The Canada Health Act (CHA) is Canada's federal legislation for publicly funded health care insurance. It began as a very simple set of conditions attached to Canada’s Medicare Act. Unlike the U.S. version, Medicare is what Canadians call their public health insurance.
Passed into law in 1984 the Canada Health Act ensures that territories and provinces guarantee free and universal access to public health insurance.
Primary objective is reasonable access to health care
The CHA was enacted to insure that eligible residents of Canada have access to insured health services on a prepaid basis. The access must be reasonable and without direct charges at the point of service.
The five requirements of health insurance
In order to qualify for federal reimbursement, provinces and territories must enact and implement health insurance programs the meet nine requirements set forth in the CHA. Five of the requirements apply to insured health services.
Called the “national principals” the five requirements of health services are:
- Public administration
- Comprehensiveness
- Universality
- Portability
- Accessibility
Read more about the five principles of the CHA
Canada’s health insurance is not one national plan
Contrary to the understanding of many Americans, health care in Canada is not one national program. It is actually 13 interlocking provincial and territorial health insurance plans. All these plans must meet the requirements of the CHA.
How does the Canadian system work?
It should be noted that the CHA as originally enacted was 27 pages. Why does Congress feel the need for thousands of pages to achieve what Canada has managed in under 30 pages? Now that the Senate has proposed the opt out for states, why doesn’t the federal government just set forth the principles and let the states implement the plans, just as Canada does.
Perhaps quantity is being mistaken for quality.
Follow this series on Canada's health care system by clicking on "SUBSCRIBE." Comments and opposing views are welcome and appreciated. Rudeness is neither welcome nor appreciated
Comments
A very respectful and well researched look at Canadian health care! For anyone who supports the idea of an opt-out clause, I'd suggest they explore the repercussions of Canada'a infamous "notwithstanding clause."
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