Health Insurance Eligibility in Canada

Evolution of Health Care in Canada

• In 1867, the British North America Act established the Dominion of Canada, comprising Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.
• Each province had its own representation in government and a law-making body, led by a Lieutenant Governor.
• Health concerns received minimal attention in the initial act.
• Federal responsibility encompassed the establishment and maintenance of marine hospitals and care for Indigenous populations.
• Provinces managed hospitals, asylums, charities, and other healthcare-related responsibilities.
• In 1919, the Department of Health was established.

Division of Responsibilities for Health

• In 1944, the Department of Health and Welfare expanded federal responsibilities.
• The department was renamed Health Canada in the late 1990s.
• Federal responsibilities include: overseeing the food and drug control system, public health programs, health care for civil service members, and the operation of the Laboratory of Hygiene.

Marine Hospitals

• The oldest surviving marine hospital in Canada, located in Douglastown, New Brunswick (opened 1830), cared for sick sailors who worked the Miramichi River's timber trade until 1921.

The Origins of Medical Care in Canada

• European settlers, primarily from England and France, brought medical practitioners.
• The first medical school was established in Montreal in 1825, which later became the McGill University Faculty of Medicine.
• Only the wealthy could afford medical care. Those without resources relied on religious and charitable organizations or family/friends.

Aboriginal Medicine and the Shaman

• Aboriginal healers, sometimes called shamans or medicine men, maintained strong ties to the spirit world and Mother Earth.
• They possessed healing knowledge, utilized herbal medicine, and employed local plants, herbs, roots, and fungi to treat common ailments that continue to be addressed today.

Aboriginal Health

• Prior to contact with Europeans, Indigenous people enjoyed good health with an active lifestyle and healthy diets.
• The introduction of diseases like smallpox, influenza, and measles by European settlers decimated Indigenous populations.
• The British North America Act and the India Act limited their autonomy and ways of life.

Concept of Public Health is Introduced & Role of Volunteer Organizations

• The concept of public health developed in Upper and Lower Canada (now Ontario and Quebec), with boards of health established in 1832 and 1833 respectively.
• Other provinces followed suit in the early 20th century.
• Early boards of health enforced quarantine, sanitation laws, and imposed restrictions on immigration.
• Volunteer organizations played a crucial role in the provision of initial health care, such as the Order of St. John, the Canadian Red Cross Society, the Victorian Order of Nurses, and the Children's Aid Society.

Development of Hospitals in Canada

• The Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec, established in 1639 in Quebec City, was Canada's first hospital.
• Many early hospitals were charitable institutions.
• In the early 1900s, tuberculosis sanitariums and institutions for the mentally ill were established.

Introduction of Health Insurance

• In 1919, a publicly funded health care system was part of a Liberal election campaign, but it was not implemented successfully.
• In 1935, the Conservative government pledged to address social issues, including public health insurance.
• In 1940, provincial and federal governments amended the British North America Act and introduced a national unemployment insurance program.
• In 1944, the federal government introduced the "baby bonus."

Post-World War II: Political Landscape

• Canadians desired a publicly funded health care system, as the middle class had felt the impact of not having appropriate access to healthcare.
• Medical discoveries led to advancements in treatment and diagnostic capabilities.
• A shift toward hospital-based care occurred.
• In 1948, the federal government funded health care services in collaboration with the provinces.
• In 1952, these grants were complemented by a national old-age security program, and in 1954 support for disabled adults.

Progress Toward Prepaid Hospital Care

• In 1957, the federal government introduced the Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act, providing funds to provinces and territories to implement hospital insurance plans.
• Some provinces had difficulty implementing comprehensive services due to population distribution.
• Richer provinces shared revenue with poorer ones through an equalization system.
• The act included care in acute hospitals and outpatient clinics.

Making Medicare: The History of Health Care in Canada

• Tommy Douglas, the premier of Saskatchewan from 1944 to 1961, was known as the "father of Medicare."
• Douglas campaigned for affordable, comprehensive hospital and medical insurance.
• The Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act was passed in 1961. This was followed by similar plans adopted by other provinces and territories.

The Canada Health Act

• The Canada Health Act, enacted in 1984, governs and directs Canada's health care system.
• A primary goal of the Act is to provide equitable, prepaid, and accessible healthcare to eligible Canadians (lawful residents of a province or territory).

Interpreting the Canada Health Act

• The Act itself does not detail which health services are to be insured.
• Instead, the provinces and territories, in conjunction with physicians and government agencies, determine medically necessary services; lists are regularly reviewed and adjusted.

Three Major Reports on the Status of Health Care in Canada

• Major reports, including the Mazankowski, Kirby, and Romanow Reports, analyzed the Canadian health care system and offered potential reforms.

New Brunswick Regional Health Authorities

• Established to deliver health services in New Brunswick, these bodies aim to ensure efficient and uniform delivery of care.

Private Health Insurance

• Approximately 60% of Canadians utilize private health insurance.
• This insurance acts as a complement to the provincial and territorial health care systems, offsetting costs of services not covered under basic healthcare plans; often purchased through group employment benefits or personally.

Public Health Insurance

• Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status is a criterion for eligibility.
• Residents of a province or territory need to spend 5 months of the year within that jurisdiction to be eligible for coverage.

Group Activity - Scavenger Hunt

• Numerous questions about Canadian healthcare costs, provisions, and eligibility are detailed, offering a hands-on learning opportunity for students. Questions focus on aspects of the healthcare system and benefits.

Provincial/Territorial Ministry of Health

• Each province/territory has a ministry or department overseeing all aspects of healthcare. These oversee sub-divisions, branches, agencies, and programs.
• Ministries/departments collaborate with other agencies inside and outside the government.

Does Canada have a national health insurance plan?

• Canada does not have a single national health insurance plan. Instead, 13 provinces and 3 territories administer their own healthcare insurance programs, often referred to collectively as Medicare.

Universal healthcare implementation

• The Constitution Act of 1982 replaced the British North America Act, outlining the division of health care responsibilities between provincial and territorial governments.
• Provinces/territories must adhere to the principles and conditions put forth by the Canada Health Act to receive continued federal funding for health care.

Global Organizations Collaborating with Health Canada

• The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a significant role in global health leadership and coordination, gathering information, and establishing standards. The WHO also monitors health trends and promotes population health initiatives.

This quiz assesses your knowledge about the eligibility criteria for provincial or territorial health insurance in Canada. It explores aspects of residency requirements and historical health care initiatives. Test your understanding of health care systems and organizations vital to Canadian public health.