16 — Wednesday, May 5, 1999 — North Shore News north shore news @ BUSINESS Medicare might go ‘Australian’ ENJOY government- paid health care while it lasts. And perhaps put aside some money for the future. Change is coming as 1!ic population ages (older people consume the largest portion of health care services) and governments struggle to bal- ance budgets. If you want a taste of the user-pay system that almost certainly lies ahead for Canadian health care, take a look at how Australia oper- ates. With resource-based economics, the two countries are similar in many ways. Medicare covers all Australian residents. When you file your tax return, you pay 2 percentage of your income as your medicare pre- mium. The cost is roughly the same as in Canada. But that’s just the start. Unitess you are on a “pension” (which includes people on welfare, disability benefits and low-income seniors), you will pay almost every time you visit a doctor or have a med- ical procedure outside a hospi- tal. If you are lucky, you might find a doctor with a “bulk billing” practice. That means he or she accepts the rate fixed by the government for the service provided, the sys- tem that generally operates in Canada. Mast doctors, how- ever, charge patients 3 “gap” payment for cach visit. This might range from $5 or $10 for a general practitionsr to perhaps $50 tor a specialist. ‘The same applies to lab tests, x-rays and similar services. Emergency hospital care is free. But for elective surgery, you might have to wait months (does that sound familiar?) to have it done free at the hospital. Of course, you can always go to a private hospital and pay to have the procedure “Unless you are on a ‘pension’ you will pay almost every time you visit a doctor ... outside a hospital.” done almost iramediately. These hospitals witl bid for your business, major or minor, trying to outdo each other with, for example, “a $250 costs $1,000 to $2,000 a vear for a variety of benefits; the government recently intro- duced a tax rebate to encour: age people to sien up, hoping this would relieve the load on public hospitals. Private insur- ance, however, still doesn’t cover ail costs. As well as your choice of deductibles, vou will still pay various “gap” charges. Mike Grents is a columnist and independent personal financial adviser; he'll answer questions in this column as space allows but cannot reply personally, Contact him at P.O. Box 50029, South Slope R.B.O., Burnatn, BC. V5] SG3; e- mail and see previous columns at Mike’s Web site . " ‘Adam Korbin It’s a fact in today’s world — nore and more women are taking charge of their finances. Are you ready to join their ranks? If so, we're offering educational workshops vou won't want to miss! MORTGAGES WHEN THE BANKS SAY “NO” Financial ert ‘ices 5 De. 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Last year's meetings with B.C. farm organizations, food processors, retailers and distributors, have culminated in the document Choosing Our Future: Options for the Agri-Food Industry. This document outlines issues, ideas and potential solutions generated through this part of the consultation process. Bill Barisoff, MLA Deputy Chair +Ed Conroy, MLA Evelyn Gillespie, MLA Bill Goodacre, MLA Glenn Robertson, MLA Joan Sawicki, MLA Richard Neufeld, MLA John van Dongen, MLA John Wilson, MLA Peter Hucai Committee Cierk 25 years’ experience in investment, retirement and estate planning | Ask us about: => RASPs, RRIFs, LIFs => Self-Directed Pians => RESP Programs = Mutual Funds/Seg Funds => Managed Portfolios > Private Wealth Management Gic Rates, GiCs, RSPs, RIFs, LIFs 4.75*| |4.90"| |5,.00"| | 5.10* [Ai "Rates subject to change without notice. ® Representing a wide array of financial institutions § . ; Member: Fed of Cdn Indep Deposit Brokers ARD 1205-675 W. Hastings St. Vancouver 688-9577 § - [RPC are investrants tas. 401-100 Park Royai S. WestVanc 925-3101 s Building better retirement incomes since 1974 This year, the all-party Select Standing Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries will continue that consultation with the goal of making recommendations to the Legislature on a B.C. agri-food policy. The committee will receive submissions in Victoria this spring from groups, organizations, government agencies and individuals as the first phase of the public consultation process. Continuing this fall, the Select Standing Committee will hold province-wide community consultations. This will provide the opportunity for all British Columbians to help frame the future for agriculture in British Columbia. We want to hear from you! Please send written submissions to the address below. Submissions on disk or by electronic mail are welcome. Information may be obtained from the ies * . . . Sr orien ose committee website or by contacting the Clerk of Committees office. me Office of the Clerk of Committees Room 224 Parliament Buildings Victoria, 8C, V8V 1X4 Phone: {250) 356-6318 {collect} or 1 877-428-8337 (toll free in BC) Fax: (250) 356-8172 Email: ClerkComm@leg.bc.ca Internet: www.legis.gov.0c.ca/emt