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The U.S. voted for healthcare reform: Now it's time for change in Canada

Big news for our neighbours to the south: Late last night, the U.S. Congress voted to pass the hotly contested healthcare reform bill. The legislation may bring American health care closer in line with what we have in Canada, in terms of providing coverage for more citizens, regardless of their income. The bill, which passed by 219 to 212 votes (with zero support from the Republicans), will extend medical coverage to more than 30 million uninsured Americans. Here are some other key things the healthcare reform bill will change:

• Most Americans will be required to have medical insurance and those who cannot afford it will receive subsidies
• Insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions
• Young adults will be allowed to remain on their parents’ healthcare plans until age 26
• Seniors who require more prescription drugs will receive a larger benefit and a rebate of $250 in 2010

While many Americans are against this bill and what they claim it represents for the American people, there’s no doubt that this is a monumental change for American health care. Many (my cynical self included) doubted President Obama would ever be able to change the American healthcare system to provide more government assistance for people in need. But here we are. Change happened.

In Canada, we tend to sit on our high horses and extoll the virtues of our own universal healthcare system. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Canadians boast that while our health care isn’t perfect, at least we’re not as bad off as the Americans. Well, today I say that sentiment no longer flies. Just as Canadians are reading about monumental political change in the United States today, we’re also seeing news that Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital has cut 12 beds in anticipation of cuts to provincial hospital funding, while the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton has also announced it will be eliminating mental health treatment beds due to a shortage of psychiatrists.

While Canadians can be proud of a healthcare structure that provides treatment for all, regardless of income or medical history, our system still has much room for improvement.

So today I ask my fellow Canadians: What can we change in our own healthcare system? What countries should we be looking to as examples of healthcare systems that work?

Posted by Jennifer Goldberg onMonday, March 22nd, 2010 - 11:58am

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2 Comments

What we need:

ORGANIZATION, TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, SIMPLICITY, ACCOUNTABILITY.

1) Two Words: e-health! That was not organization nor accountability. We have separate health care systems for: French vs English, "Aboriginal" vs Non-Aboriginal, Immigrant/Refugee vs Non.... The are all human. Treat them all the same! Why have different systems? Only need one! Why waste money on bureaucrats and "system"? We should be spending money on people!

2) Trillium. Never heard of it? Well, it lacks Simplicity and Transparency, and especially Fairness. Quick examples:
Working poor, Earns $12k/yr - Fully Taxable. Pays $480 in fees. Welfare, Gets equivalent of $15k/yr - Non Taxable - Pays $2/prescription. Senior, Income over $22k/yr. Full tax credits. Pays $6 per prescription. Senior, Income $14k/yr, pays $100/yr. Senior, Pensions, $40k/yr. Pays $100/yr. I could go on. Where is the logic here?

3) MPP & Senators get cradle to grave First Class health care. All drugs, treatments, Glasses, etc, all paid for by the taxpayer. Inco/Falco Worker. Cadillac plan, when at work, zilch on strike. Other person, something else. Why can we not simplify and organize this so we all have some equity?

I could go on and on, but really, ALL Canadians need Hospital, Doctor, Health, Drug, Dental, Eyeglass, etc coverage. It should be commensurate to actual needs (Why does a guy on Welfare get free suntan lotion?), AND have a joint Government and Recipient paid contributions based on Wealth and Income.

Submitted by Pierre on Fri, 2010-03-26 6:29pm.

I'm all for universal health care but the downside is no incentive to take care of one's self knowing 'the system" will take care of me. That comes out of my taxes too so a suggestion might be that if you want to live a life of bad eating habits, smoking, etc. go ahead, it's a free country but when those habits land you at the doctor's and after a few warnings, you are not heading the advice you start paying for stuff (doctor visits, more for meds, fee for tests usually covered, e.g. mammogram). Maybe hitting some people in the wallet may help get the message across that doing what you can to help prevent the illness in the first place is the best way to help our health care system.

Submitted by Diane on Mon, 2010-03-22 2:27pm.