West hill West hill Consulting – Consulting – Health Care Health Care InsuranceInsuranceIs 'Obama care' like Canada's health-care system? 'Not even close,' according to critics

23/4/26

The first major U.S. health-care reform passed in The first major U.S. health-care reform passed in nearly 50 years is the Obama care but regardless of nearly 50 years is the Obama care but regardless of critics passing judgment on "Obama care" as critics passing judgment on "Obama care" as "Canadian-style" health insurance, critics note that "Canadian-style" health insurance, critics note that major differences between the two systems persist.major differences between the two systems persist.The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, The U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which went into effect earlier this week, is "not even which went into effect earlier this week, is "not even close" to the Canadian system says McGill University close" to the Canadian system says McGill University Professor of Political Science Antonia Professor of Political Science Antonia Maioni."Obamacare keeps in place the basic principle Maioni."Obamacare keeps in place the basic principle of health care in the United States which is: if you of health care in the United States which is: if you want to get access to care you need to buy insurance want to get access to care you need to buy insurance coverage," she told CTV News Channel on Friday.coverage," she told CTV News Channel on Friday.

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"Obamacare is trying to make it easier for people "Obamacare is trying to make it easier for people to be able to buy that insurance coverage and, if to be able to buy that insurance coverage and, if you are very poor, to be able to qualify for a you are very poor, to be able to qualify for a government program. But it doesn't have the same government program. But it doesn't have the same principle as in Canada, where if you are a legal principle as in Canada, where if you are a legal resident, you are automatically enrolled in a resident, you are automatically enrolled in a provincial or territorial health plan."provincial or territorial health plan."In an op-ed published in the In an op-ed published in the Globe and MailGlobe and Mail, Maioni , Maioni said the major differences between "Obama care" said the major differences between "Obama care" and Canada's health-care system include:and Canada's health-care system include:"Obama care" is not a single-payer system (where "Obama care" is not a single-payer system (where one entity, usually the government, pays all costs)one entity, usually the government, pays all costs)

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Care depends on the type of Care depends on the type of insurance coverage you buyinsurance coverage you buyInsurance coverage varies by Insurance coverage varies by statestateWait times are based on the level Wait times are based on the level of insurance coverageof insurance coverageObama care" faces challenges in Obama care" faces challenges in cost controlcost controlMaio in said that while "Obama Maio in said that while "Obama care" was passed, in part, to care" was passed, in part, to address American spending on address American spending on health care – the highest in the health care – the highest in the world at nearly 18 per cent of world at nearly 18 per cent of GDP, or $3 trillion – the act GDP, or $3 trillion – the act remains "problematic."remains "problematic.""There's nothing in it that speaks "There's nothing in it that speaks to really serious cost control," to really serious cost control," she said.she said.    

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She furthermore said that She furthermore said that while Canada also spends a lot while Canada also spends a lot on health care, there are on health care, there are mechanisms that the mechanisms that the provinces can use to contain provinces can use to contain spending.spending.  "Governments can negotiate "Governments can negotiate fees with providers, fees with providers, governments can set global governments can set global budgets for hospitals," she budgets for hospitals," she said. "There's a lot of said. "There's a lot of politicking and controversy politicking and controversy around that, but at least around that, but at least there's some measures of there's some measures of control for the government. In control for the government. In the United States, those the United States, those measures are not there."measures are not there."

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  While "Obama care" does try While "Obama care" does try to better regulate insurers to better regulate insurers and provide ways for the and provide ways for the government to tighten government to tighten Medicare – the government Medicare – the government program for the elderly and program for the elderly and the disabled -- "there's no real the disabled -- "there's no real facing up to the cost wall," facing up to the cost wall," she said.she said.She added that while the act She added that while the act will make it easier for will make it easier for Americans to buy affordable Americans to buy affordable insurance, there are still insurance, there are still "prevalent" gaps in the "prevalent" gaps in the system.system.

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