The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is applauding the government of Quebec for initiating consultations concerning the future of the health care system.

“The life and health insurance industry commends the Government of Quebec for launching a constructive and timely public dialogue on reinforcing the sustainability of Quebec’s health system,” said Yves Millette, senior vice president, Quebec Affairs, for the CLHIA.

The group noted that over the last five years, private health plans have grown at an annual average rate of 12%. In 2004, private health insurance plans paid $2.8 billion for health expenses not covered by Quebec’s public health insurance plan. This included, for example, $190 million in payments to Quebec’s hospitals, $220 million for services such as long-term care and paramedical assistance, and $1.5 billion for prescription drug costs of Quebecers.

In relation to prescription drugs, the insurance industry has been working in partnership with the Quebec government in delivering the Universal Drug Plan for the past nine years.

“In these and other ways, the industry and the health insurance plans it delivers have been complementing Quebec’s public health system and reducing the financial pressures on the public system. The industry is committed to continuing to contribute to this important social goal,” explained Millette.

Private health insurance for medical services not covered by the public system is currently permitted in Quebec and all other provinces. For medical services which are covered by the public system, four provinces currently permit private insurance. Quebec, as well as five other provinces, currently ban private insurance for such services.

“Due to the Chaoulli decision, dialogue in this area is clearly timely and, over the weeks ahead, the industry looks forward to carefully assessing the approaches set out in the Consultation Paper and to contributing its perspectives to the deliberations of the Parliamentary Committee,” concluded Millette.