Health insurance is an integral part of life in every modern society. Insurance policies are purchased for both adults and children. Moreover, their variety allows you to choose the most comfortable and advantageous conditions. There are policies of exclusively domestic or international recognition (needed during travelling). In addition, the insurance conditions apply to different types of medical services.
There are countries where health insurance appeared a long time ago. It ensured the creation of the best conditions.
Canada is one of those countries that has long been acquainted with the concept of health insurance.
Vancouver, being one of the largest Canadian cities, also quickly picked up the general tendency. After all, insurance helps people save a lot of money on medical services and medications. However, like any other area, insurance requires detailed study.
In this article, we want to tell the reader about health insurance in Vancouver and its origins. In addition, you can learn about which medical services can be covered by insurance and the cases for monthly insurance payment.
Learn more at ivancouver. (Sources: vancouverok.com, health-ua.com)
Historical perspective
During the era of Industrialisation in 1920s-1960s, Canadian cities entered a stage of rapid growth and development. It led to the fact that the state began to greatly influence the organisation of health care and social security.
This approach helped the country overcome the Great Depression. Still, until the 1940s, Canada was distinguished by the prevalence of private medicine.
Public health insurance began to be actively implemented throughout Canada (and in Vancouver, in particular) in 1947. It became the impetus for the formation of a health insurance system. Already in 1956, health insurance has managed to finally strengthen in all corners of the country.
In 1972, public insurance began to cover the cost of basic medical services, in particular, inpatient treatment.
Briefly about insurance throughout the country
Almost from the first days of its existence, Canadian health care has been fully financed by the state. It is done with the help of taxes that go to the state treasury. This approach became especially efficient when health insurance came to the country in the 1940s. After all, citizens and permanent residents who were provided with state health insurance didn’t have to pay for medical services.
Vancouver was no exception and health insurance quickly became very popular there. Almost everyone took it out. People realized that with the help of insurance, they could cover the costs of a particular service that wasn’t included in government programs. In addition, Canadian health insurance began to include services in physiotherapy, dentistry and ophthalmology. Such policies could be offered by a particular employer company for its employees.
Vancouver health insurance
Talking about the history of health insurance in Vancouver and British Columbia in general, we should note some more of its aspects.
For example, health insurance received a specific name in the 1980s. It has been called the Medical Services Plan. People could receive it three months after they arrived in the province.
Vancouver residents had to deposit a certain amount into their insurance accounts every month if their annual incomes exceeded $26,000.
Insurance coverage
The subsequent development of health insurance in Vancouver was focused on covering services provided by doctors and obstetricians. It was also extended to a number of dental and surgical operations as well as procedures related to the oral cavity. Later, the insurance began to cover vision examinations and X-rays.
Exceptions
Even though health insurance in Vancouver developed very rapidly and began to cover numerous medical services, it also introduced certain exceptions.
Thus, the policies didn’t include procedures that weren’t medically necessary. Namely, we are talking about planned eye examinations, prescribed medications and dentistry. In such cases, people had to rely on their own funds or to purchase an additional insurance policy. However, it didn’t apply to the surgical interventions as we mentioned above.
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