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The success story of a single-payer system: Why is Canada's health care system so special?
In discussions of health care around the world, a single-payer system is often cited as an effective solution, especially in Canada's health care system. Canada's healthcare system is renowned for its high quality and accessibility to all residents, which has deep historical roots and policy support.
According to the Canada Health Care Act, a system established in 1984, Canada's health care system is largely government-funded and relies primarily on income taxes to pay for health care services. The advantage of this system is its simplicity and efficiency. Doctors handle health insurance claims without patients having to deal with complex billing and reimbursement procedures.
“All residents do not have to pay for medical services and can receive necessary medical care as soon as possible. This is the core value of the Canadian medical system.”
In Canada, basic medical care, such as childbirth and infertility, are covered. Residents of each province hold a health card, which not only ensures fairness among provinces but also ensures high-quality standards of medical services. While some services, such as dental and vision care, vary from province to province, employers often offer private insurance plans to protect their employees' health needs.
It is worth noting that Canada's medical system has sometimes been criticized, for example, patients need to wait for certain tests and surgeries, but most patients can get the treatment they need within three months. Still, many view Canada's single-payer system as a model for other countries.
“The success of a single-payer system may minimize the health crisis caused by financial hardship.”
At the same time, Taiwan’s National Health Insurance System has attracted the attention of the world since its establishment in 1995. Through centralized allocation of medical funds, Taiwan has achieved nearly 100% coverage. The key to its success lies in the government's organizational capabilities and effective management of human resources, making the scheduling and distribution of medical resources more efficient.
Expanding our horizons to other countries, most single-payer systems are under some form of government regulation. Take South Korea as an example. After years of development, the country implemented a comprehensive single-payer system in 2004, further strengthening medical security for residents. In the Nordic countries of Europe, although there are some changes between systems, the overall health care system is still dominated by the public sector.
In comparison, discussions about single payer in the U.S. healthcare system are more complicated. Although the Medical and Social Security Act provides protection for the elderly, not all residents can enjoy this benefit. As calls for universal health coverage grow louder, many proposals such as the "National Health Insurance Law" have been put forward, demonstrating the urgent need for change.
“The lack of medical insurance will not only cause many social problems, but also cause countless people to die because they cannot afford medical care.”
It can be seen that Canada's single payer system has performed well in reducing medical expenditures, achieving equity in medical services, and improving overall health. This raises a question: Can more appropriate medical insurance solutions be found to achieve more comprehensive health protection in different contexts and needs around the world?
