Canadian History Title



    Canada in the 21st Century: Health Care  
                                                                                                                         PAGE DEVELOPED BY: Deneene Ricketts


Summary
Canada's health care system is a group of socialized health insurance plans that provides coverage to all Canadian citizens. It is publicly funded and administered on a provincial or territorial basis, within guidelines set by the federal government. By using the health care system, individual citizens are provided with care from primary physicians and 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. Recently there has been some controversy over the efficiency of the current system to develop procedures in a timely fashion. Also the thought of the United States adopting our idea worries some others. There are other reasons why there is some debate about the health care system: Federal involvement in Canada, Private health care, The shortage of doctors and nurses in Canada.




 

Historical Importance
Health care in Canada is very important because it is one of the only things that distinguishes Canada from the United States. Many see the system as helpful to the country, especially because even if you don’t have good credit you can still proceed with any medical operations without having to pay back the money. Everyone in the country needs medical assistance once in their lives, and by having this kind of system it allows individuals that, in America would not have to money to pay for a dire operation, proceed with it. Still there are many discrepancies fired toward the health care system from citizens and even political parties. Even though you do not have to pay for the medical care, the waiting list for transplants and operations is badly timed in Canada. Unlike the United States, if you need any medical assistance instead of not paying, you would have too. Though it would be a large amount of money to pay back, the waiting list for transplants and operations is quicker than it is in Canada. So which one is better in the end? The plan where you spend many years clearing the debt or the one that is free. They both have their pros and cons, in the end it’s up to you.




 

Article Critiques

Related Articles / Links:
Article #1: Public vs. Private health care
Article #2:  Environmental Factors should be linked to health care
Article #3:  McGuinty Government Continues to Reduce Health Care Wait Times
Article #4:  In depth- Introduction to Health Care


 



   REVIEW QUESTIONS

  1. The Quebec and federal government asked the high court to suspend its ruling for how many months?
    1. 10 months
    2. 17 months
    3. 18 months
    4. 8 months



  2. What card do you use to get free health care?
    1. OHIP
    2. Social Insurance
    3. Visa
    4. Health Card



  3. During the last six months, cataract surgery median wait times dropped _______:
    1. 18%
    2. 100%
    3. 73%
    4. 21%



  4. Times for hip and knee replacements decreased __ per cent and __ per cent?

    1. 5 and 8
    2. 19 and 17
    3. 8 and 22
    4. 99 and 6


     

    5.  What kind of health care does America have?

    1. use a health card
    2. pay upfront
    3. bribe the doctor
    4. beat up other patients