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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1968-03-28, Page 3.!-ksjfs rt rt FlF ii 1311.111$2i4LS POST, ONTAIUO yy 3/4 4' "3/41,3/4 2/61.0.0r4.:3701400itigililOgt4111141V ' AtvrenatKpeolorszwapZauges4.1.4;,a.~. C:2>X9 04M9 eXI9 eA49 QA44.4.9- (.4,A0(9 el)M9 C,?,,,2 4:1 .CA4,9 W00(0 CV,VV) ONTARIO HOSPITAL SERVICES COMMISSION NEW HOSPITAL INSURANCE PRE I to FA HOSPITALS AND HOSPITAL SERVICES ARE BETTER THAN EVER, BUT THEIR COSTS ARE RISING STEAD1LY...AND SO ARE OURS. BETTER CARE—BETTER PROTECTION Modern ,seientilie hospital care is putting thousands • of patients- on the road to health every day. This care is the best that has ever been available—but it is becoming more and more costly to provide. Steadily rising hospital costs have, for many years, affected all.. hospitals • across . Canada and in other • countries. Nevertheless, the .quality. of hospital care cannot be sacrificed— facilities and serviceinust constantly attain increasingly higher standards. in 1959, however, Ontario Flospital. Insurance ended the worry of hos- pital expense for patients who need such care. Over 7 million Ontario residents, 99 % of the people, have 'peace of mind in knowing that their hospital bills are 'prepaid' through their Government-insurance plan. ONTINUE TO RISE • HOSPITALS ARE USED MORE Greater use is alSo being made of hospitals because there is. no :longer a financial barrier to necessary care, more hospital.beds are available and there are increasing num- bers of elderly citizens, many of whom require prolonged treatment in hospital: in, 1947,, Ontario had only 17,473 active treatment, chronic and convalescent hospital beds; in 1958 there were 31,000. Today there are over 46,800 such beds available to insured. persons, More beds mean more patients, more cost. • • WHY COSTS C PRICES ARE UP Hospitals, like everyone else, are paying more for salaries, wages and fringe benefits, and more for food, drugs, equipment, supplies and services. " SERVICE IS BETTER Medical science now provides many new, costly types of treatment which require admission to hospital. While these procedures prolong life and improve health, they also.increase the use of hospitals and require more skilled staff, more facilities, more drugs and other expensive supplies. PAY ENVELOPES TAKE MOST About 750 out of every $1.00 in insured hospital services and fringe benefits to other similar occupations in the represents salaries, wages and fringe benefits for hospital community. This means that hospitals, today, have more employees. Hospital staffs now enjoy employment condi- and, better paid employees to provide their essential round Lions which are comparable in rates and hours of work the-clock service for the sick and injured. NEW PREMIUM RATES There has been no change in Ontariofflospital Insurance The Government has now found it necessary, however, to premiums since 1964, and this has been made possible introduce new premiums to help meet the sharp increase through increased Provincial Government contributions in the cost of the Ontario Hospital insurance Plan. The from general revenues to maintain the premium rates Provincial Government will continue to contribute sub- established at that time. In the years 1965;1966, and 1967, stantially to the cost of hospital care, and the Federal the Provincial Government contributed $176.5 million in Government's contribution will also keep pace with the support of the:plan, plus some $334 million for mental and rising plan costs. tuberculosis care, and for special and capital hospital The new premiums effective with regular advance pay- gvints, to a total of $510.5 million. • ments for the benefi t month of July, 68, are: BASIC STANDARD WARD INSURANCE Single i(no eligible dependants) ----- - - - $ 5.50 a month Family4one or more eligible dependants) - - - $11.00 a month The abovelnevv rates will be payable on all regular group and pay-direct billings due in April, 1968, to cover the benefit month(s) beginning with. July, 1968. NEW BENEFITS Consistent with its policy through the years of adding Insurance, the following new benefits will be available to wherever possible to the benefits of Ontario Hospital insured persons on and after July 1,1965. OUT-PATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES Coverage for hospital out-patient services prescribed by a and in follow-up treatment of`fractures. physician when associated with necessary medical treat- These added benefits will include the use of a substantial ment—but not drugs taken home, or diagnostic x-ray list of care facilities at hospitals which are necesstry to examinations or laboratory tests which are listed as bone- modern medical care and will close the gap between fits of the Ontario Iviedical Services Insurance Plan present insured services and those services normally continue Such x-rays and laboratory tests, however, will covered by OMSIP.. continue to be covered under present "emergency" benefits ESSENTIAL AMBULANCE SERVICE Also, benefits will be provided for ambulance service to the ambulance operator at' the time the service is which is essential, for the transportation of a patient. The provided, Details of the benefit. will be announced at a patient will be required to pay a small: portion of the cost later date, NOTE: The above ,summary is for your convenience only. For detailed information please refer to the Provincial and. Federal acts and regulations regarding these matters, or write to the address below. HEALTHIINSURANCE REGISTRATION BOARD 2105 YONGE STREET, TORONTO 7, ONTARIO. *H.I403.—The Health Insurance. Registration Board set up by the Province to act as an agency fOr both Ontario Hospital Insurance and ONZIP. The Health Insurance Registration Board is"thc central registration of fice handling enrollment, billing, and premium collection; and answering incittirieS about the Ontario Government medical health instiratied plaits. IL &AM G4-\%170 .-:mrwrztessaiwo 4,,