rip raster

They actually base the cost on your income, even if you are not working you are still required to file a tax report. If you make under 25 or 30 thousand (can't remember which exactly) your health care is free. Anything over that and you will pay up to a maximum $50 a month. This doesn't include prescriptions although that is also set up in the same way. They use your income tax statement to determine the amount you will pay if any. Not sure about the rest of Canada but this is the way it is done in B.C. I believe each province has it's own health care policies differing slightly from province to province.

It is not a bad system even though there are flaws, as JimmiDean had stated there are people that are going to the emergency because they have a cold, that is just ridiculous and it totally screws with the people that really do have an emergency. Unless you have a major life threatening injury of some kind expect to wait at least 2 hours if you go to the emergency. I have had to wait for 4 hours before with a broken arm before I even saw a doctor. I have a chronic illness that has caused me to visit the emergency periodically over the years. Although a trip to the emergency room would be the very last resort for me, and despite being visibly in utter agony would still have to wait for hours to see a doctor. All because you have some inconsiderate retards that are there because they have a headache or something else that could be easily be dealt with a visit to their family doctor. I for one don't know anyone that enjoys going to the emergency, so it is beyond me why anyone would needlessly go and wait hours over the tiniest little thing such as a paper cut. This abuse of the medical system only makes it more difficult for those that really need it and puts a tremendous strain on the system.