The U.S. and Canadian healthcare systems vary in four primary ways. First, health care insurance coverage occurs differently in the nations, with the U.S. requiring individuals to finance their own healthcare while the federal government sponsors treatment in Canada. Second, private insurance firms are the majority sources of healthcare providers in the U.S. while Canada allows physicians to be paid through government billing. However, both countries rely on private enterprises to provide most services. Third, the types of services that are available are dictated by insurance in both countries, but the U.S. allows individuals to be insured through their employer or themselves while in Canada, the universal healthcare system allows certain services for all citizens. Fourth, general practitioners in the U.S. may refer patients to specialists or other services while Canadian laws are more strict and require a GP referral prior to receiving care from a specialist.
As such, the Canadian healthcare system has a number of advantages over the U.S. system. Support from the government allows more individuals to receive adequate care without additional financial burdens. However, the fewer barriers for the GPs in the U.S. is also a benefit as it allows for faster care without additional visits to other physicians. Despite this, the current landscape of U.S. healthcare is incredibly profit-oriented and inaccessible to many individuals. As such, the ability to provide emergency or minimal care through universal healthcare to all citizens that is already accessible in Canada would be beneficial. It would not directly interrupt the current model of insurance, but incidents in which individuals lack financial or other resources, they may still be able to receive adequate care. It is essential that the government supports such a motion so that future services can also be added to a universal healthcare model in the future.