The Usual Misconceptions of the Canadian Health Care System
During all the years I’ve been an independent broker , I’ve had more than enough of chances to answer questions regarding the ups and downs of both the US and Canadian health care system. Of course neither of them are perfect, but the lies about the Canadian system I sometimes encounter are just too much. So what am I talking about?
“The Canadian system is much more costly than the system in America.”
Firstly there’s this faulty assumption about the cost. It is often claimed that the Canadian system is more expensive than the US system, but in fact while Canada spends only 10 percent of its GDP, covering all of its population, the USA spends over 15 percent GDP, while at least 15% of Americans has no insurance and even more people are left with not enough coverage. An example from 2005 indicates that the Americans spent US$6,401 per head, which is almost twice as much as the Canadian expenditures.
“In Canada, it’s up to the administration to judge who gets the treatment.”
Of course this assumption is totally wrong – only the doctors have the power to make a decision about the character and timing of the necessary treatment. Unlike in the US, where no matter what you physician thinks – if your insurance administrator won’t allow a procedure, because it’s too expensive, then that’s it.
“The Canadian insurance sucks since it only covers the basic and the rest you have to pay yourself anyway.”
The guidelines regulating the insurance’s inclusion comes from the provincial government. But mostly it’s all the doctor’s fees, tests and everything that happens in the hospital is covered. It usually doesn’t cover the medical equipment, dental and vision care and other extras. Because all these extras can be quite well averaged (all the really expensive stuff are covered by the national insurance), some private plans are offered (i.e. FlexCare Program from Manulife) with low-cost premiums to cover them. All in all, compared to USA, the Canadians have much less to pay to get good health service, even if we include the “extra” insurance.
“In Canada, you’ve got to wait for so long to get the treatment you need. Actually, Canadians rather travel to the US for their treatment.”
This statement has something in it, but only to some degree: if you need some kind of specialist treatment, you could wait a few weeks or up to one month, and for selective surgery the waits could be even longer. On the other hand, all cogent treatment, you will get it fast one way or the other. And, unlike in the US, nobody cares whether you’re rich or poor. For example, if you can’t get acute care you need (i.e. surgery) and you cannot get it as fast as it is medically required, you will most likely be sent to the US – at the expense of the state insurance. Only those Canadians who pay out of pocket for their treatment in the US wish to get the treatment faster than their physician finds necessary.
“The Canadian government employs the physicians. Also, you’ve no choice: you get your doctors picked by the government!”
Not true. Even though the Canadian doctors are paid by the provincial government, they are not employed by it: the keep their own practises just like the doctors in the US. And of course you can select the doctor yourself.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment