Discussion Board: In general, people with lower income or no health insurance tend to be

less healthy than those who are financially better off or insured. What is the best way to

provide insurance coverage to the poor and uninsured?

I believe that the best way to provide insurance coverage to the poor and uninsured is

through a publicly or government funded health care system. According to a Pew study

published in 2017, 6 out of 10 Americans believe that it is the federal government’s

responsibility to guarantee health care coverage for all Americans (Kiley, 2018). A healthcare

system that comes into mind that has a good reputation is the Canadian health care system.

In 1984, the Canada Health Act was passed that focuses on on portability, accessibility,

universality, comprehensiveness, and public administration (Government of Canada, 2019).

Although many reforms have occurred through the past four decades and will continue to change

in response to medicine and society, the basics will always remain the same- universal coverage

for medically necessary health care services provided on the basis of need, rather than the ability

to pay (Government of Canada, 2019).

Canadian health care is available to all Canadians citizens at no out of pocket cost

(International Insurance, n. d.). All medically necessary care, such as midwifery, rehabilitation,

surgery, and pediatrics, is all included, and the visits are billed directly to the government.

Canadians are also able to choose any primary caregiver they want, and specialist visits are

arranged by primary caregivers (International Insurance, n. d.).

Canadian health care, although it is considered to be one of the highest standards of health

care in the world, it is not ''free'' as some people believe (International Insurance, n. d.). Fraser

Institute estimates the average cost at about $5,789 a year per person (American Institute of
Medical Sciences [AIMS], 2018) that is funded by relatively high tax rates of 33% for income

take and 15% corporate taxes (World Population Review, 2019). Although Canadian's health

care is far from free, it is reassuring to know that all of their health care expenses are covered if

they need medical care.

 References
American Institute of Medical Sciences [AIMS]. (2018). US vs Canadian healthcare: What are th

e differences? Retrieved from https://www.aimseducation.edu/blog/us-vs-canadian-health

healthcare-differences/
Government of Canada. (2019). Canada's health care system. Retrieved from https://www.canad

a.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-care-system/reports-publications/health-care-syste

m/canada.html
International Insurance. (n. d.). Understanding the Canadian health care system. Retrieved from

https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/canadian-health-care.php

Kiley, J. (2018). Most continue to say ensuring health care coverage is government’s responsibili

ty. Retrieved fromhttps://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/10/03/most-continue-to-sa

y-ensuring-health-care-coverage-is-governments-responsibility/
World Population Review. (2019). Canada population 2019. Retrieved from http://worldpopulati

onreview.com/countries/canada-population/