Canada Health Care System vs US: What Are the Differences?

When a Canadian citizen decides to travel to the United States, it seems like they are going to lose out on receiving a whole range of health care services that us Americans enjoy, right?

Well, not exactly. The Canadian health care system is not as different as you might imagine. In fact, many Canadians who decide to travel to the United States also want to receive Canadian health care while they are here.

It can seem a little confusing to know the ins and outs of a Canadian insurance health care card. Below, we’ll provide a quick and easy health care guide on Canada health care system vs US.

Keep reading to find out the difference:

Canada Health Care System vs US

Canada’s health care system is much different from the US health care system. Here are some of the key differences:

Universal Health Care Coverage

Canadians have universal health care coverage, which means that everyone is covered no matter how wealthy or poor they are. This is unlike our “private” system, in which people have to pay for their own health care.

In contrast, the US health care system is not universal. Rather, it is based on private insurance and is typically expensive for consumers.

Government Funding

Canadians rely largely on government funding to maintain and expand their health care system, while in the U.S., reliance on private insurance and commercial interests drives the system.

Hight Quality Medical Care for Everyone

Canada has developed a highly sophisticated network of hospitals and clinics, many of which are among the best in the world. This ensures high-quality care for all Canadians, no matter what region they live in.

What the U.S. Health Care System Looks Like

A big and fundamental difference between the Canadian health care system and the US health care system is that Canada has a multi-payer system, while the US has a single-payer system.

This means that people in Canada pay different tiers of health care providers for services provided, depending on their income. The government then pays these providers to provide coverage for everyone in the country.

The downside of this system is that patients may not be able to get access to certain treatments or medications because they are not covered by their plan. This can result in long wait times for appointments or surgery, which can be very frustrating.

On the other hand, the US health care system is set up such that all residents are required to have insurance or risk facing financial consequences. Private health insurance companies and integrated delivery network then act as middlemen, collecting premiums from people and paying out claims on behalf of their clients.

Although this system is costlier than Canada’s, it does offer some benefits that are not available under Canada’s health care regime. For example, the US health care system is sometimes able to offer better reimbursement rates for medical treatments than Canada’s.

The Bottom Line

Even though both Canada and the US have government-funded health care, there are still many differences between Canada health care system vs US. In general, the Canadian system is much more comprehensive and efficient than the US system.

For example, in Canada, all residents have access to free preventative care, while in the US, many people still cannot afford to see a doctor. There are also waiting lists for some procedures in Canada, while in the US, people with private insurance can often get treatment much more quickly.

If you want to read more about how health care system works in the US and Canada, please browse through other pages of our blog today, and don’t miss out!