The truth about wait list insurance

Attention: Assignment Editor, Business/Financial Editor, Health/Medical Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor

CALGARY, ALBERTA, PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE--(Marketwire - Oct. 7, 2008) - Recent articles in the Vancouver media have discussed the relative merits of a health care product provided by Acure Health Corp. and distributed by national and regional broker networks. While much of the reaction has been positive, there has been some negative reaction, largely based on incomplete or inaccurate information.

Statements have been made by public officials of the Medical Services Commission (MSC) that the program is not legal and contravenes the Medicare Protection Act. These statements suggest the MSC has conducted a thorough review of the policy and program in order to come to that dramatic conclusion. Bewilderingly, this is not the case.

The MSC has never contacted Acure Health Corp. requesting copies of the policy for review, an explanation of the program, or questions about Medical Access Insurance. If they had, they would have found the program clearly makes the provision for services to be performed outside the province of residence and emphatically states the insured person is not entitled to receive benefits for services and supplies that are provided in the province of residence of the Insured Person. This type of insurance is clearly allowed under Section 45 of the BC Medicare Protection Act.

In 2005, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in the Chaoulli decision that it is unconstitutional to deny a person access to private insurance for medical services that cannot be provided within a reasonable time by the government health plan. The Surpreme Court was limited in its binding effect to Quebec: does this mean citizens of the rest of Canada are less equal than citizens of Quebec?

Despite the best efforts and intentions of provincial governments, wait lists for medical services continue to be a major problem. The Canadian system ranks poorly in relationship to other public systems in the world, many of which do not have wait lists but all of which have some component of private health insurance in support of the public system.

Many opponents of private health insurance conveniently forget that insurance is already a key component of healthcare through dental, prescriptions, physiotherapy and health services plans. Critics also suggest Medical Access Insurance is a form of queue jumping - somehow getting ahead of another person on the medical wait list. In fact, the insurance does the opposite; removing the client from the wait list and having their services performed outside the system. The public system is no longer required to pay for that particular medical procedure thereby freeing up funds and diagnostic/treatment time for the next person on the list.

Acure's program of Medical Access Insurance is supplemental and not a replacement for the public system. The coverage for over 135 conditions and almost 500 procedures and treatments is triggered if a person is placed on a wait list longer than 45 days. A person does not have to wait 45 days for services, only be on a wait list longer than 45 days. Due to the public concerns about wait lists, some provinces are delaying providing appointment dates to patients. In most cases, when a patient cannot confirm an appointment date, a claim process is opened at the client's request.

Medical Access Insurance was designed for the person and/or family who wants options to waiting for necessary diagnostics and treatment. In order to make the program available to the vast majority of the population, the program highlights include:

- No medical underwriting or evidence of insurability is required
- No deductibles or copayments are required
- Costs are paid directly to the service provider
- Approved travel expenses are included
- Free second opinion provided on insured services
- Coverage is provided to age 75
- Pre-existing conditions are covered once a person has been on the policy for 24 consecutive months
- $1 Million of lifetime coverage

Like all Canadians, Acure Health Corp wants to see a strong, efficient, responsive Canadian public system. Wait lists which result in citizens living in pain, fear, and possibly resulting in death are not acceptable. Medical Access Insurance provides an option to Canadians wishing to avoid this fate.
/For further information: www.acurehealth.com/


IN: FINANCE, HEALTH, POLITICS