Canada's health care system, called Medicare, consists of a group of socialized medical plans that are publicly funded by the federal government. Covered under many of these plans are preventative health care, visits to primary care physicians, and visits to specialists upon recommendation by the primary care physicians. Coverage is available to virtually all with no requirements for income or past medical need.
Much of the health care is administered by the provinces and territories themselves, but they must operate under guidelines set by the federal government. The Canada Health Act can be broken down into five basic criteria:
- Public Administration - the health plans of the provinces and territories must be administered by public authority on a non-profit basis. They are subject to audit.
- Comprehensiveness – the health plans must cover all the necessary health services including hospitals, physicians, and surgical dentists.
- Universality – everyone must be entitled to the insured services of the health plans. Registration begins the process of entitlement.
- Portability – If a resident moves from one province or territory to another the resident must remain covered by the province or territory he is leaving if he is required to observe a waiting period in the new area. Those who are traveling will have access to emergency care in other provinces or territories should the need arise.
- Accessibility – the health plans in each province and territory must provide for access to the covered health care. The providing physicians, surgeons, and surgical dentists must be compensated.
New residents to any province or territory must apply for the health coverage. There is usually a waiting period, but it cannot be extended beyond three months. There are some provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario) that require premiums to be paid for the health care coverage, but no one can be denied health care because of financial situation. Other services that are generally offered are dental, physical therapy, and prescription medications, but unless a service is listed in the Canada Health Act, the provinces or territories are not required to provide them.
