For Immediate Release Thursday, February 5, 2009
Pop this trial balloon about trimming
medicare says nurses union
Government plan will cost Albertans more
Edmonton – If the Alberta government begins trimming back public health care services it will end up costing Alberta families more and more, says the United Nurses of Alberta.
“This is the government’s “pass-the-buck” plan,” says UNA President Heather Smith.
The nurses union points out that the government wants to cut services people need, knowing full well they will have to pay for them either directly or through insurance. People will still need to have the podiatry done, the eye tests done.
“If you need a mole removed, you need it done. Medical services are not optional things you can just do without. Government is saying you will have to pay for it out of your own pocket.”
“Pop that balloon, I’d say,” she said about the government coyly floating the idea of cutting back medicare services.
Reducing the services covered under public medicare would only make a small cost saving to the system, but would produce large costs for families.
Even for people with benefit coverage, this will become a cost issue for employers and employees.
“Albertans should be able to expect a full and comprehensive medicare system that covers all medical services. Canada has a huge economic advantage in providing health services this way, and it’s a big advantage too for families,” Heather Smith says.
UNA says the government has another agenda when it flies a trial balloon on de-listing medicare services.
“This move helps to expand the private medical business, for-profit health care in the province, which has been the government’s agenda for years,” Heather Smith says. “This is just a boost for businesses like the private Copeman clinic in Calgary where it costs nearly $4,000 just to sign up.”
“In tough economic times we need to be expanding the medicare umbrella protection for Alberta families, not shrinking it,” Heather Smith concluded.
--30--
For more information: Heather Smith, President United Nurses of Alberta 780 425-1025.
| 
