My prediction for 2010 is that if Americans get universal medicare, those now without coverage will love it. If they ever edge out the profit-making, paperwork-generating, coverage-denying schemes of the insurance companies and provide not-for-profit universal medicare, most people will love it. As the BBC pointed out last night, unlike most other developed countries, the U.S. does not have health care for everyone, and despite spending twice as much per capita as those other countries, it still leaves 47,000,000 people uncovered.
To get an idea of what healthcare coverage is like in other countries, check out the tone and the coverage rules in Canada:
- Health Care in Canada
- Medicare in Canada
- Health Canada
- Provincial/Territorial Role in Health
Provincial/Territorial health ministries and health insurance:
- Newfoundland & Labrador Health & Community Services
-
- Newfoundland & Labrador Medical Care Plan
-
- Newfoundland & Labrador Prescription Drug Plan
- Prince Edward Island Department of Health
-
- PEI Health Card
- Nova Scotia Department of Health
-
- Nova Scotia Health Card (MSI=Medical Services Insurance)
- New Brunswick Department of Health
-
- New Brunswick Medicare Card
- Santé et Services Sociaux Québec (English)
-
- Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec
- Manitoba Health
-
- Health Care Coverage in Manitoba
- Saskatchewan Health
-
- Health Benefits in Saskatchewan
- Alberta Health & Wellness
-
- Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan
- British Columbia Ministry of Health Services
-
- Health Insurance B.C.
- Yukon Health & Social Services
-
- Yukon Health Card
- Northwest Territories Department of Health & Social Services
-
- NWT Health Care Plan
- Nunavut Health & Social Services
-
- Public Health Nunavut (seems to piggyback on NWT services)
- Ontario Ministry of Health & Long-term Care
- Ontario Health Insurance Plan
Supplemental insurance, drug plans
- Blue Cross insurance (supplemental coverage, works with provinces)
For over 65 years, Ontario Blue Cross has focused on providing health and safety to Ontario residents.
In 1941, the Ontario Hospital Service Association introduced the Blue Cross name in Ontario. The goal was to finance the hospitals by supplying individuals with reasonably priced health care services through a prepayment system. It was an immense success.
The OHA was eager to see a universal hospital insurance program in place and laid the foundations for the plan that eventually became government run. In 1959, the Government of Ontario launched the Ontario Hospital Insurance Plan. 600 Blue Cross employees as well as most of its top management team moved over to help guide in the plans development. Literally overnight, 90% of Blue Cross employees became government employees as they helped launch the new plan.
The creation of the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) led Blue Cross to modify its coverage to complement the public plan. Following the successful transition from primary to supplementary provider, Ontario Blue Cross developed other health care plans to provide coverage for Extended Health Care benefits including prescription drugs, dental, wheelchair coverage, nursing care, eyeglasses, hearing aid coverage and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment