How much TAX goes to healthcare?

Question

I live in Canada and we have universal healthcare (mostly). As a consequence we pay higher taxes but as a person who has never used the free healthcare system yet is still be taxed, i must admit it's pretty good to have that security in case i ever need it. It confuses me why Americans are so frightened (or ignornant?) of such a system.

Anyway, i want to know how much of out 14% tax (GST + PST) is being used for healthcare for 30 million+ people?

Tx

Answer 1

We are taxed highly in Canada, but I think the benefits outweigh the costs. My father was hospitalized once when he broke his knee at work, and since Worker's Compensation was picking up the tab instead of the provincial health care plan, he got to see the bill.

He needed a day in the hospital before they could get an operating room. He needed two plates, fourteen screws and some donated bone matter to rebuild his knee. The surgery took seven hours to complete.

During recovery, my father had an allergic reaction to morphine, and had to be monitored while the drugs were worked out of his system. He was an extra five days in the hospital recovering from that.

Total bill sent to WCB: $392,000. And the wonderful thing is that if WCB hadn't covered his expenses, the provincial health plan would have.

Why are americans so afraid of universal health care? I really don't know. I think it's the business sector that's the most scared, and the have reason to be. Not many will remember this now, but when the Canada Health Act was passed in the mid sixties, one of the consequences was that every hospital in Canada was expropriated.

Answer 2

You system is not up to par with the US. I can say that as i lived in Canada for several years my husband is Canadian and you pay to much taxes even the fed govt says the provinces charge to much. Your system has to many things not covered and do not believe all the media hype. in the us we have more people on our free system than in all of Canada. 46 mil unisure but43 million on medicare and medicaid or chip, all free health programs.

That is out of a population of 300 million. We expect quality care and your system is not so great on quanity or quality. My husband had to wait for over a year for a simple scan on his foot and 9 more months to see a specialist. Me, i can call get an appt and get in right away even with no insurance. I will get a bill but i will be seen if i have no insurance.

Your system, by your own govt reports is not geared very well towards to chronically ill or elderly.

You have massive wait time son cancer treatment, so much so that your two top cancer experts just left to come to the US for cancer treatment and your richest women Belinda Stronach, a once govt leader fled to the US for cancer care.

Nearly ten percent of your income goes to health care.

We pay more overall in other fees and insurance but the quality is better.

ref www.healthcanada.gc.ca

www.medicare.gov

statistics canada

www.usa.gov health care stats.

Answer 3

That question is rather complicated. Health care revenue is generated from federal and provincial income tax, from tobacco sales, lottery, municipal taxes, sales tax, health care premiums in BC, Alberta and Ontario, and royalties... and the list goes on.

You might think you aren't using the health care system ever, but you likely have. Haven't you ever gone to the Dr. for a checkup or received a vaccination, or blood test? These are all covered by your provincial health care plan.

The Federal Finance department website has some insight into spending and estimates on what we Canadians pay for health care. www.fin.gc.ca

Answer 4

It doesn't work that way.  Government taxes are pooled as a part of General Revenue, and all expenses draw from that revenue.

More than just sales taxes are involved.

In 2007, about $160 billion was spent on healthcare.  Of that, 70% was covered by public funding (drugs being most of the remainder)