This year, the winter season doesn’t just mean getting your set of winter tires out of the cabana again. No, this is a time for intense political fervor. It is a time to reflect, to dissect, and eventually elect new leadership in America. But it is a tiring process to say the least with the same old arguments bandied around ad nauseam–the same old tactics–with not a lick of respectable marketing between all of the candidates.

And then I look at the Canadian political system whereby governance is mirror image of its elected leadership. I think of the Canadian population is neither much further ahead. But politics isn’t the point of this post per se.

In the mail today I received a renewal form for my Quebec Health Insurance Card. On one side of the page there is a simple form and on the other side “Important Information” pertaining to the process of renewing ones card. One paragraph in particular struck me and it may be insightful if you are not familiar with the kind Canadian way:

Consequences of late renewal (expired card)

It is important to renew your card before it expires. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the healthcare services you receive and then apply to the Regie for a reimbursement.

The “Regie” refers to the governing body charged with provincial healthcare affairs. I think it’s important to highlight that for an $8 photo fee (and of course prompt renewal of my card) that I am taken care of in the event of a medical injury, disability, or otherwise. What put me over the top was the threat that I would have to pay for healthcare services out of my pocket in the event of my card expiring. Meanwhile, the Regie will promptly refund the expenses anyway even if you were to renew late. Isn’t that hilarious? I hope I’m not the only one that appreciates how simple the system can be.

And this brings me to the fact that I am most thankful that we don’t have to debate the merits of universal healthcare a la Hillary Clinton. Our parliament would fall in a heartbeat if any government or political leader attempted to subvert the Canadian healthcare system. Granted our system has flaws but it is caused by a Prime Minister that opts to spend billions on reducing debt and war with very little left over for supporting necessary infrastructure.

The arching point is that our system works though just as it does in dozens of other countries around the world. And that’s a marketing touchpoint that Canada can take to the bank for generations to come.

Filed under: Politics

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