Canadian Health Care

Canada is regarded as having one of the best health care services systems in the world. All Canadians residents are eligible to health care irrespective of income and health. However, like any benefit, there are a few exceptions that are governed in the policies of the provincial or federal governments. Although this system benefits Canadians immensely, there are still some people debating that by privatizing health care, better health care services would be available. However, another aspect of this is that the premium health care services would be only be affordable by the wealthy.

The Canada Health Act was passed in 1984 by the parliament. This act established its principles on 5 main criteria:

1. Accessibility: all insured Canadians should have reasonable access to all health care services, as well as all health care providers must be equally compensated for the services provided.

2. Portability: any insured Canadian that moves to a different province is permitted to health care coverage for a territorial determined waiting period.

3. Universality: all Canadians insured by the Canada Health Act are eligible to equal levels of health care.

4. Public administration: all of the administration of health services needs to be done on a non-profit basis by a public authority.

5. Comprehensiveness: all health care services determined by the provinces require to be insured.

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The province and territories manage and provide the required health insurance to all its residents. In order to be eligible for health care benefits, the residents need to apply for a provincial health card. Once, the health card is issued, the individual is eligible to receive free health care for all necessary health services as listed by the province they reside in. There is a maximum waiting period of 3 months in being able to receive health care, for new residents.

Some provinces provide additional health care services in addition to what is listed in the Canadian Health Care Act; however they are not required to provide any additional services than what is stated in the Act. For any additional health care service, like dental or optometry, people usually get private insurance, or employers give additional insurance to their employees.

Health care funding is provided by both provincial and federal taxation from both individual and corporate income taxes. Additional financing is also obtained from sales taxes and proceeds from the lottery. Additional funds are delivered to the provinces by the federal government through the Canadian Health and Social Transfer. The funds are paid by cash contributions and tax transfer and to the provinces.