In December of 1966, a very important factor was put into place, which very quickly had a positive impact on our country, Canada. It was a very impactful event and creation for Canada, and it was, in fact, the most defining moment for Canada, the creation of Medicare. Help everyone in Canada, including the poor, those living in poverty, the average citizen, as well as our veterans. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first reason why Medicare was Canada's defining moment is that Medicare helps reduce the number of people living in poverty in Canada. Prescription drugs sold in Canada are significantly cheaper and more reasonably priced than prescription drugs sold outside the country. One study found that prescription drugs sold within Canada, at stores like Costco and Shoppers Drug Mart, are 6 percent cheaper than those found in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. This significant comparison demonstrates that very few programs will benefit citizens as much as Medicare. Being able to afford the drugs that people need will really help people buy them. Medicare also helps increase life expectancy. When Canadian citizens gain access to more affordable healthcare, including the medicines and services they need, life expectancy increases. Being able to receive the services needed to treat different types of conditions ensures an increase in the life expectancy rate in Canada. Medicare also helps people put money toward other priorities such as education, bills, and other everyday investments. Seniors in poverty went from 30% to 10% within several years of Medicare's introduction (Lankford K, 2017). When families and other individuals have access to Medicare, they have the confidence that they can support themselves, with little to no worries. In 1955, less than 50% of Canadians had medical insurance, which at the time cost about $80. This was a cost that the poor could not afford. Medicare gives everyone the help they need and has reduced poverty levels. Subsequently, Medicare brings equality among every individual in Canada. Before creation, doctors had the ability to charge whatever they wanted for the services they provided to patients, so many people were overcharged. Medicare has denied doctors across Canada the power to decide costs and is now a better system. Medicare has also improved the healthcare system to make patients more equal. Some types of people were overlooked by services, because they were not seen as a priority, or because they did not have enough money. Medicare gave every single Canadian the healthcare services they deserved. The creation of universal healthcare also ensured that everyone was treated equally, without any influencing factors such as being rich or poor. Before Medicare, doctors could choose which patients they saw and treated first. Normally, the rich would be treated first, as they would pay the most. Medicare has done a great job of keeping everyone equal and fair since 1966. Finally, Medicare helps veterans with the medical services they need after they return home. It gave soldiers access to the health services they needed, to treat any medical condition they had. Tuberculosis was a very serious disease that spread after the war, 3,123 veterans had come home to Canada with it and they all had to be treated for.