Doctors demand action on private health insurance

CNW Group CANADIAN DOCTORS FOR MEDICARE Doctors demand action on private health insurance:

"TORONTO, March 12 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadian Doctors for Medicare today called on the federal and provincial governments to immediately take all necessary steps to stop the spread of private health insurance for medically necessary services in British Columbia.

'The recent exposé that Acure Health Corp is selling 'Medical Access Insurance' for services already covered under Medicare undermines the public health care system to the detriment of the vast majority of Canadians, and contravenes the Canada Health Act', said Dr. Danielle Martin, Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare.
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"Those who think private health insurance is a panacea for our system should take a look at the Australian experience. The major beneficiaries there have been higher income Australians, private insurance companies, private hospitals and medical specialists - and not the wider Australian community," said Dr. Martin.
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"In its 2006, in its discussion paper "It's About Access", the Canadian Medical Association reviewed all the evidence and found: - Private insurance for medically necessary physician and hospital services does not improve access to publicly insured services
- Does not lower costs or improve quality of care
- Can increase wait times for those who are not privately insured; and
- Could exacerbate human resource shortages in the public system."

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