection such as Expat Health Insurance for yourself and your family.
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