The Canadian health care system began in 1946 and is made up of a group of socialized health insurance plans that provide coverage to all Canadian citizens. It is publicly funded and administered on a provincial or territorial basis according to rules established by the federal government. Since the late 1960s, Canada has had a universal health insurance system that covers all services provided by doctors and hospitals. In 1966, Lester B. Pearson's government subsequently expanded the universal health care policy with the Medical Assistance Act. Canada's healthcare system is the subject of political controversy and debate in the country. While healthcare in America began in the late 1800s, it actually came into being in 1929 when Justin Kimball introduced low-cost healthcare to Dallas teachers. Health care in the United States is mostly privately financed, but we have some publicly funded entities, such as Medicare and Medicaid. In 1971, all Canadians were guaranteed access to important medical services regardless of income, employment or health. Canada has one of the highest life expectancies and lowest infant mortality rates among industrialized countries, which many attribute to Canada's healthcare system. In 1984, the Canada Health Act was passed. This act added provisions prohibiting additional billing and user fees for covered services. To support the 10-year plan, the federal government increased healthcare assistance to the Canada Health Transfer from 2006-2007 to 2013-2014 to ensure growth in federal funding. On the other hand, private for-profit insurers in the United States base our premiums on age, gender, health and pre-existing conditions, covering only the healthiest people and avoiding the sickest individuals who in turn there are... middle of paper ......many criticisms about waiting times; some have been known to wait in the emergency room for four hours. Although on the other hand there is a positive side to having to wait. By prioritizing high-risk patients over low-risk patients, you help eliminate patient mortality rates. The government has since stepped in to help ease the long wait times. Unfortunately, wait times on average are just as bad, if not worse, here in the United States, with one important difference. In Canada, no one gets turned away, while in the US, if you don't have the proper documentation according to your plan, you could end up waiting twice as long. Works Cited • GG Frasier, “An Audit of Surgical Waiting List ,” New Zealand Medical Journal (1991)• www.snopes.com• www.canadianhealthcare.org• www.hc-sc.ca• www.huffingtonpost.com