What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Free Healthcare System

When asked to describe what makes Canada unique compared to other countries, many outsiders might yell out “Hockey!” “Cold Weather!” or “Free Health Care!.” Health care is definitely one of Canada’s most noticeable trademarks when compared to the United States, but the reality is that our health care services are not what they are made out to be. Canadians tend to take pride in the fact that they have a Government funded health care system, but the system is failing at a rapid pace. One can gage the quality of health care in our country while at the emergency ward in any hospital, where most Canadians realize its downsides. The Government spends most of its budget towards health care but Canadians are not feeling an improvement. Waiting

In Canada the services, medication and hospital fee are controlled by the government, this created a better outcome for the security of the citizen. This regulation can lead to major saving in term of the GDP per capita paid by the government in this regard. The government negotiates drug prices so by doing that prices are more affordable for the people. It’s not necessary the uses of co-pays and deductible, but if any type of charged for any reason this can still be a dissent price by the patient. As result of this Canadian are proud and feel secured by the contribution of the social

Under Canada’s healthcare system, citizens are provided with primary care and medical treatments, as well as easy access to hospitals, clinics, and any other additional medical services. Regardless of annual income, this system allows all Canadian citizens access to medical services without immediate pay. Canada is fortunate to have a free healthcare plan since this necessity comes at a substantial expense for people living in the United States of America. For instance, the Commonwealth Fund's Health Insurance Survey mentions that “80 million people, around 43% of America's working-age adults, did not go to the doctor or access other medical services because of the cost” (Luhby). Evidently, Canada’s healthcare system is notorious in supporting the demands of the population, and creating a healthy and happy society at a manageable cost.

Health care is a very well known topic that is talked about in the United States. There are many reasons for free health care, but the main reason is that it is for the people who can not afford it. Health care is a necessary need for every human being, and it should be provided to every human, no matter how much money the individual have.

Canadians often find a great source of pride in our health care system because it is “free”. When living next to a country that loudly boasts about its freedom and other such aspects, it is hard to stand out on a global level. That is why most citizens are misguided when they try to compare our health system to that of the United States. Indeed, if you look at the facts, we do have a better system but it is quite irrelevant to compare the two since we are both organized and financed differently. The United States spends more money on their system but does not reap the benefits that more money should offer. Often, the only gain from the comparison is a political one. The federal government’s as well as the provincial governments’ funding has lead to the provinces being too hospital heavy, meaning that there aren 't enough low cost/more efficient facilities in existence such as long-term care facilities, which causes more patients to go to the hospital, which in turn causes more money to be spent than if the patient had been able to go elsewhere. Two key reasons why our health care system is so expensive are the cost of the drugs and the compensation that doctors receive. In order to keep up with the rising cost of our health care, Dalton McGuinty privatized services like physiotherapy and optometry and, “…Also froze the budgets of twelve departments other than health. There was the classic health-care spending trifecta: higher

There are two main criticisms of the current Canadian approach. First, there is concern over long wait times for certain surgeries and diagnostic imaging (para Washington post). Second, there is also growing concern over the financial sustainability of the current system (actuary study). Not surprisingly, these concerns have led to calls for health-care reform. Suggested reforms often include an increased role for private care; either privately or publicly funded. Some of the suggested alternatives include: Private Pay – Private Care, Public Pay – Private Care, or Public or Private Funded – Private Care.

According to an overview of Canadian poll surveying public opinion on their universal health care system, 88% of Canadians reported their value for a strong, national, and publically funded health system (Mendelsohn, 2002). Canada is one of the four nations that provide their populations with access to medical services through their universal health care system of 1984 (Bodenheimer & Grumbach, 2008). The Canadian health care system is unique in that it prohibits the private health insurance coverage for the fundamental services that are provided by the Canada Health Act; private insurance can be used as a supplement for services that are either partially covered or not covered under the universal health insurance (Steinbrook, 2006). Conversely, in the American health care system there isn’t a universal health coverage for the nation, but rather four different means of paying for health care which includes patient paying out of pocket for individual payments, individual private insurance, employment-based health insurance, and governmental supporting funding (Bodenheimer & Grumbach, 2008).

