If Canada switched to private medical insurance, would Canadians be happy or upset?

Question

If Canada went to the USA's system where you pay deductible plus out of pocket premiums from healthcare providers like Aetna, BlueCross/Blueshield, and have private health care corporations manage care assets. And you pay about $3,500 for an MRI scan.

Or would you prefer the current system that's been implemented in Canada for 45+ years?

Or some other hybrid of the 2?

Answer 1

I couldn't live with a system like the American one.

People who have private medicare in the UK tend to flee to the public system and clog it up if anything serious happens.

Answer 2

I don't want to see anything resembling American style "health care" in this country.  What we have could be improved, but I definitely prefer it over what the US has.

Answer 3

I could never live with the US system.  Everyone has the right to medical care when needed.

HOWEVER, I would like to be able to change my doctor.  Mine retired a while ago and I was automatically given to this new doctor.  She is young and starting her family so she is NEVER around, always on Mat. Leave.  When she is around it takes 2 months to get an appointment, even in the case of an emergency.  and when i DO see her, she doesn't seem to care.  Just want's to get me out as fast as possible.  Won't discuss anything just throws drugs at all my problems (even when they aren't needed) Yet no one else is willing to take me as a patient because I have been assigned a doctor.  It is a load of c**p that I should not be allowed to chose my doctor.

I guess what I'm saying is that a hybrid of the 2 would work.  nothing that includes us paying for our health care.  Even if they found that was best you know our taces won't drop anyways so there is no point it would just be stupid.  But I think allowing me to chose my doctor, having less wait times etc.  They need to offer incentives.  The way England does.  If you get a patient to quit smoking...you get a bonus.  If you get a patient to lose 10% of their weight...you get a bonus etc etc.

Answer 4

after watching sicko, i'd be pretty upset.

Answer 5

When CBC aired the tv show "the greatest Canadian," the person who got the most votes was Tommy Douglas, founder of public health care in Saskatchewan. Most believe he won the show based on how much people value his contribution to Canadian society. We are committed to public health care.

Answer 6

Many Canadians already use private medical insurance in the public healthcare system.

Many companies in Canada have group insurance services. The company agrees on what will be covered, such as up to $200 every two years for eyewear, $50 deductible on dental care per person per year, payment of a semi private room during medical treatment, etc.

Every year, people who are covered by private health plans are allowed a tax credit on the public healthcare deductible for each month that they were covered by the plan.

Many Canadians are against having both private and public clinics/hospitals. However, in my opinion, people should be allowed to pay a bit more and go to a private clinic if they want to, as long as the quality of service is comparable. Those who could afford it would use the private clinic so they don't have to spend hours in a waiting room, and then there would be less people waiting at the public clinic, so the people who cannot afford a private clinic can have lower wait times at the public clinic.

Of course, this topic is highly debated by experts, politicians, and the average person. So far, the "no privatization" side has won out.