VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A typical Canadian family of four will pay an estimated $17,713 for public health insurance this year, according to new research released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, nonpartisan Canadian public policy think tank.

“Canadians pay a significant amount for health care in the form of various taxes – even if we do not pay directly for medical services,” said Nadeem Esmail, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and co-author of The price of statutory health insurance, 2024.

Most Canadians are unaware of the true cost of their health care because they never see a bill for medical services and may only know about the portion of the cost collected through health taxes and employer contributions (in provinces that impose them). In addition, Canada’s public health care system is funded by general government revenues – not a specific tax.

The study estimates that a typical Canadian family with two parents and two children, with an average household income of $176,266, will pay $17,713 for public health care this year. Couples without dependent children will pay an estimated $16,528. Single Canadians will pay $5,629 for health insurance, and single parents with one child will pay $5,345.

Since 1997, the first year for which data are available, health care costs for the average Canadian family have risen substantially, and faster than their income. In fact, the cost of public health insurance for the average Canadian family has risen 2.2 times as fast as the cost of food, 1.6 times as fast as the cost of housing, and 1.7 times as fast as median income.

“Understanding how much Canadians actually pay for their health care and how much that amount has increased over time is an important first step for taxpayers to assess the value and performance of the health care system and determine whether it is financially sustainable,” Esmail said.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nadeem Esmail, Senior Fellow
Fraser Institute

Bacchus Barua, Director of Health Policy Studies
Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for further information, please contact:
Bryn Weese, 604-688-0221 ext. 721, [email protected]

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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and education organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal and links to a global network of think tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and widely communicating the impact of government policy, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept government grants or research contracts. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org