# UHC: Has to be affordable, high-quality, and also \*not\* have long wait times **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 22, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uhc-has-to-be-affordable-high-quality-and-also-not-have-long-wait-times/830033 "2019-02-22T18:16:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 254
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uhc-has-to-be-affordable-high-quality-and-also-not-have-long-wait-times/830033/254 "2019-03-02T18:01:39Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I think this point is lost on many of our American friends, mainly because they simply cannot conceive of an insurance system that does not have functionaries and bureaucrats investigating claims. Yet the fact remains that if a qualified physician orders a treatment in Canada, that treatment is paid for, _without being investigated by a non-physician bureaucrat._ > > **Northern Piper** , I believe it was you who once posted the differences between Canada’s single-payer model, and a traditional insurance model. As I recall, it was quite informative. Could you do the same again in this thread, just as a reminder to all? Is this the post you were thinking of? I was comparing the situation of **Tee** , an American poster, and me. [With single payer health plans, whither insurance companies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=825650&page=2) > [@With single payer health plans, whither insurance companies?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/with-single-payer-health-plans-whither-insurance-companies/786088/73): > > The uniform fee schedule doesn’t mean that it’s an insurance system. It means that it’s a set fee-for-service, paid by the provincial medicare commission to the doctor. > > Here’s why it’s not insurance, compared to the US model, which is insurance. > > **US:**** Tee **goes to a doctor or a hospital. They provide** Tee **with medical services.** Tee **owes them that money.** Tee **is covered by insurance.** Tee **’s insurance company pays the medical bills on** Tee **’s behalf, to the extent those bills are covered by** Tee **’s insurance policy. Things that aren’t covered,** Tee**has to pay himself (e.g. - one of the doctors who had involvement in**Tee**’s care isn’t in his insurance company’s approved network). > > … > **Canada** : **Piper** goes to a doctor or a hospital. They provide **Piper** with medical services. **Piper** does not owe them any money. **Piper** is a resident of the province and covered by medicare. The provincial medicare commission owes the doctor or hospital for **Piper** ’s care. The provincial medicare commission has a set fee schedule for all medical charges and procedures. The provincial medicare commission pays the doctor and hospital in full for the the medical charges and procedures. **Piper** is not on the hook for any of the charges. > > It’s not an insurance system in Canada. I pay no premiums, I’m not liable personally for the cost of the care, and I have no contractual relationship with the provincial medicare commission. The provincial medicare commission is liable directly to the doctor and hospital and pays directly, not on behalf of me. It’s a government service, paid out of general tax revenue, not an insurance system. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uhc-has-to-be-affordable-high-quality-and-also-not-have-long-wait-times/830033)._