If the federal government does have a role in a provincial matter such as healthcare, it is surely this: to ensure the complete transferability of services between one province and another; a PEI health card should be accepted in Ontario or Quebec without problems such as partial or even non-reimbursement of services.
Instead of advancing this clear federal role, the federal government has chosen rather to meddle in provincial matters such as private vs. public delivery of services. In doing so, it has demonstrated more interest in advancing an ideological agenda than in meeting the actual healthcare needs of its citizens.
For what it's worth, I have just returned from receiving an ultrasound test at an Ontario clinic, easily and conveniently booked a week ago. I've been waiting since August to receive the lottery-like letter from the PEI health authorities regarding the booking of the same test.
Thank God for the existence of privately run clinics that provide needed healthcare services.
Have I paid loads and loads of dollars into the PEI tax treasury in the last decade? Yes. Will I be compensated by the PEI government for the cost of these tests? I have no idea. They tend to look unfavourably at such extra-provincial forays. Sometimes they'll pay for half the cost or less.
One thing I do know: there is a sizeable bureaucracy that exists to determine whether this expense will be covered or not. Their salaries will definitely be covered -- by my tax dollars.
And that's the way the Ball bounces.
2 comments:
You should try using a Quebec health care card in another jurisdiction.
It will be rejected.
You have to pay cash and try to get the Quebec government to reimburse you. Come to think of it the care in Quebec hospitals is not that great in and of itself. The staff is run off its feet and the cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe you will get C. difficile which has killed far more people than SARS.
The medical system has perverse incentives. Hospitals are given funds to carry out their function. The "carte de soleil" (The medicare card in Quebec has a picture of the sun.) entitles you to care at the hospital where you become an expense. (It is much the same in other provinces.)
No matter where, the proper way would have the card act as an insurance system where you would be a customer bringing profit to the hospital. The hospital would determine which services to offer and in what quantities based on the demand created by the consumer - much the way regular stores do.
When I want a bar of soap, my store almost always has exactly what I want when I want it. It's truly amazing. Never do I have to put in an order and wait for months to have it filled.
In our medical system people in pain or at high risk of death can wait months for services. It is not a rare event. It is commonplace. It is a disgrace that we are coerced to pay for it.
Frappeur -- well said!
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