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Most Needy Given

ree | a Poorest Coverage

Bill 36, an Act Respecting Medical Grants, cbout to be debated in the Legis-
lature, has raised the hopes of thousands of people who urgently require health
protection. For this reason its provisions have been carefully examined by IWA
representatives. The conclusion reached is that the Bill is hopelessly inadequate.

Eligibility for medical coverage is limited by Section 3, which states:

“3. The Minister, on behalf of Her Majesty
the Queen in right of the Province, may enter
into agreements with certified carriers or with
a representative of certified carriers wher-
under

(a) one half of the premium payable by
an eligible person who was not liable
to pay income tax for the immediately

preceding taxation-year under any
Statute of Canada or any Province
thereof; and

(b) one-quarter of the premium payable
by an eligible person whose taxable
income for the immediately preceding
taxation-year did not .exceed one
thousand dollars

shall be paid by the Minister.”

The following analysis of Bill 36 has been prepared by a Victoria observer,
closely in touch with affairs in the Legislature, and who is a member of the B.C.
Government Employees Medical Services. Although a pseudonym is used, this pub-
lication vouches for his reliability and the authenticity of his information.

THE MEDICARE HOAX

By CHANTICLEER

Vancouver press reports describing
the B.C. Socreds’ Medicare Bill in glowing
terms are misleading large numbers of
people into assuming that they will auto-
matically receive medical coverage.

The Vancouver Sun headlines its
story, “Bennett’s Medicare Helps the Poor,
Sick and Aged.” The Province quotes the
Premier as saying, “Every person in B.C.
will be able to get medical insurance
irrespective of age, health and financial
status.” Other papers say, “Insurance
companies are not eligible to participate”;
“The government will set premiums,” and
“there will be no means test.”

At best these are half truths, and a
study of the Bill itself would enable any
reader to realize the plan is an elaborate
hoax. A factual summary can only indi-

cate the Bill will give partial relief to
some people IF they qualify under its .
means test and IF they can pay at least
part of their own premiums.

Many vital details, such as the rate
of premium to be charged, are left to be
determined by Order in Council after the
Legislature is safely prorogued.

A factual summary would also prove
that Opposition Leader Robert Strachan,
M.L.A., was correct in his forecast during
the budget debate that the Bill would
create a system of five-class medicare,
that the insurance companies could not
lose, that money or lack of it would be
the key to eligibility, and that the real
issue was who should retain financial
control of medicare — the doctors or the
people.

AN ACTUAL MEANS TEST

Let’s look at what the Bill actually
says. First, Premier Bennett's statement
that “every person in B.C.” will get cov-
erage. This is not true. Section 3 of the
Bill provides that only two classes of
persons can get coverage: (1) those whose
last year’s taxable income was nil, and
(2) those whose last years’ taxable in-
come was $1000 or less.

So, in Case No. 1, the government
will pay 50% of your medicare premium
IF you can afford the other 50% and in
Case No. 2, the government will pay

25% of your premium IF you can pay

the other 75%. This, of course, in simple
language is a form of means test.

But there’s more to come. You may
be destitute now and receiving social
assistance as an “unemployed employ-
able” or receiving unemployment insur-
ance, but if you can’t show that your
income IN THE LAST TAXATION YEAR
fits you into categories (1) or (2), then
you’re out of luck. “Come back and see
us next year!” Bennett says.

THE PREMIUM RATE?

What's the premium rate going to
be? Who knows? The private plans and
the Cabinet will decide this, and if the
prepaid plans won’t accept a government
suggested Bill, then they don’t even

have to provide coverage under the Bill.

If we generously assume the rate
will be $120 per year for a family, which
is the rate charged by the present B.C.
Government Employees’ plan, you will
still have to find 50 or 75% of this amount
in cash if you qualify.

THE POOR AND THE AGED

Two examples will reveal the inade-
quacy of the Bill.

John Smith, his wife and three chil-

dren, having exhausted unemployment

‘benefits, now exist on social assistance.

See “Most Needy” — Page 10