What impact does the Supreme Court of Canada case in Quebec mean for patients seeking private care?
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down a Quebec law prohibiting people from buying private insurance for medical services now provided by the public system. The ruling does not touch on patients in other provinces. However, it does set a precedent for the rest of Canada and will likely lead to more opportunities for Canadians to seek private treatment and pay through their own resources or through private insurance. 1 (Health Care Professionals Views on Access to Health Care for the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Nurses Association, Ipsos-Reid, July 2004) 2 (Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery in BC: Historical Volumes and Projected Need, BC Orthopaedic Association, The Arthritis Society, BC and Yukon Division, H. Krueger & Associates Inc.
