Oppositions is expected to be fierce as the Province of Quebec is promoting the idea of user fees for public health care services as part of its spring budget.
The Quebec government is looking at a fee of $25 per visit, charged not up front at the doctor’s office, which would likely violate the Canada Health Act, but annually, as a “deductible” included in their income tax.
Under the proposal, the fees would be capped so that total charges do not exceed 1 per cent of a family’s annual income. It was estimated under one proposal that a couple with two children making 10 medical visits a year would pay a maximum of $250 annually.
The Quebec government also announced a new health tax to commence in June, 2010, that will be levied on individuals when they file their income taxes. The “health contribution” will cost adults $25 this year and eventually climb to $200 in 2012. Lower-income families will be exempt. When fully implemented, the new tax will generate $945-million a year.
“There’s no doubt that user fees violate the spirit of the Canada Health Act, which is quite clear that user fees cannot be charged,” Dr. Irfan Dhalla, Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare told the Globe and Mail.
The Globe reports that a number of Quebec academics, unions and social activists will be challenging the plan.
“The decision has been taken and we will proceed,” Premier Jean Charest told reporters. “We will first proceed with a debate on the methods and on the way we will do it.”
OPSEU Diablogue 