Trans-Canada Medical Plans

Formed on June 18, 1951 to coordinate existing prepayment plans and extend coverage to all Canadians, Trans-Canada Medical Services (later, “Plans”) enabled provincial medical association prepayment plans to compete with private insurers while developing the interprovincial portability of benefits and harmonized levels of services and fees. Starting with a total enrolment of 775,165 of Canada’s 14,255,000 citizens in 1951, the plan grew to serve 5,903,976 of Canada’s 20,252,000 citizens by 1967. According to one author, Trans-Canada Medical Plans contributed to medicare by showing that providers and consumers preferred direct coverage rather than pay-per-visit financial transactions; that large-scale non-profit organizations could effectively provide coverage; and that the financial problems of administering and maintaining such plans were solvable.