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Canada’s Aging Baby Boomers: Planning Health Insurance For The Future
By: Anna Dorbyk
The first of Canada’s aging baby boomers are poised to turn 65, and with this
milestone birthday comes a variety of new health care concerns. In response to
these changing medical needs, the Canadian health care system is preparing to
handle some 10 million boomers whose reasons for visiting the hospital will
range from hearing loss to long-term care. The aging of this Canadian
demographic is inevitable, but falling into financial debt in order to pay for
these services can be avoided. By thinking ahead to what medical services may be
required, individuals are able to customize their health insurance accordingly.
Living in a country like Canada where health care is provided for all is an
undeniable luxury. Yet, despite the many benefits of Canadian health care, there
are gaps that exist in coverage. These gaps dictate the need for supplementary
health insurance. Sadly, there are many instances where people have met with
unexpected illness, but there are also many health issues that can be planned
for. Aging is one such issue.
Some of the most common services required by seniors include: x-rays for
weakening bones, a visit to the podiatrist for any number of foot related issues
and testing and fitting hearing aids for hearing loss. Each of these services
may be an inevitability for the aging individual, but they may not all be
covered by the Canadian government. Provincial health plans vary from province
to province with certain provinces offering a proscribed amount of money yearly
for various necessities, such as a trip to the podiatrist. A visit to a
specialized doctor or the purchase of a hearing aid can be very costly, and with
little to no coverage, people are often left with a substantial financial
burden. Supplemental health insurance is the best way for seniors to plan for
and minimize these costs.
Opting for supplemental health insurance allows you to customize your plan to
suit your individual needs. For many seniors, the prospect of spending time in a
hospital is not a pleasant one, but with supplemental coverage, a private room
in a health care facility can make the stay more comfortable. Not only does
health insurance ease the worry that individuals may have concerning their own
personal welfare, but it also helps to assuage the fears of family members on
whom the burden of long-term care would fall.
As ten million Canadians begin to approach the time in their life when retiring
is imminent, it becomes a necessity to plan for whatever eventualities the
future might hold. Thinking ahead to answer the various demands of aging helps
guarantee a peace of mind for yourself and your family and ensures that you are
ready to face the challenge of life’s milestones.
About the Author:
Anna Dorbyk is the editor for Canada Health Insurance and is a graduate student
in Communication Studies at Concordia University. For more information on health
insurance for Canadians please visit http://www.canada-health-insurance.com.
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