Does the Canadian Health Care System Cover Those Visiting Canada?

The Canadian Health Care System is based onCanada counts with about 30,000 primary care
several socialized health insurance plans providing fulldoctors, who account for over half of all Canadian
coverage to Canadian citizens and a model to followdoctors so you will not have a problem finding a
that the American Health Care System has beenphysician that can provide you with preventative care
analyzing for a while.or basic medical treatment.
In Canada, federal government set the guidelines thatSpecialist doctors account for 28,000 all over the
apply to the different provinces and territories of thecountry and there are countless private clinics
country in health matters, but the system comes fromoperating in the country offering specialized medical
public funding on a territorial or provincial basis.services, although under federal law they should not
Because every Canadian region manages its ownprovide those services covered by the Canada Health
health care system, there is too much controversy andAct.
debate in relation to health care coverage for bothEven though, most clinics offer such services
locals and people visiting the country.regardless the legal limitation, they are covered by
People who want to access the Canadian Healthprivate insurance policies to provide health care
Care system must apply for a provincial health cardassistance to people that otherwise would be left
and wait for no longer, than three months to obtainwithout medical protection.
their health card in the case of new immigrants.Private insurance in Canada may cover up to 80% of
While the Canada Health Act guarantees that allmedical cost and it is available to visitors and local
residents of a territory or province will be accepted forresidents unsatisfied with their provincial or territorial
health coverage, temporary visitors can only accesshealth care system.
this system purchasing insurance by themselves.In terms of medical availability as of 2007, there is one
However, there are also Public Health Care Providersprimary care doctor for every 1000 Canadians, who
that ruled under the same act, providing services suchspend nearly $3,300 per capita on health care attention
as hospitals, dental surgery, ambulatory services,every year.
primary care doctors, and specialists to coverKeep in mind that the Canadian Health Care System
provincial insurance policies.does not provide basic services to residents, and
As a visitor to Canada, you can purchase a healthsome of them are those that visitors usually require,
care insurance policy and benefit from these publicsuch as optometrists, dental services, and prescription
services during your stay in the Canadian territory.medication, which people have to pay.