No "two-tier" please, we're Canadian

I had the chance to have a better read through the article I took the statistics for my previous post from over the weekend.

This bit in particular caught my interest:

"In Canada, where the single-tier health care system is mandated by law, increasing numbers who are frustrated by the growing waiting lists for surgery simply cross the border to the United States to buy more responsive, private health care." (emphasis mine)

Interesting.

A search on google brought me to this site, which looks official enough but doesn't actually tell you who owns it, so do look up other sites to check the facts.

Anyway, the site tells us that:


"Under the health care system, individual citizens are provided preventative care and medical treatments from primary care physicians as well as access to hospitals, dental surgery and additional medical services. With a few exceptions, all citizens qualify for health coverage regardless of medical history, personal income, or standard of living."


However...


"While the health care system in Canada covers basic services, including primary care physicians and hospitals, there are many services that are not covered. These include things like dental services, optometrists, and prescription medications."


Sounds fair enough - it's free, covers the basics, but no frills. Yet the twist in the tale is this:


"Under federal law, private clinics are not legally allowed to provide services covered by the Canada Health Act. Regardless of this legal issue, many do offer such services.

The advantage of private clinics is that they typically offer services with reduced wait times compared to the public health care system. For example, obtaining an MRI scan in a hospital could require a waiting period of months, whereas it could be obtained much faster in a private clinic.

Private clinics are a subject of controversy, as some feel that their existence unbalances the health care system and favors treatments to those with higher incomes."


So I guess if you had a non-urgent condition which was covered under the Canadian Health Act, you most probably have to wait a long time before you can get it treated.

And if it was not covered by the Canadian Health Act, you most likely have to pay a premium to get it treated.

I guess that's a Catch-22 situation right there.