Re: Canada's Health Care
Not everyone can afford medical care .. a prescription now and then may be do-able, perhaps some small bills can be paid..
People who earn minimum wage and are barely making a living can't afford huge legal bills if they are injured or develop some sort of disease.. Medical care here is for everyone and taxes pay for it as they also pay for education/police/fire etc.
Many people don't have kids and may wonder why they should have any taxes for schools etc. Well the children of today will be the ones paying taxes in the future to help pay for their old age pensions and health care etc..It is for all of society that education tax is charged to everyone..just as health care..
A healthy society (or as healthy as it can be) benefits all. When some marginilized members can't afford to pay and therefore do not seek medical help we as a people are diminished in our values as a caring, helpful, compassionate society. Our good health is paramount to being productive citizens, therefore being able to work and contribute in many ways, not just as tax payers..
Nobody here is turned away for health care and that includes visitors to this country and rarely are they charged anywhere near what their care costs.
When immigrants show up here they are given health care despite their work status. They may also receive dental benefits. This goes for those who claim refugee status for themselves and family and they are then housed and clothed and fed and given medical/dental care as well while their claims are reviewed. This can take up to 4 years with appeals!
If the medical care my family has received in the last several years was pay as you go we would not be able to pay. Paying health care by mortgaging the house etc. is not done here.. People will not lose their homes to pay for hospital stays/surgeries/cancer care etc. It's just not done.
One never knows when major medical issues of a physical or mental kind will arise and it gives me peace of mind knowing that when an emergency of any medical kind does arise I can immediately go to the hospital or clinic or doctor and know we will be looked after without the worry of a clerk at the desk asking us for payment which we may well not be able to pay...
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