Travel vaccinations are somewhat of a unique case though. Generally it’s an exasperating wait to deal with for non-life threatening or specialists (i.e. Mtl zack’s ER visit, my friend’s knee surgery that had to wait a year) but I’ve found for critical life-saving operations and care it’s been excellent.
In metropolitan centres (i.e. Toronto) it’s been virtually impossible to find a decent doctor – I’ve literally been trying for 4 years and I’ve been using our university doc but will graduate soon. We do have a medical personnel shortage in our country because our healthcare system simply can’t pay our doctors as much as in the US…
Generally all doctors and specialists’ visits are paid for except any dental and optometrists (that I’m aware of) and those associated costs are also not covered (glasses, braces, etc.) Neither are most prescription drugs. For covered health care I’ve received you’re not billed at all (which is the norm) – you just show your government-issued health card for each visit and it’s taken care of by the facility.
Despite these problems I feel strongly for a universal healthcare plan, even with all the fiscal problems it’s caused our government. Watching US documentaries and being from Asia it’s frightening that one would have to worry about costs for treatments like chemotherapy or having a baby or be given a lower standard of care because I can’t afford better health insurance. There are endemic socioeconomic consequences in not extending proper healthcare to those that can’t afford it and I believe that it strongly contributes to the Canadian way of life that we enjoy.
Short answer
It’s not awesome but it’s there when you really need it. If you’re rich you can do better. If you’re poor you’re getting much better in Canada. But the benefits of universal healthcare (IMO) extend beyond each person’s individual health to a greater social good.
It’s been often said the US can do it but such a program would be a massive change and not at all conducive to the current economic climate. However universal health care for every American citizen is but a fraction of 700 billion dollars proposed for the current financial sector bailout so there’s the way, just not the will I suspect.