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Canada Expat Health Insurance

Located in North America, directly north of the United States, Canada is the second largest country in the world by landmass. Population-wise however it is ranked 37th as of July 2011 at just over 34 million people. All this open space, filled with scenic mountain ranges, vast plains, innumerable lakes and streams and rugged coastline make for a booming tourism industry. Likewise, its northern location makes it a winter sport paradise, famous for skiing, snowboarding, skating, and ice-hockey, while its major cities claim to be some of the cleanest and friendliest in the world with plenty of culture and art on offer.

Canadian Medical Insurance and the Health Care System

In a 2000 report, the World Health Organization ranked the Canadian health system number 30 in the world, right in and among the most developed nations on earth. This is evident by the modern services and treatments that are found throughout the country. The Canadian health care system is based on a universal right to care mandate that has it roots in the 1946 Saskatchewan Hospitalization Act which sought to guarantee free medical treatment and access to hospitals to all residents in Saskatchewan. That provision was replaced with the federal Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act in 1957 which paid in part for all medical treatment for all Canadians and was based on five key principles: accessibility, comprehensive coverage, public administration, portability, and universality. Within four years, all ten Canadian Provinces had adopted some version of the universal health care mandate and it remains in action today. With a vast network of hospitals, clinics, and emergency centers, as well as air ambulance services for outlying areas, Canadians have ready access to care when needed. The national patient to physician ratio is 22 per 10,000 and the patient to nurse ratio is 90 per 10,000, giving its staffing figures high marks when compared to much of the rest of the world. Early detection is also a big priority in Canada and the Canadian medical insurance program covers most testing and detection procedures to check for various ailments in an effort to reduce the risk of later complication. As a result, Canadians are quite healthy and have an average life expectancy of about 81 years.

Domestically, the two most common complaints about the Canada health care system are understaffing and long wait times. The Canadian health care system is a mixture of public and private ventures, however regulation falls solely in the hands of the government. One of their key goals is to maintain affordability. The lower fees charged result in a lower net income for health care facilities than many other countries, and while medical staff are still able to negotiate wages as many facilities are privately run, the rate of pay is often lower than that of the United States. As a result, there is a strong trend for health care professionals to relocate to the United States in search of more money. This causes a shortage of personnel and is partly to blame for the sometimes very long waits that are required to see a doctor or receive treatment for non-critical conditions. It is common for non-critical medical procedures to take weeks or months to be administered. Imaging services such as MRI and CAT scans have an average wait time of two weeks, whereas to see a physician is usually four weeks or more, and non-emergency surgery is typically a four week to six month wait, though sometimes even longer.

Canadian Medical Insurance

All Canadian residents automatically qualify for Canadian medical insurance through the universal system. Funding comes from taxation, depending on province, either through income tax, sales tax, or a combination of the two. All this tax revenue is then reissued as payment subsidy to health care facilities for those requiring health care on an as needed basis. The payment to the medical facility is about 75-80 percent of the cost with the remaining 20-25 percent to be paid by the patient, essentially serving as their copay. The rate of copay varies slightly depending on treatment and province. Native Americans are the responsibility of the government however and as a result 100 percent of their health care is paid by the Canadian medical insurance program. Dental and vision care is usually excluded in the universal Canadian health insurance package and as a result is often covered by a privately purchased third party insurance package, sometimes by the individuals themselves or as part of any employment package.

As was mentioned, the key to the continued success of Canada's health care system is affordability for the reimbursing government. This is accomplished by setting maximum allowable fees for necessary procedures, treatments, pharmaceuticals, and diagnostic services. Pricing is fixed by the government and therefore it is illegal for doctors to set higher fees for any reason. Additionally, no for-profit hospitals are permitted in Canada, as it is considered the right of all citizens to have health care available, and as such cannot be used for corporate gain. It should be mentioned that no third party insurance company is permitted by law to offer coverage to any Canadian living in Canada that would overlap in anyway the coverage provided by the federal system. This is to stop the possibility of privatizing any form of necessary treatment or creating a niche industry for doctors to see patients on a proprietary basis. This law does not apply to dental, vision, and some plastic surgery offerings however.

Canada Travel Insurance Information

In general, many procedures and prescription medications are much cheaper in Canada than the neighboring United States. As a result, some from the USA cross the border into Canada in search of treatment at cost to themselves due to the widespread lack of health insurance in the United States and the very high cost for out of pocket payment there. It is noteworthy however to explain that all non-residents in Canada are excluded from the Canadian health insurance program and any who need medical attention for whatever reason will be required to pay the full cost out of pocket. For this reason, it is advisable that anyone visiting Canada consider traveler's health insurance that provides protection and coverage while there. Most hospitals and clinics are modern with regards to equipment, however the attempts to save cost have resulted in what many foreigners consider somewhat spartan conditions, without luxuries such as in-room phones and most wards are co-ed, shared with one or more patients for the duration of the stay. Finally, it is a good idea to make sure that all common vaccinations are up to date for common childhood diseases, as well as any necessary booster shots for adults, and for traveler's from some less developed countries proof of these shots may be required before entry is granted.

Canada Expat Health Insurance

Whatever you choose to do while in Canada, consideration should be given to making sure that you, your family, or your travel group are cared for in the event of an emergency. With so much to see and do in Canada, few want to consider the possibility of an accident or unexpected illness ruining their trip, but preparation is the key to an enjoyable and memorable visit to Canada. Expat health insurance can provide extensive coverage for visitors and expat residents in Canada. Global Health Insurance has packages to provide medical and health insurance in Canada no matter the planned length of stay, itinerary, or budget. Global Health Insurance's advisors will help you, free of charge, to make the selection of coverage that best fits your needs.