How Universal is our Health Care System in Canada?

Our system is not universal; there is an exclusion of medical treatments due to lack of accessibility, wait times, and specific medical treatments, even though Canadian taxpayers pay into the health care system and have the benefits of not having to pay extra for medical expenses when in dire need, though are set back if they need private services.

Medical expenses not included in Medicare today include massage therapy, physiotherapy, mental health services, psychologists, counselors, chiropractors, dental for adults and children, pharmaceuticals, and home care needs. These are not still part of the Medicare system, where patients are required to pay for these services. There is not a single system and has many tiers of government policies encompassing financial responsibility.

The universal health care system is financially managed in each province of Canada, and anyone who needs urgent medical care can access services such as doctors or emergency care. This is universal coverage for patients under each province’s medical insurance as long as they have been registered to receive it.

What does the word “universal” mean to me?

The word “universal” means everyone and globally. In accordance with the Canada Health Act, universality is one of the five main principles of health care in Canada, as part of the Medicare principle founded by Tommy Douglas (Bryant, 2016). To my understanding, the word universal in health care means that anyone deemed eligible in Canada for publicly funded health insurance can access free health care.

Having universal healthcare is all-inclusive and not having to pay for healthcare services, is not dependent on household income, social status, or where a person resides for receiving public healthcare through healthcare insurance (Bryant, 2016).

Resource

Bryant, T. (2016). An introduction to health policy. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press. ISBN 978-1551309248