ESSAY QUESTIONS

Question 1

Describe and discuss 4 proposed reforms to the Canadian healthcare system

Answer 1

Medical savings accounts
- health accounts formed in conjunction with high deductible health insurance
- policy pays a significant portion of the initial costs
- can be set up by individuals, employers, or govt
- when these funds were used up employees would assume full responsibility for paying for their medical care up to a designated cap - at which catastrophic insurance would be provided
- GOAL = reduce demand because individuals are responsible

Regionalization
- administration –> municipal/regional govt
- GOAL = local control, better targeted services, citizen involvement, compatible with public health
- actually a way to reduce funding
- could increase costs

Public-private partnerships
- Govt contracts with the private sector to finance, develop, construct, own, operate infrastructure and public service
- the private corporation that built it would own it and make it available to health care authorities on a lease back or rental basis
- Govt and private entity jointly provide a public service or good

Health care guarantees
- wait times for specialist care perceived as an issue
- pre-determined wait time deadlines for various procedures
- after deadline - service provided by other public/private provider
- travel costs covered
- GOAL = ensure timely access to care

Question 2

What is colonialism and what have its effects been in Canada? Be sure to discuss specific colonial policies

Answer 2

Colonialism
- Policy or practice of acquiring full/partial control over another country, occupying it with settlers, exploiting it economically

Effects
- Ongoing system of power that perpetuates the genocide and repression of Indigenous peoples and cultures

Specific colonial policies
- Constitution Act - 1867
- Indian Act - 1876
- Relocation of Inuit communities
- Residential schools
- Sixties scoop
- Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls

Indian Act
- Gives control/management of reserve land to federal government
- Defines who is legally recognized as Indigenous
- Status vs non-status
- Limits right to vote
- Loss of self-governance
- Health and education under federal control
- Indian agent given authority over foods, goods, travel for on-reserve people
- Limited economic and political participation of Indigenous people
- Outlawed ceremonies and cultural practices
- Undermined role and status of women

Question 3

How do Americans pay for their health care?

Answer 3

• Private insurance - user fees
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• Veterans admission
• Uninsured/out of pocket
• most have private insurance
• Public spending pays for 45% of all health care spending