Health Insurance Eligibility in Canada

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the eligibility criteria for provincial or territorial health insurance?

Being a part-time student in the province

Holding a temporary work permit

Being a resident for at least 3 months of the year

Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status (correct)

Which of the following statements is true regarding residency for health insurance eligibility?

Residency is defined as having a permanent address in Canada.

A person must physically reside in the province for at least 5 months of the year. (correct)

Any time spent in the province qualifies as residency.

Residency requirements are uniform across all provinces.

Who may not be eligible for NB Medicare?

Permanent residents who have moved recently

Canadian citizens living in New Brunswick

Students enrolled at UNBSJ from another province

Tourists visiting New Brunswick (correct)

What should a student from another province know about health care costs while attending school in New Brunswick?

Their home province is responsible for medically necessary costs. Signup and view all the answers

Under what condition can a physician bill a patient directly regarding Medicare?

If the patient does not have a valid Medicare card Signup and view all the answers

What were the primary responsibilities of the boards of health established in Upper and Lower Canada?

Enforcing quarantine and sanitation laws Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is synonymous with St.John Ambulance?

Order of St.John Signup and view all the answers

In what century did maternal and child health care become a focus of public health initiatives?

Early twentieth century Signup and view all the answers

What major health care development was introduced in Canada as part of a Liberal election campaign in 1919?

Publicly funded health care system Signup and view all the answers

What action was taken by the boards of health to prevent the spread of disease?

Imposing restrictions on immigration Signup and view all the answers

Which early charitable institution was established to care for mentally ill people?

Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec Signup and view all the answers

What was the role of volunteer organizations in Canadian healthcare during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries?

Providing healthcare services Signup and view all the answers

What legislation was amended in 1940 to introduce a national unemployment insurance program?

The British North America Act Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main goals of Health Canada?

To ensure high-quality health services are accessible Signup and view all the answers

Which group does Health Canada NOT provide health care coverage for?

Private sector employees Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the World Health Organization (WHO)?

Directly managing healthcare in individual countries Signup and view all the answers

How does Health Canada collaborate with provinces and territories?

By managing funding and ensuring compliance with the Canada Health Act Signup and view all the answers

Which branch reports independently to the health minister?

Public Health Agency of Canada Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is involved in coordinating responses to global health threats?

World Health Organization Signup and view all the answers

What specifically does Health Canada do for residents of remote and isolated areas?

It informs them about world health concerns. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary functions of the Health Products and Food Branch?

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of health products Signup and view all the answers

When was the first medical school established in Canada?

1825 Signup and view all the answers

How did most people receive medical care if they could not afford it?

From family and friends Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of diseases introduced by Hudson’s Bay Company traders?

The death of thousands among the Indigenous population Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the health of Indigenous people before European contact?

An active lifestyle and healthy diet Signup and view all the answers

What role did Aboriginal healers, sometimes referred to as shamans, play in Indigenous health?

They were believed to be connected to the spirit world and understood herbal medicines. Signup and view all the answers

What legislative acts set the stage for the assimilation of Indigenous people in Canada?

The British North American Act and the Indian Act Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of the inability of Indigenous healers to treat newly introduced diseases?

It allowed non-Indigenous people to discredit traditional healing. Signup and view all the answers

When were most Indigenous spiritual and health-related rituals legally banned?

Until the 1950s and beyond Signup and view all the answers

What must provinces and territories do to receive continued federal funding for healthcare?

Comply with the principles of the Canada Health Act Signup and view all the answers

What does the provincial and territorial ministry of health oversee?

A variety of health care sub-divisions and programs Signup and view all the answers

What change did the Government of New Brunswick implement to ensure effective clinical care delivery?

They transitioned from eight to two Regional Health Authorities Signup and view all the answers

What type of coverage does approximately 60% of Canadians have?

Private health insurance through employment or personal purchase Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of private health insurance for Canadians?

To offset costs of non-covered services Signup and view all the answers

Which type of services are typically covered by group employment benefits?

Vision and dental care services Signup and view all the answers

Who appoints the Board of Directors for the Regional Health Authorities in New Brunswick?

The Minister of Health Signup and view all the answers

What type of services do assistive devices and private nursing services fall under?

Non-medically necessary services Signup and view all the answers

What significant pledge did the Conservative government make in 1935?

To address social issues such as minimum wage and public health insurance. Signup and view all the answers

What was one major reason Canadians desired a publicly funded health care system after World War II?

The wealthy could afford care while the middle class struggled. Signup and view all the answers

Which act introduced in 1957 supported hospital insurance in Canada?

The Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services Act. Signup and view all the answers

Who is known as the father of Medicare in Canada?

Tommy Douglas. Signup and view all the answers

What was a critical change in medical care emphasized after World War II?

A shift to hospital-based care. Signup and view all the answers

What role did the federal government play in developing health care services in 1948?

It established grants to finance health care services in provinces. Signup and view all the answers

What was one objective of the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act passed in 1961?

To provide an affordable comprehensive hospital and medical insurance plan. Signup and view all the answers

How did equalization payments function in relation to health care in Canada?

They helped poorer provinces by redistributing funds from richer provinces for care. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.

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Description

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.