More specifics would also be helpful.  I don't think they are campaigning against clinics like many of my doctors belong to.  I'm pretty sure they are private, for profit companies.  I'm not paying a fee to the clinic, nor for stuff that is typically covered, but within one clinic there are the for-profit skin treatments, a pharmacy that sells OTC items as well as prescriptions, RMTs, podiatrists, etc.

I need more information about how these clinics are classified, and what this pledge means for clinics like this.

The provincial health care plan in New Brunswick is called "Medicare," and as the federal Department of Health's website notes, "Canada's national health care plan [is] often referred to as Medicare."

It may not be official, but it is in somewhat common usage.

Chemgal-they are against "private clinics" The kind where you can jump the line for extra money.

An example would be paying and having an ultrasound during pregnancy. The private clinics have a big screen tv and you can invite a group of folks in with you to watch.

I assume they are private clinics for hip replacements. A co-worker just went to India for his. He's young and active and wanted it done a specific way. It also meant that he avoided the wait.

So no your private pharmacy isn't what they are against.

I don't take issue with using a term to explain things, but I do think precision of language is useful to know the specifics and what someone should look into more if they want further clarification.

I'm not even familar with Canada's National Health Care Plan.  I'm aware of the Health Care Act, and I know that there federally there is something in place for First Nations, but don't know much beyond that.

I got that, but it just makes me question how do clinics like mine fit into this?  Is the clinic as a whole considered private?

Maybe I'm more wary than normal too after bouncing around between AHS, Alberta Health Care/Health and Wellness, the Health Minister's office, specific clinics, a general hospital office related to a clinic, etc.

The national health care plan is essentially what makes provincial health insurance transferrable from province to province, so that while we have thirteen different plans (10 provincial and 3 territorial) in almost all cases you can use your province's health insurance anywhere in Canada - so if I, covered by Ontario health insurance, am in Nova Scotia and have to access medical care, my Ontario health card will be accepted, Nova Scotia's health care plan will pay for it, and Ontario's health care plan will reimburse Nova Scotia. The national plan also includes a formula for federal financial transfers to provincial health insurance plans.

Thanks for the explanation!

Medicare is the generic name that I have known forever and have used for any province’s plan.  I had never heard of the Canadian Health Coalition though.  The link in the opening paragraph leads to another link at the bottom of the press release that leads to another website where the Coalition and its goals and works are explained – with a request for a donation so that the Coalition can continue to pressure the government for free care.    I think there is irony in there somewhere!

lol Interesting point.  I've heard of the Coalition a few times, not sure where specifically.  All the money for free care comes from somewhere too :)

Personally, I think universal care is a bit of a misnomer for Canada.  What's covered varies province to province.  I don't know if we would be better off having it all handled federally or sticking to the provinces.

I'll admit to also being confused by who is responsible for what.  Apparently the new medication I will be on is on a federal plan.  Different topic, but I'm not even sure what the plan actually is.