There has been much talk about the problems of health care in the USA and Canada, but no details. ( Some news reporting) So the simple facts.
I am located in Toronto Canada and the basic facts about health care here. No opinions as there are many. I will also not try to post every detail or deal with every complaint out there.
Yes there are problems, but the system does work.
First the heath care system in Canada is run the federal government, Health Canada and Health Care System and runs the program with each province and territories. I will deal only with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as I am most familiar with this one.
First of all, everyone is covered. Includes working, non-working, children, adults, etc.
As for drug coverage, persons over 65 ( retirement age) can get help with most drug purchases Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) . There may be a small deductible and copays as income rises.
Ontario also has a plan called the Ontario Drug Benefit : Trillium Drug Program coverage for anyone who has high costs in relation to their income. For both low income and for people who require a lot and / or some expensive medications.
As for doctors. Everyone in the US ( especially CNN and Sanja Gupta) feels everyone in Canada needs to wait a month to see a doctor. My personal doctor is very busy and is even semi-retired. I may need to wait to see him unless I am real sick and there is an opening. In the same building he is in, there are other doctors and, from experience, some would see you the next day and even the same day.
I also have access to 3 walk-in day clinics in my area ( I am in a large city). One of these clinics even has my own doctor as a member. From experience, there is anywhere from a 20 minute to a 4 hours wait to be seen by a doctor depending on how busy they are. Fully covered before anyone asks.
As for emergency rooms, yes they can be busy. Go on a Friday or Saturday night ( when people tend to be a little more stupid) and there will be a longer wait. My own spouse went to an emergency room about 4 months ago. It was busy and was there most of the day. But did see a doctor and had tests run (blood and heart) while there. Covered, except for the stupid parking.
Emergency rooms are on the basis of who is more sick, not first come first served. Years ago, I was next in line in the emergency room ( real bad cold). Then a new patient comes in with a heart problem. Had to wait another 2 hours.
I also had blood tests 2 months ago, on orders from my doctor, and they were covered. I am going again in September for more blood tests and they will be covered.
Please remember, everyone is covered. And this is done for about what half is spent in the US on health care where a large part of the population is not.
As for additional coverage. Yes there is, but it is not to replace the existing health care system. More of a benefit. Usually obtained when you work for larger companies. The insurance plans, run by for profit insurance companies, will provide coverage for such things as life, disability, dismemberment, semi private room stay at a hospital( not a ward with maybe 3 other patients), drug coverage, eyeglass coverage, dental, and trip insurance while travelling outside Canada. Not a full list, but most of the items that are covered. These plans will vary widely from employer to employer. There are different limits, copays, deductibles, and coverage. But never to replace the government run system.
As a last note, I have found people who complain about the any government run system, or Michael Moore, are not interested in the facts. They just repeat the lines they read on some site. It seems the one who complain msot about Michael Moore and his movies never see them. ( I have yet to see Sicko )