HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1978-04-13, Page 9OHIP increases
To whom it may concern:
The unveiling of the
Ontario Government's 1978
budget was not an event
conducive to loud hosannas.
For most Ontarians, the
most unpalatable feature of
the budget is a further
.painful 37 percent increase
in OHIP premiums.
Despite► the additional
revenue of $275 million this
latest increase will generate,
the budget statement con-
cedes that "the financing of
health costs continues to be
unbalanced." With the hike
in premiums single persons
will now pay $22 per month
and families $44. For a
family, this means a levy of
$528 annually.
The budget statement says
that deterrent fees were
considered as an alternative
to a general premium in-
crease, but ruled out because
"such a policy would deny
access to our high quality
health care system for those
least able to pay."
The budget statement
ignores completely the root
cause of the problem -- ex-
cessive and indiscriminate
use of health services.
Deterrent fees have been
imposed by health
authorities in other parts of
North America to curb these
abuses of the system. British
Columbia has introduced
deterrents. There are in-
dications that Manitoba
(where medical and hospital
services are paid out of
general taxation) is moving
closer to some form of
deterrent fees. This type of
restraint works no hardship
on those who do not abuse the
service.
This heavier cost burden
placed upon too many
citizens of the province has
become untenable and
prohibitive. Ontario now has
the highest medical -hospital
premiums in Canada.
Universal health insurance
was instituted by the federal
government in co-operation
with the provinces to rid
Canadians of the fear of
crushing hospital and
medical bills and make
available to all the same
standards of health care.
Unfortunately, the in-
troduction of the plan was
also an invitation to abuse it.
Many Canadians who once
simply swallowed an aspirin
to relieve a headache now
reach for the telephone to
dial for an appointment .with
the doctor. Access to hospital
beds has become all too easy
for the multiplying number
of neurotics and
hyprochondriacs in our
midst. And probably the
most flagrant abuse of our
health system is in the
emergency wards of the
hospitals. None can legally
be refused care when they
enter the out-patient
department whether it be for
a hangnail or a hangover. A
doctor must be called and
the patient suitably cared for
or legal action could be taken
against the hospital. This is
what our government has
laid down in the Public
Hospital Act and because of
this the rest of us must pay
for the growing number of
malingers who flock to the
Emergency wards on any
whim.
. The consequence of these
abuses is a return to the very
situation the federal scheme
of universal health care was
designed to end: a mounting
burden of seemingly endless
increases in OHIP
premiums.
•
For those guilty of over
utilization and for those
whose premiums must be
paid or subsidized by the
province, the load on the rest
of us becomes onerous and
inequitable.
Federal transport minister
Otto Lang brought in the
principle of "user pay" to
finance airport operations.
The same principle is now
being applied to ships and
shipping companies using
the Canadian Seaway.
Why not adopt a principle
of "abuser pay" in the field
of health services? The
Davis'government refusal to
impose deterrents is ob-
viously a political decision.
Instead, it bludgeons too
many of the populace with a
hemeasemeastosamminamtemo
health care bill inflated by
those who beat a path to
doctor' offices, out-patient
departments, and those who
have a strange craving for
all -expense -paid vacations in
hospital beds. Deterrents are
the only effective method of
discouraging excessive
utilization. Those who abuse
the service should pay
highest for the privilege.
Rising health care costs is
probably the most serious
problem facing North
Americans. Whatever the
proper remedy, the answer
does not lie in simply
legislating automatic in-
creases in OHIP premiums.
We've had simply too much
of that, Mr. Davis. All
Ontarians should convey
we get letters
that message, loud and
clear, to Queen's Park.
Jocelyn J. Hogg,
RR 2,
Zurich, Ontario.
Housing
Dear Editor:
The Awareness League for
Physically Handicapped
Adults (ALPHA) is con-
ducting a survey of private
accommodation in Huron
County suitable for use by
the handicapped.
We will appreciate your
cooperation in making this
known to your readers and
would ask any person who
has such facilities available
to write ALPHA, P.O. Box
1388, CLINTON, Ontario,
NOM 1L0.
Thanks for your assistance
on behalf of ALPHA.
Elaine Townshend
President
Huron Dead Stock Removal
Clinton
Attention
Farmers
For dependable, efficient
service on all farm stock,
call Collect 482-9811
24 hrs. a day, 7 days a
week.
Call us first, you won't have
to call anyone else.
April 13, 1978
Page 9
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