NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, I am declaring my ignorance, but I am curious about this topic. Our province's Premier, Ralph Klein, has announced his retirement in 18 months. Seemingly as a parting gesture, he is pressing for a two-tiered health care system in Alberta that would see private and public funds cover the cost of health services for all Albertans. On the surface it sounds like a good idea, but I have heard a lot of opposing voices with no backup arguments. It's on the news, and the AUPE (union) is organizing an information session, so people must think it's an important issue.

What are the up and down sides of a two-tiered health care system for Canada?

The issue of two-tier healthcare is divisive in Canada as it is, but Ralph Klein takes the whole thing further than the rest. The problem that people in Canada have with 2-tier, is that people with more money will get better treatment, and the public sector will continue to degrade with continuing cuts.

Quebec's recent decision to allow doctors to engage in private practice was in response to the Supreme Court of Canada ruling that it was against a citizen's rights to make someone wait an excessive amount of time for surgery, espescially if they are waiting months and months in pain. The idea, is that the government will foot the bill for a private doctor, if the public system doesn't live up to the deal.

Alberta's plan goes one step further; it allows doctors to work in both private and public sectors at the same time. The problem with that, is that it suddenly becomes more lucrative for doctors/specialists to defer patients to the private-care system. The irony, is that Alberta is the only province in Canada which has zero debt, and has huge energy subsidies. If any province can afford a good publicly-funded system, it's Alberta.

The trick is finding a balance between an affordable health-care strategy for all Canadians, that somehow gives the same quality of care to all Canadians.

Alberta's plan goes one step further; it allows doctors to work in both private and public sectors at the same time. The problem with that, is that it suddenly becomes more lucrative for doctors/specialists to defer patients to the private-care system. The irony, is that Alberta is the only province in Canada which has zero debt, and has huge energy subsidies. If any province can afford a good publicly-funded system, it's Alberta.
I couldn't agree more. Why they are giving money back to the citizens instead of using it baffles and alarms me (though I didn't say no to the cash).

The trick is finding a balance between an affordable health-care strategy for all Canadians, that somehow gives the same quality of care to all Canadians.
Thanks.

I couldn't agree more. Why they are giving money back to the citizens instead of using it baffles and alarms me (though I didn't say no to the cash).

I don't have a problem with the government returning money to the people per se, (I generally agree with the principle) but when there's a health care crisis, and other provinces are struggling with reforms, it seems kind of silly to me to go for 'the third option' when the '1st option' should be affordable for Alberta's government.

Thanks.

My pleasure. But I'm no expert, that's just my opinion. ;)

Yes, I am declaring my ignorance, but I am curious about this topic. Our province's Premier, Ralph Klein, has announced his retirement in 18 months. Seemingly as a parting gesture, he is pressing for a two-tiered health care system in Alberta that would see private and public funds cover the cost of health services for all Albertans. On the surface it sounds like a good idea, but I have heard a lot of opposing voices with no backup arguments. It's on the news, and the AUPE (union) is organizing an information session, so people must think it's an important issue.

What are the up and down sides of a two-tiered health care system for Canada?
These sites might help? Quebec judgment Page 2. Page 3 and 4 for comparisons re: cost and coverage here in Canada, US, and Europe.

Two Tier Healthcare: Costly and Unf (http://www.healthcoalition.ca/chaohc.pdf)air

Beware Two-Tier Medical Care, Osgoode Conference Told (http://osgoode.yorku.ca/media2.nsf/0/122cc9c25306a2fa852570a7006f5446?OpenDocument)

What about problems facing the US healthcare industry?

Why are doctors vanishing? USA (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=4563)

Medical miscalculation creates doctor shortage (http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-03-02-doctor-shortage_x.htm)

IMHO, Canada should stay the course with single payer healthcare coverage. Two tier is going through the roof in other jurisdictions. Main problems with doctor supply, high admin charges, high cost of malpractice insurance, and expensive healthcare insurance providers.

You mean beside the fact that it will completely destroy the health care system and send Canada back to the private practice system?

Everybody in Canada should have equal right to medicare, regardless of how much money you have. If people with money could jump to the front of the line, it would leave the people without the money to have to wait for the treatment they desperately need. And that's just not fair.

Everybody in Canada should have equal right to medicare, regardless of how much money you have. If people with money could jump to the front of the line, it would leave the people without the money to have to wait for the treatment they desperately need. And that's just not fair.
Gets my vote for NS General quote-of-the-day.

You mean beside the fact that it will completely destroy the health care system and send Canada back to the private practice system?

Everybody in Canada should have equal right to medicare, regardless of how much money you have. If people with money could jump to the front of the line, it would leave the people without the money to have to wait for the treatment they desperately need. And that's just not fair.
Case in point......my first father in law (now deceased), lost his house when his wife and three of his children had to be hospitalized due to TB back in the early 60's.

US model is beginning to crumble even though it is almost twice as costly as the Canadian model. 45 Million Americans do not have basic healthcare insurance. Many millions more Americans have fly by the seat of their pants healthcare coverage.

These sites might help? *edit*
Beware Two-Tier Medical Care, Osgoode Conference Told (http://osgoode.yorku.ca/media2.nsf/0/122cc9c25306a2fa852570a7006f5446?OpenDocument) *snip*

I like this link in particular. I doubt even the most ardent supporters of two-tier think of the implications of business providing health insurance. The idea of cutting taxes (in the health care industry in particular) was to create investment opportunities. How does adding the cost of providing health insurance help that?

Klein's plan just reeks of ideology to me. Senseless.

I like this link in particular. I doubt even the most ardent supporters of two-tier think of the implications of business providing health insurance. The idea of cutting taxes (in the health care industry in particular) was to create investment opportunities. How does adding the cost of providing health insurance help that?

Klein's plan just reeks of ideology to me. Senseless.
I am sure many doctors and salivating health insurance providers love Klien's ideology?

Klien has the silver bullet loaded in the chamber and is anxious to pull the trigger. I am sure that he would consider it one of the defining moments in his career?

Gets my vote for NS General quote-of-the-day.

WOOT! Watching the Tommy Douglas Story on CBC does help after all... oops, did I just say that out loud?

Some countries have multiple tier health care, such as France. I dont know much about it, but if a French NSer could come forth and tell us about it,that would be great. We would want to know the pros and cons of course.

That fact is, with the bulk of the population being baby boomers, and said baby boomers are approaching retirement. Health care as it is will not survive that.

I don't have a problem with the government returning money to the people per se, (I generally agree with the principle) but when there's a health care crisis, and other provinces are struggling with reforms, it seems kind of silly to me to go for 'the third option' when the '1st option' should be affordable for Alberta's government.
Aye; that's what alarms me, that they'd go for the third option rather than put it to good use, whether for health care, roads or whatever.