Universal Health Care System Analysis

Insurance industry lobbyists with ties to U.S. corporations always strive to create a seemingly contentious debate over healthcare in Canada, by persistently attempting to make inroads in the publicly-funded system. At present, it is still against the law in Canada to offer private health insurance for any type of medical care provided by the public system (Wilson, 2012, p. 118). Canada's single-payer system not only guarantees universal access to all regardless of income, its costs per capita are lower than those in the U.S., which has never had universal access in its history. Indeed, up to 100,000 people in the U.S. die every year because they have no private

Health care expenditure accounted for an estimated 11% (214.9 billion) of Canada’s GDP in 2014 (CIHI, 2014). Canada boasts a universal, cost-effective and fair health care system to its citizens (Picard, 2010). However, despite great claims and large expenses incurred Canada’s health care system has been reported inefficient in it’s delivery to the population (Davis, Schoen, & Stremikis, 2010; Picard, 2010). As inconsistencies exist in health care delivery across the country, choosing priorities for the health of the Canadian people becomes of vital importance. In Ontario, progress toward a better health care system has been stated to be moving forward by putting the needs of the “patient’s first” (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [MOHLTC], 2015). This policy brief will give a background of health care issues in Canada related to Ontario. Three evidence-based priorities will be suggested for Ontario’s health policy agenda for the next three to five years. Furthermore, through a critical analysis of these issues a recommendation of the top priority issue for the agenda will be presented.

Healthcare in the United States is extremely different from the rest of the world. Over the years government and political analysts have compared and contrasted the health care systems of the United States to that of Canada’s. Despite being located on the same continent both countries have different ways of delivering health care to its citizens. Canada has a single-payer system that is publicly funded, while the United States has a multi-payer system that relies heavily on privately owned healthcare. This could be due to the differences in how many patients are cared for compared to those in America or it could be just a matter of

Canada’s healthcare cost constitutes a large share of GDP. Although this may be a good thing as it reflects on a country’s increased wealth and ability to pay for valued care, however in the case of Canada, there is a strongly held belief that the growth rate in Canada is not sustainable nor is it necessarily improving our outcomes.

This paper will discuss the Canadian healthcare system compared to the United States healthcare system. Although they’re close in proximity, these two nations have very different health care systems. Each healthcare system has its own difficulties, and is currently trying to find ways to improve. Canada currently uses the Universal Health Care system; which provides healthcare coverage to all Canadian citizens (Canadian Health Care, 2007). The services are executed on both a territorial and provincial basis, by staying within the guidelines that have been enforced by the federal government (Canadian Health Care, 2007).

The distinction of Canada’s healthcare system is it is publicly funded but privately delivered, where as the United States’s healthcare system is privately funded and privately delivered. This means every Canadian has the privilege to seek medical help outside of pocket. Although not all services are free such as drug prescription, doctor specialists, eye and dental exams, Canada’s health policy is absolutely better than of the United States. Based on the research, the US spends more on health

Canada has a system that consists of socialized health insurance plans that provide coverage to all its citizens. Canada health care is largely government-funded, with most services provided by private enterprises with some publicly funds all, which is controlled and administered, within guidelines set by the federal government ("Healthy Canadians: A Federal report on Comparable Health Indicators ", 2009).

Canada's healthcare system is similar to that of the United States in that services are privately delivered, yet Canada's universal health insurance and public financing of healthcare more closely resemble the systems found in Western Europe (Rakich, 1991). The Canadian healthcare system consists of provincial. and territorial-based health insurance plans that provide universal-comprehensive coverage for medically necessary hospital and physician services, the public funding of healthcare with no financial-access barriers, and the private delivery of cam. A profile of the Canadian system and its expenditures fosters some noteworthy comparisons between Canadian and U.S. healthcare.

Obamacare, Medicare, universal, privatized, public, parallel; these healthcare systems (HCS) may sound a little confusing and scary for a person who values their health and the health of their family. In the United States of America, there are several different options of health coverage to choose from: health insurance for people with disabilities, long term care insurance, traditional-fee-for-service, and preferred provider organization, this is just naming a few (USA.org, 2017). With all these choices, how do you know which one is the best for you and your family? Usa.org emphasizes that several questions must be considered when choosing a healthcare provider: Are there any deductibles? Can I see any doctors or go to any hospital? Will all medications be covered that the doctor prescribes? Again, seems confusing, right! Therefore, Canada's HCS is based on the patients' needs and not what they can afford (Government of Canada, 2012). Although Canada's HCS is widely known for their universal coverage, many Canadian citizens have various concerns; one being excessive wait times.

