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Canadians Ponder Paying for Medical Services July 9, 2005 | Angus Reid Global Scan
Many adults in Canada would consider spending their own money on health care, according to a poll by Pollara Inc. 63 per cent of respondents say they would be willing to pay out of pocket to have faster access to medical services that currently have long wait times.
In Canada, the universality criterion establishes that all residents of a province or territory must be entitled to the insured, public-run health services provided by their provincial or territorial health care insurance plan on uniform terms and conditions.
On Jun. 9, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that forbidding residents of Quebec from getting private insurance for services that are not covered by the country’s universal health care system is a violation of the province’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. 55 per cent of respondents agree with the tribunal’s decision.
Prime minister Paul Martin ruled out any immediate changes to federal programs, saying, "We’re not going to have a two-tier health care system in this country. (...) Our purpose is to strengthen our universal public system and to provide timely access to medical services." 73 per cent of respondents believe the Supreme Court’s decision is a step toward a two-tiered medical services system.
Martin promised to invest $6.6 billion U.S. to improve Canada’s health care system and reduce waiting times for critical services.
Polling Data
Would you be willing to pay out of pocket for you or your family to have faster access to medical services that currently have long wait times?
Ø Yes | 63% Ø No | 32% Ø Don’t know / Refused | 5%
The Supreme Court of Canada recently ruled that citizens should have the right to buy private medical insurance for private medical care if the public system is not able to provide services in a timely manner. Do you agree or disagree with this position?
Ø Strongly agree | 26% Ø Somewhat agree | 29% Ø Neither agree, nor disagree | 6% Ø Somewhat disagree | 12% Ø Strongly disagree | 24% Ø Don’t know / Refused | 4%
Do you believe that this is a step toward a two-tiered health system in Canada?
Ø Yes | 73% Ø No | 15% Ø Already a two-tiered system | 3% Ø Don’t know / Refused | 9%
Source: Pollara Inc. | Methodology: Interviews to 1,263 Canadian adults, conducted from Jun. 20 to Jun. 25, 2005. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.
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