PEOPLE'S HEALTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22578, 17 November 1936, Page 6

PEOPLE'S HEALTH

NATIONAL INSURANCE EXPERIMENT IN CANADA [ntOM OT7B OWN COBRESPON'DKNT] VANCOUVER, Oct. 21 The first health insurance experiment in Canada, conducted by British Columbia, is now under way, having survived rigorous opposition by the Medical Association and various other interests, including business firms which have already instituted pension and sick benefit schemes. During the long deliberations and public discussion a serious split in the Cabinet seemed likely. Labour organisations, which have become increasingly powerful, consistently supported the scheme, which eventually became law after the draft legislation was modified. The scheme will generally apply to employees receiving not more than I§oo dollars a year and their dependants, indigents, the whole population in certain rural areas, and farmers and their families, if their municipalities join the scheme voluntarily. The services are to include general medical attendance, including maternity care; specialist treatment, as required; hospital service—full in-patient care for three weeks and 75 per cent cost of an additional ten weeks; laboratory service; home nursing; dental service, mainly preventive; and drugs and appliances. Employees will be required to contribute 3 per cent of their earnings and employers 2 per cent of their payroll for insured persons. The Provincial Government, within a maximum limit, will find the cost of medical benefits for indigent persons and half the total cost of administration. The balance of the fund will be made up of contributions from rural municipalities which decide to contribute through their rates. .Remuneration to medical practitioners for the first two years shall correspond to a capitation rate of not less than three dollars or more than four dollars for each insured person. Every insured person has the right to choose the doctor by whom he shall be treated, or the pharmacist from whom he shall obtain drugs or medical supplies. Cash benefits will lie paid to employees who arc compelled by illness to give up their work or who, while unemployed. fall ill. provided they have made a limited number of contributions. Benefits will be at tlio rate of one-half of the ordinary wage or salary, up to a maximum of ton dollars a week. Cash benefits will not be paid for the first week of disablement and will nbt continue beyond 26 weeks. The scheme Avill be administered by a commission of five persons—the director of social welfare, who is to be chairman, the provincial health officer, the chairman of the Workmen's Compensation Board, the Administrator of Health Insurance," nnd the Director of Medical Services. There are to be certain advisory councils, representative of groups of persons interested or of medical practitioners, dentists and others who are connected with the working of the scheme.