| The Canadian Health Care System is based on | | | | Canadian territory. |
| several socialized health insurance plans | | | | |
| providing full coverage to Canadian citizens | | | | Canada counts with about 30,000 primary care |
| and a model to follow that the American | | | | doctors, who account for over half of all |
| Health Care System has been analyzing for a | | | | Canadian doctors so you will not have a |
| while. | | | | problem finding a physician that can provide |
| | | | you with preventative care or basic medical |
| In Canada, federal government set the | | | | treatment. |
| guidelines that apply to the different | | | | |
| provinces and territories of the country in | | | | Specialist doctors account for 28,000 all |
| health matters, but the system comes from | | | | over the country and there are countless |
| public funding on a territorial or provincial | | | | private clinics operating in the country |
| basis. | | | | offering specialized medical services, |
| | | | although under federal law they should not |
| Because every Canadian region manages its own | | | | provide those services covered by the Canada |
| health care system, there is too much | | | | Health Act. |
| controversy and debate in relation to health | | | | |
| care coverage for both locals and people | | | | Even though, most clinics offer such services |
| visiting the country. | | | | regardless the legal limitation, they are |
| | | | covered by private insurance policies to |
| People who want to access the Canadian Health | | | | provide health assistance to people that |
| Care system must apply for a provincial | | | | otherwise would be left without medical |
| health card and wait for no longer, than | | | | protection. |
| three months to obtain their health card in | | | | |
| the case of new immigrants. | | | | Private insurance in Canada may cover up to |
| | | | 80% of medical cost and it is available to |
| While the Canada Health Act guarantees that | | | | visitors and local residents unsatisfied with |
| all residents of a territory or province will | | | | their provincial or territorial health |
| be accepted for health coverage, temporary | | | | system. |
| visitors can only access this system | | | | |
| purchasing insurance by themselves. | | | | In terms of medical availability as of 2007, |
| | | | there is one primary care doctor for every |
| However, there are also Public Health Care | | | | 1000 Canadians, who spend nearly $3,300 per |
| Providers that ruled under the same act, | | | | capita on health care attention every year. |
| providing services such as hospitals, dental | | | | |
| surgery, ambulatory services, primary care | | | | Keep in mind that the Canadian Health Care |
| doctors, and specialists to cover provincial | | | | System does not provide basic services to |
| insurance policies. | | | | residents, and some of them are those that |
| | | | visitors usually require, such as |
| As a visitor to Canada, you can purchase a | | | | optometrists, dental services, and |
| health insurance policy and benefit from | | | | prescription medication, which people have to |
| these public services during your stay in the | | | | pay. |