Universal healthcare should be available to everyone in the United States, and the best system would be a Canadian-style, single-payer form of national health insurance rather than Obama Care or reliance on private health insurance. Health care is a basic human right, and from an ethical viewpoint, the system in the United States is the most unjust and unequal in the Western world and paradoxically the most expensive as well. Although national health insurance was first proposed as early as 1912, and again during the New Deal and Fair Deal in the 1930s and 1940s, it has always been blocked by powerful corporate interests that have far too much influence on politics and public opinion. Even worse, the injustice of the present system is borne most heavily by the poor, working class, and members of minority groups who lack health care coverage at work and cannot afford private insurance. North of the border, Canada has a far better model for health care and one that most U.S. reformers have demanded since the 1940s. Medicare has been a very popular public service in Canada since it was first passed in 1966, and provides universal health care paid for out of general tax revenue. In the U.S., Medicare covers only those over age 65, but it should be modified into a Medicare for all system, especially if the Supreme Court overturns Obama Care this year.

Since Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States a lot of people keep saying that they are moving to Canada. But they don’t realize that Canada isn’t all they think it is. In the United states we have to either pay for healthcare or we can use insurance, but it’s the opposite in Canada. In Canada they have overall free healthcare for everyone-and you’re probably thinking that sounds great what’s wrong with that? But free doesn’t always mean good.You may hate the Healthcare system in the U.S. and so do a lot of people, but you would hate it even more in Canada.I do agree that hearing free healthcare sounds great and inviting but you should do more research before you decide to move somewhere with free healthcare.

The benefits of having a free clinic will help out the individual who has low income or one who is not working. It will relieve the stress off of them knowing they can be seen by a doctor and not worrying about paying some type of payment. Patients can benefit from this clinic receiving the care from a place who is the loving and caring clinic. The second benefit will be is it absolutely free. Another benefit is the physicians can benefit knowing they helping out another human being with doing what they loved to do. It can help reduce hospital costs of unnecessary visits that can be for a simple cough or checkups.

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.

This is largely because I didn’t think that it was important. However, after doing research on this topic and participating in the debate during the tutorial, my way of thinking about these issues have changed and I have a strong opinion on this topic. I strongly believe that Canada should adopt a two-tiered health-care system. There is one main aspect of the two-tiered health-care system that appeals to me. Individuals who can’t afford private health-care are still covered by the government, and those, who are stronger financially are able to purchase the necessities (the health-care insurance) they require. It calms me to know that regardless of one’s financial status, they are still able to access health-care. This concept relates to me on a personal level. A couple of years ago, one of my best friends who lives in New York City tore his ACL playing basketball. I recall him telling me how, when he attempted to go through the public health-care system, he was told it would take months to book an appointment for a MRI scan. He decided later to go through the privatized health-care system where it was much faster. He was able to book a scan plus a surgery, and recover much faster than he would’ve been able to in the public healthcare system. Hence, this emphasizes my point that those who are able to afford the luxury of a privatized healthcare

When health care is extended to everyone, it can be used too often. And with "free" access, a patient may go to the emergency room with the sniffles, causing longer wait times for those who have real emergencies. Access to family doctors and specialists may also be limited due to too many patients and not enough doctors.

List of Pros of Socialized Medicine Makes healthcare affordable Simply put, socialized medicine is subsidised medicine, which means anyone can afford it, including those living below the poverty line. Although such medications are not exactly cheap, in the very sense of the word, but these can still reduce mortality rate. And because it is not driven by supply and demand, the economy can save from socialized

Many people have very different opinions. Some may say that a universal health care system would be a good idea but some think differently. Many people could think that a universal health care system could be very beneficial, decreasing health care costs and increasing access to care.