94,41Y&C:363e4C3 SCeelet3 DEPT. OF PROVONCUIL, SEGLIEVALIV of ] ROOM 137 — PHONE WH 6-7439 BUIL ,ONG October 14, 1966. LEGISLATIVE Date WOMMPES `0, MALMIT'013A

MEDICARE BY JULY 1 IF OTIAWA AGREEABLE Manitoba is prepared to introduce a voluntary system of by next July 1, if Ottawa agrees to contribute its 50 per cent share of the cost, Premier Duff Roblin said Thursday. Speaking at a Manitoba Medical Association luncheon, the premier express- ed regret at the federal decision to postpone medicare until July 1, 1968„ and at Ottawa's continuing insistence on a compulsory plan. Premier Roblin said his main concern was for the 30 per cent of Manitoba's population that were not covered by any form of medical insurance. He said he must conclude that most people in this category were not able to pay full premiums, and it was imperative to get a medicare program operating as soon as possible to cover them. In Manitoba at present some 60 per cent of the people are covered through Manitoba Medical Service insurance; another ten per cent have other private insurance programs, and 25,000 Manitobans in need are receiving full health care through a special medicare plan that provides them with medical, dental, optical care and drugs. "Our problem now is the provision of better medical care for the 30 per cent not covered -- and undoubtedly for most of these money is the barrier," he said. He said the essentials of a good medicare plan would include: .Provision for those in need medically who were unable to pay premiums in full. .A plan universally available to all -- including other citizens who can pay full premiums on a voluntary basis. .A standard of coverage equivalent to the HCX plan of M.M.S. .Free choice of doctor by patients, and the free choice of doctors to practice inside or outside the plan. .Portability of benefits outside the province and reciprocity with medicare plans of other . .Compensation for doctors as fee-for-service, with further measures to meet certain situations created by isolated communities, university teaching and the like. -more- -2- MEDICARE BY JULY I "But," he declared, "the $64 question for Manitoba is still open: will the federal government recognize, for cost-sharing, the kind of voluntary plan Manitoba proposes?" He said if Ottawa persists in its compulsory requirements, and refuses to allow M.M.S. subscribers to be counted when computing the 90 per cent coverage required for a universal plan, then it puts the Manitoba plan in jeopardy. However, he declared he still was hopeful that the federal plan could be modified to recognize proposals like Manitoba's. He said if Ottawa could be persuaded to accept the Manitoba plan, the province was prepared to go ahead and meet the original target date of July 1, 1967. "We are convinced that once the voluntary plan is given a fair trial it will be found to meet the needs of our people. We are willing to play our part, but Ottawa holds the key." He said it was the job of government and medical profession alike to ensure that the benefits of modern medicine were made available without un- reasonable hindrance to all the people of the province. With respect to the hospital plan introduced in 1958, Premier Roblin said there had been a dramatic improvement in both the quality and quantity of hospital care. He said costs of the plan had doubled since 1958 -- rising from $27 million to $54 million a year. When the plan was first introduced, the premiums collected looked after 50 per cent of the costs, with taxes accounting for the remainder. In 1966, premiums accounted for less than 25 per cent of the costs, raising the problem of how to finance the growing needs of hospitals. The alternatives, he said, were higher premiums or provincial taxes. "But one way or another, hospital care will continue to expand, to improve, and to advance," he said. -30-