How do canadians perceive health care?

Question

How do canadians perceive health care?

Answer 1

it's awesome because it is free wooooo

Answer 2

Thats a pretty broad question.... not all Canadians think alike on ANY subject.. including health care...

I think most Canadians would agree that Canada's system works better than the US system.. When people are sick, they can go to the hospital without fear of going broke...But many Canadians are also tired of long waits for diagnostic procedures and surgery. Certainly if you are in an emergency situation, you get the care you need.

There is a misconception that we dont pay anything for our healthcare.  In BC, where I live ,the government provides medial insurance for everyone, based on their income.. A low-income person or family  may pay nothing, but a working family pays about $120 per month... which I know is much less that some people have to pay in the US. Also, all working Canadians pay income tax, which goes partly to pay for our healthcare system...

Answer 3

i keep hearing people talk about wait times,  if it is a serious ilness there is no wait time they deal with now! i went threw the system three operations in one year , two for cancer, then chemo. there was no wait time, several of my friends had bypass surgery ,non of them had any wait time

Answer 4

They have the best and they don't have to pay for it- so I guess they don't have to worry about it that much compared to us

Answer 5

Not only in Canada, but in many other countries, health is free of charge and/or offered by state. I live in Uruguay (South America) and workers pay every month 15% of our profits to state to receive medical attention. If you get unemployed you can receive medical attention at public system which is totally free (including medicines) if you can prove that you have not way to pay for. The way to do this is to go for a pass which is valid for two years.

Answer 6

Canadian health care is great, if you can get access.

The gov't controls costs by limiting access (to operations)

The only bad part of the system is, you can buy medical services for your dog, but you can't buy medical services for yourself.If you need a medically necessary procedure, you must wait in line, and possibly be bumped many times,but you can't pay a willing surgeon to do the procedure.

Only North Korea has this law besides Canada.

We can buy operations anywhere in the world except Canada.(And I guess North Korea)

Answer 7

Contrary to what Lizzy said above, only some Canadians pay those health care premiums, and those happen to be the ones who live in the richest provinces (whose governments could afford it - especially Alberta, which is oil rich).

Manitoba has no health premiums.  For some elective surgeries, there is a tray fee to pay...ie. for a vasectomy for a man who is done having kids...$65 tray fee.

Other than that, we do not pay a dime out of pocket for health care.  Yes, we pay through our taxes, but it is well worth it for the Universal Health care that we are very fortunate to have.  We can't be denied coverage, nor can we be refused care.  Everyone who needs it will be treated.

Even the right wing parties here stand behind Universal Health care.

Answer 8

Canadians view health care as an entitlement rather than a a privalege.  They also do not know about something many other countries wish they had.

First of all, health care is NOT free.  And yes, Manitobans, Ontarions do pay for health care in premiums.  The difference is those premiums are not paid out of pocket every 3 months like in places like Alberta or BC.  They are included in the taxes we pay.  Take a look at your income tax, there will be "health care premium" or "health care tax" on your income tax if you live in Ontario like I do.  It is based on income.

When Canadians go to the doctor and they are covered by health care, it isnt free.  The doctor does not work for free.  When you give your health card, it is like a Visa with no monetary limit for the doctor-albeit certain conditions apply..  A physical will cost a certain amount, a stop smoking consult is another and so on.  The "limit" on that "Visa" is the services covered and if your card is valid.  In some provinces you have to renew your card every few years to show you are still eligible for coverage in that province.

That is the other part I mentioned.  Canadians think "everything" should be covered and just because they are Canadian they should be covered and not have to show they are eligible.  Why should someone who is Canadian by birth be eligible for health care here when they live in California 11 months of the year?  They dont pay into the system, so why get the same benefits?  Every province has a certain amount of days residents are required to be physically present in every 12 month period.  (not year)  There are some exceptions  eg going to school or working for a certain amount of time...but all of those need to be discussed with the province the person has coverage in.

People also think EVERYTHING health related should be covered.  Want a nose job?  Well, I pay into the same health care fund and never get sick, so why can't I get it covered?  That is the attitude some people have.  Btw, you CAN pay for operations/medical services here.  If you are in one province, and CHOOSE to go elsewhere for faster or "better" care in another province or country to "queue jump" what is available in your province..if it is not given prior approval you will pay for it.

Canadians have a very awakening when they visit the USA.  The really rude awakening is when someone forgets that they need to get extra medical insurance for out of country...and they break a leg skiing.  A $25,000 bill is a jolt to how fortunate we really are here.  (you can apply for reimbursement, but it will only be paid to what would be paid in Canada, and not everything is reimbursable-ambulance for example is not)

Those that do see what they would pay, those who are unfortunate to be truely sick and see the dedication of the health care system are the ones who really perceive health care as it should be: a beautiful gift we pay for at a discount price.

Answer 9

personally i'm content with it for the mosty part. there are definately improvements that can be made (wait times, etc) but overall, i like not pulling out my chequebook for a checkup... but i still avoid doctors and the hospitals anyway. i'm a believer that the human body can heal most things itself (within reason).

Answer 10

Health care is one of the major reasons that we moved to Canada and not the USA.

Answer 11

Canadians always complain about things. It's our nature in a quest for perfection we know we'll never achieve, but there's no reason to give up the quest.

This goes for health care. Of course we pay for it through taxation. But that keeps the costs lower. Back in the 1990s Walter Cronkite did a program comparing Canadian and US health care systems. He showed a hospital in Detroit, then the camera panned right to an identical building. That was the billing department for that hospital. Same floor space, but for administration.

The real savings in our health care system comes from administration. We pay less than 10% for administration. I think it's closer to 7% but I can't be sure.

I travel around the world, and aside from some of the extreme social services available in France, Spain and other countries, Canada doesn't do too badly.

We basically have the opinion that it shouldn't break the bank if you get sick.

As for waiting times, they exist, but if you're really in need, you get fast attention. I care for an elderly mother and when we have had a medical emergency, she's gotten the best attention available. And it was immediate, which is why she is alive today.

When you're sick or injured, do you want to be fumbling for a chequebook? And is the average person capable of making medical decisions or to pick the right insurance policy? I don't think so.

As a comparison, I have two friends living in the US. Their employers provide their health care insurance. One employer pays $570 a month (for an HMO which seems to deny most claims and regulates what doctors my friend can see) and the other employer pays $975 a month - and my friend has to get approval first for any doctor he sees.