Most of Canada’s universal health care is available on a “universal” basis — everyone has the same access, regardless of income.
Prescription coverage is NOT universal: most provinces cover medications, but with an income-based sliding scale deductible (except for in-hospital meds, which are all covered 100% for everyone). Outside hospital people below the poverty line and on disability pensions are covered by government insurance, but people with (for example) $60,000 household income responsible for a couple of thousand dollars annually before the coverage kicks in. Many Canadians are also covered by employment-based coverage (or employment-pension based) that covers 70% — 100%, depending on the plan. 80% of Canadians are covered one way or another... with co-pays but no deductibles.
Canada’s federal government is about to expand pharmacare to universally cover everyone (regardless of personal income) for several specific medications from the first dollar: no co-pay, no annual deductible. These include most diabetes medications, hormone birth control, IUDs, “morning after” pills and abortion pills. (Yes — abortion pillsand medical abortions on the taxpayers’ dime — this is what it’s like to live in a country not ruled by religious zealots.)
In most Canadian provinces most reproductive medications can be dispensed by a pharmacist without a doctor’s prescription.
