Myths About Ontario's Health Care System

Still unsure about practising in Ontario? You may have heard some incorrect information about Canada’s health care system. Read about a few common myths and what’s actually fact.

Myth: Canada’s health care system is "socialized medicine."

Fact: In socialized medical systems, the doctors work directly for the state. In Canada, doctors run their own private practices, just like they do in the U.S. The only difference is that every doctor deals with one insurer, instead of 150. And that insurer is the provincial government, which is accountable to the legislature and the voters if the quality of coverage is allowed to slide.

Source: Mythbusting Canadian Health Care-Sara Robinson

Myth: Physicians in Canada are government employees.

Fact: Physicians are not civil servants; most of them are not even employees, but rather independent entrepreneurs able, in many provinces, to incorporate themselves as a business for tax purposes.

Source: MythBusters, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation

Myth: Liability coverage is expensive in Canada.

Fact: Canadian doctors rely on the Canadian Medical Protective Association for liability coverage and other legal concerns. Doctors join the association and pay a fee based on the type of work they do and where they practise. Although the cost is highly variable, an Ontario family practitioner, for example, who doesn’t do obstetrics, anaesthesia, surgery or emergency room shifts would pay $650 in 2010, after reimbursement. An obstetrician with labour and delivery services would pay the highest rate: $4,900 a year, after reimbursement. (All figures are in Canadian dollars). As well, Canadians are far less likely to sue in the first place because they know their health insurance is for life.

Source: Medpage Today and CMPA Fee Schedule

Myth: Parallel private health care would reduce waiting times.

A detailed recent study of how private financing affects public health care systems found that countries with parallel public and private health care systems have the longest waiting times. For example, England and New Zealand, which have parallel private hospital systems, appear to have larger waiting lists and longer waiting times in the public system than countries with a single-payer system, such as Canada.

Source: MythBusters, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation

If you have questions about Canada’s health care system, e-mail: opportunity@healthforceontario.ca or call 1-866-535-7779.