The Healthcare Taboo: Private Options You Didn't Know Existed

In this episode of Prescription for Primary Care, we tackle the controversial topic of private healthcare options in Canada. We sit down with insurance professional Ingrid Gahsner from IMI Canada and Dr. Raymond Rupert from RCM Health and Healtheon to discuss how Canadians can access faster medical care options through private insurance.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why Canada already has a two-tier healthcare system
• How private medical insurance works alongside public healthcare
• Real-world examples: From hernia clinics in Vienna to global medical options
• Who's buying private healthcare (spoiler: 50% are physicians themselves)
• Addressing concerns about healthcare equality and access
• The difference between creating inequality vs. leveling the playing field

Whether you're frustrated with wait times, curious about your options, or wondering how private healthcare fits into Canada's universal system, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and open your eyes to possibilities you may not have known existed.

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Guests:

• Ingrid Gahsner- Founder, IMI Canada
• Dr. Raymond Rupert, MD MBA - Founder and CEO | RCM Health Consultancy and Healtheon

Key Takeaways:

• Canada already operates a two-tier healthcare system through employer benefits and private options
• Private medical insurance is available to everyone, not just the wealthy
• 50% of private healthcare insurance buyers are physicians
• The system works like any other insurance claim process
• Private options can actually reduce public system wait times by moving people out of queues

Resources Mentioned:

• IMI Canada: www.imicanada.co
• RCM Health: www.rcmhealth.ca

Contact Information:

• Ingrid Gahsner (IMI Canada): imicanada.co | LinkedIn
• Dr. Rupert (RCM Health | Healtheon): rcmhealth.ca | healtheon.ca