Canada’s health care system “can be described as a publicly-funded, privately-provided, universal, comprehensive, affordable, single-payer, provincially administered national health care system” (Bernard, 1992, p.103). Health care in Canada is provincial responsibility, with the Canada Health act being a federal legislation (Bernard, 1992, p. 102). Federal budget cuts, has caused various problems within Medicare such as increased waiting times and lack of new technology. Another problem with Medicare is that The Canada Heath Act does not cover expenditures for prescriptions drugs. All these issue has caused individuals to suggest making Medicare privatized. Although, Canada’s health care system consists of shortcomings, our universal

Wilson and Rosenberg explain that Canada’s health care system went through many changes when the “federal government reduced its financial support to the provinces and the provincial governments responded by restructuring health care delivery, sometimes in open defiance of the Canada Health Act” (2004). Since these changes have been made, many Canadians feel as though health care is now less accessible than it was before. For example “for Canadians in their everyday lives, there is a growing perception that health care delivery is becoming less accessible as waiting times to see a physician or receive hospital services grow longer, services disappear altogether, or become privatized in their communities” (Wilson & Rosenberg). For some residents, they do not seek health care when they need it because do not want to deal with these long waiting times, others cannot afford the travel cost or the cost of the service itself. Many Canadian residents are not confident that they would not receive the health care they need if they were to have a medical crisis (Wilson & Rosenberg). There is a question that must be answered, is the principle of accessibility from the Canada Health Act being defied? The answer to this question is unclear because the Canada Health Act does not give an exact definition in the meaning of “reasonable access” (Wilson & Rosenberg). Medical services are available and most of the costs are covered under insurance,

In 1966 the Liberal Party of Canada under Lester B Pearson’s control released a universal health policy within the Medical Care Act. Which began the structure that Canada knows as a ‘free’ basic health care to all Canadian citizens (Canadian Museum of History, 2010). Over the years, this universal health policy has undergone much controversy on whether or not it works. Canada 's population is vastly growing, with many citizens needing different types of care, the country does not have a strict plan for dealing with the increasing need for health care. The Canadian Healthcare system heads in a downhill spiral as seen in Canadas growing population, outdated health care system, health cutbacks increase, a rise in wait times and Canadians are finding treatment abroad.

Thank you for your being a member of the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) government. The Canadians population of 35,182,000 as of 2013 with life expectancy of 80 - 84 years, male and females respectively as of 2012 report (WHO, 2015), has truly benefited from the CPC form of government. In looking at long terms prosperity, universal health coverage is one advantage that removed the health disparities by providing health care coverage to Canadian citizens regardless of social economic class, and past medical history. The Canadian government provides allowances, supplemental income, and educational subsided programs for those at the bottom of the society (Canada’s Public Health Leader- [CPHA], 2010).  The Canadian social determinant of

The foundation of Canada’s universal health care system was laid during the Great Depression, when national health insurance was initially proposed; it was refined when bills were passed during World War II to implement national insurance and finally found fruition when Saskatchewan first covered health care expenses for its entire population in 1947 (LeBien, 1996). This recognition that the social need for health care services and coverage was more important than any potential profits that could be made from providing such services led to the Federal government to begin work on a national plan (Armstrong, et al., 2000, p. 12). By 1961, the entire country had comprehensive insurance that covered all essential medical services. The Canada Health Act was enacted in 1984, and all of Canada was mandated to provide medical coverage based on universality, portability between provinces, comprehensive coverage, public administration and accessibility (Joudrey & Robson, 2010, p. 530). Canada did not assume full control of costs for providing the implemented coverage; rather they provided 50% funding, thus matching provincial costs (LeBien, 1996). Concerns around rising medical costs due to an aging population in the late 1980’s, led the government to commission a policy review by two economists, Drs. Barer and Stoddart (Beck & Thompson, 2006). The Barer-Stoddart report stated that“…provinces should review

The comparison between health care in the United States and health care in Canada has been a continuing debate. America does not have a universal health coverage plan for it's population, while Canadians are privileged to have universal health coverage. Normally a patient will pay twice as much for health coverage in the United States compared to treatment in Canada. This puts the US in first position of having the most expensive health care system on earth. (http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/health-care-for-all/has-canada-got-the-cure) Most of the population in the United States have no health coverage at all. Compared to Canada, the wait time for elective procedures in the United States is somewhat longer. Many Americans feel the