CHOICE MEDICAL SERVICES CANADIAN HEALTHCARE SERVICES FACT SHEET

Healthcare Comparison

US	CANADA
Population: 300 million (Oct 2006 figure)	Population: 31.6 million (2006 figure)
Record high 47 million uninsured or 15.8 percent of population. (2006 figure)	All residents can receive universal healthcare
Health professionals are generally paid well.	Health professionals usually earn less than those in the U.S.
Life expectancy at birth 75 year men/80 women	Life expectancy is 78 years men / 83 years women
Infant mortality per every 1000 live births: 7 deaths	Infant mortality per every 1000 live births: 5 deaths
2.56 physicians per 1000 population (year 2000 figure)	2.14 physicians per 1000 population (2003 figure)

Sources: Population: US Census/Statistics Canada. Uninsured: US Census. Other data from World Health Organization, (WHO) 2007 statistics.

Choice's Services

• To compare the cost of common medical procedures in the U.S. versus what Choice will charge for the same treatments in Canada and Cuba all figures in US dollars:
  
  Hip replacement: US, $39,000; Canada $18000; Cuba $10,000.
  Knee replacement: US, $34000; Canada $15,000; Cuba $8900.
  Breast implant: US $8900; Canada $6100; Cuba $1640.



• Choice's American patients can be treated at one of Choice's affiliated medical clinics across Canada. Currently, Choice has one affiliated clinic in Vancouver, two in Montreal.



• A Choice Personal Patient Consultant assists each patient through the entire easy process, from filling out the paperwork to being onsite at the treatment destination to assist with care and travel needs before and after the procedure. Choice is one of very few medical tourism firms to provide such comprehensive and professional service.



• All Canadian doctors serving Choice's patients are fully licensed by their local provincial body that licenses and registers doctors practicing medicine within the province. In British Columbia, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia fills that role. In Quebec, the College of Medicine of Quebec (Collège des médecins du Québec) serves that role.

America's Uninsured

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association ( Insurance Coverage, Medical Care Use, and Short-term Health Changes Following an Unintentional Injury or the Onset of a Chronic Condition , March 14, 2007), the uninsured are less likely to receive care upon onset of a chronic condition (81.7 percent of uninsured treated versus 91.5 percent of insured treated), or to get care after an accidental injury (77.8 percent versus 88.7 percent) .

The number of uninsured Americans rose from 44.8 million (15.3 percent of population) in 2005, to a record 47 million (15.8 percent) in 2006, according to the U.S. Census. This number includes 15.3 million Hispanics (34.1 percent of Hispanic population), 7.6 million blacks (20.5 percent of black population) and 21.2 million non-Hispanic whites (10.8 percent of non-Hispanic white population). Of all uninsured, 8.7 million were children. (Source) 

Vancouver Travel Info

Vancouver has been ranked the world's most livable city for the fifth consecutive year by an Economist Magazine survey (2007).

For visitors to Vancouver arriving by air, the closest major airport is Vancouver International Airport (code: YVR).

For visitors to Vancouver arriving by car, the city is about a 2-1/2 hour drive from Seattle, 5-1/2 hour drive from Portland, and a 15-hour drive from San Francisco. Greyhound provides convenient bus transportation between major US cities and Vancouver. By train, passengers can take Amtrak to Seattle where they can transfer to Greyhound for the remaining short ride to Vancouver.

To re-enter the US by land or sea, Americans must have a valid driver's license plus proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate. In summer 2008, Americans entering by land or sea will be required to have a valid US passport or other valid travel document. Currently, to re-enter the US by air, passengers must have a valid U.S. passport or other valid travel document. Learn the latest document requirements from the US Department of State at: www.travel.state.gov

Montreal Travel Info

Montréal, with a metro population of 3.6 million, is the largest city in the province of Quebec, and second largest city in Canada.

English and French are the main languages spoken in the province. All medical professionals at Choice's affiliated Montréal area clinic speak English and sometimes French, too.

For Americans flying to Montréal, the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (code YUL), is the main area airport.

Montréal is within a one-day drive of several of the Eastern U.S. ' largest cities. It is about a 5-1/2 hour drive from Boston, 6-hour drive from New York City, and 7-1/2 hour drive from Philadelphia. Amtrak passenger train service connects Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York City with Montréal. And, Greyhound and Trailways bus companies provide daily service between select Eastern US cities and Montréal.

Patient Wait Times

In recent years, Canadians have had to endure waits for some medical care. The Fraser Institute, a conservative Canadian research organization, issued an Oct. 15 th report that found that average patient waiting times increased from 17.8 weeks in 2006 to 18.3 weeks in 2007. (Waits for non-emergency, surgery and treatment across 12 specialties and 10 provinces. See report)

Choice's three affiliated Canadian clinics have considerable availability for adding patients and expanding their facilities. By adding Choice's patients, the clinics do not expect that their wait times for Canadian patients will be negatively impacted.

Miscellaneous

Patients requiring round-the-clock care after their treatment can stay overnight at Choice's medical clinics, or, at nearby affiliated healthcare facilities, with “24/7” access to doctors and nurses.

Medical care isn't the only health cost that's cheaper in Canada. For more than 10 years, thousands of uninsured Americans have purchased more affordable prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies. Daren Jorgenson , CIO of Choice, also owns and operates Canadameds.com and other online Canadian pharmacies that have served many American patients for several years.

Resources:

•  Diagnostic Imaging magazine, 2006 study

•  American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, 2003 figure of average hospital costs only; excludes Dr's fee and non-covered charges.

•  American Assoc of Ortho. Surgeons, 2003 figure of average hospital costs only: excludes Dr's fee and non-covered charges.

•  American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2006 figure

View our Canadian Services that are available