NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON HEALTH POLICY/CANADIAN HEALTH SYSTEM VS U.S. HEALTH SYSTEM

CANADA’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS MORE LIKE YOURS THAN YOU THINK

“Socialized medicine is a misnomer,” says Dr. Alan Goldbloom, CEO of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, who practiced in Toronto for many years before coming to Minneapolis in 2003. “Canada has socialized health insurance, but most Canadian doctors do not work for the government.” In addition, Canadians have free choice of doctors and hospitals. Neither the governments nor the insurers dictate choices or require “prior approvals” as in the U.S. “Health bureaucracy in the U.S. is an industry itself, its…regulatory complexity is hundreds of time greater than anything in Canada,” swears Dr. Goldbloom.

The U.S. spends $7,290 per capita on health care vs. $3,895 in Canada. Both countries ration care, but the U.S. does it on the basis of economic status or insurability whereas in Canada it is strictly on the urgency of medical need. “The great joy of practicing in Canada,” says Goldbloom, “is I never had to even consider whether any family could afford the care I was recommending.” Much as Canadians demand improvements in their system, “they would never give up universal health insurance.” It’s a fundamental right of Canadian citizenship.

Commentary from Dave Durenberger


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MEDICARE INFORMATION RE: MINNESOTA FOLKS

Subject: Fast Facts for Minnesota in 2011 for Medicare Health and Drug plans
2011 Medicare Health and Drug Plans in Minnesota
Fast Facts for Minnesota in 2011

• 33 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) available

• 89% of people with Medicare have prescription drug coverage (including 68% with Part D)

• 26% of people with Part D get Extra Help (also called the low-income subsidy, or LIS)

• 92% of people with Part D can pay a lower premium in 2011 than they did in 2010

• 83% of people with Medicare have access to a MA plan for a $0 premium

• 13 PDPs have $0 deductibles

• $14.80 is the lowest monthly premium for a PDP

• $36.30 is the lowest monthly premium for a PDP with any generic coverage in the Coverage Gap

• 10 PDPs have a premium of $0 for people who qualify for Extra Help

Plan costs and coverage change each year, so all people with Medicare should check to make sure their plan still meets their needs and budget. There may be a Medicare health or drug plan available with better coverage or a lower deductible in 2011.
Important Dates in 2011
October

• Watch your mail for notices from Medicare, Social Security, and health and drug plans with information about changes in 2011

• Compare plans online at www.medicare.gov starting October 15

November

• “Medicare & You” 2011 arrives in your mail

• Open Enrollment starts November 15

December

• Open Enrollment ends December 31


All people with Medicare should:

• Review the 2011 costs and coverage of their current plans

• Compare with other plans in their area

• Choose a plan that meets their needs and budget