In the 90s, my aunt, Merle Totten, worked with other seniors in Ontario to compile stories for a book entitled, “Life Before Medicare — Canadian Experiences.” In this five-part series, I will excerpt stories and thoughts from that book. As the province of Ontario, as the whole country wrestles with the future of healthcare, I hope you find these historical stories interesting, informative and motivating.
In the first submission, I have excerpted the thoughts and a story form Jacqueline Morris Reimer from Stittsville, Ontario.
Ms. Reimer’s story:
In June 1945, I was expecting my first, and as it happened, my only baby. The European War had just ended but my husband’s commanding officer did not think the birth of a baby sufficient reason to give an airman leave to travel from the east coast to Ontario. When it seemed essential to hurry to the hospital, I presented myself at the reception desk of the General Hospital in Simcoe, Ontario. I was asked why my husband wasn’t with me.
“He couldn’t get leave.”
“He doesn’t live here?”
“No, he is serving with the armed forces.”
“Are you married?”
“Yes, on July 7, 1942.”
“Do you have your marriage certificate?”
“No, I never thought it was necessary.”
“Well then, you will have to pay in advance for your hospital stay.”
“Why?”
“Because you are a transient.”
I have long since forgotten giving birth, but I have never forgotten being told I was a transient. …I had lived and worked in this town for over four years, my parents lived here, I had been married here, and my husband was away through no choice of his own. I was clutching the counter with white knuckles by this time, and I sometimes wonder what would have happened had I not been able to write out a cheque for the full amount.
Ms. Reimer’s thoughts:
I am a healthy person, and except for brief visits to emergency for treatment of minor mishaps, I seldom needed to use the Medicare system. However, two years ago I discovered a lump in my breast. …All the worry one has when the word cancer is uttered was not made worse by the terrible fear of not being able to have an immediate operation through lack of money.
I expect as fewer people are left who remember life before Medicare, it will become increasingly easier for any government to cut, slash and change our health programme, and what then? It was so difficult to achieve this “insurance against worry.” It will not be easy to ever bring it back once it is lost.
(Life Before Medicare, 1994, p. 43 and 103)
Kevin Larson
Grey Bruce Health Coalition
Do you have any stories that you could share about what life was like before Medicare or Universal Healthcare? Tell us in the comments.