How the Canadian Healthcare System Works

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There's a single federal law that binds the 13 provincial and territorial healthcare systems: The Canada Health Act.

Here is the simple breakdown.

Canadian healthcare is a single payer system not a single provider system. The government is the insurance company not the owner of every hospital.

The federal government provides funding and sets broad national principles (outlined in the Canada Health Act). The provincial governments are tasked with actually delivering and managing the care. These governments set rates of services and reimbursements, and get billed directly by healthcare providers.

This creates a universal baseline of coverage for "medically necessary" services. Your GP visit, your surgery, your ER trip is covered.

While this system sounds effective, there is a trade-off. Universality and affordability are prioritized over speed and choice. You get care but you might wait for it. In some areas, it can be a loooong wait.

At its core, the entire system is built on a single idea. Your health should not be tied to your employment. Your wallet is not part of the triage process.

It is not perfect. But its premise is elegantly simple.

- YZ

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