“Some Canadians might assume that in those provinces that assess them, employer health taxes and contributions cover the cost of health care,” the study said. “The reality is that these premiums cover just a fraction of the cost of health care and are paid into general revenue from which health care is funded.”
People who bear the brunt of the tax burden are the top 10 percent income earners who are estimated to pay $41,916 for public health care in 2021. Those whose income averages $75,300 will pay $6,521, whereas the lowest income earners will pay an average of $726.
The study also observed that from 1997 to 2021, the cost of health care insurance for the average Canadian family has risen substantially by 177.6 percent, outpacing average income at 109.9 percent over the same period by 1.6 times. At the same time, it increased 3.4 times faster than the cost of clothing, 2.2 times the cost of food, and 1.7 times the cost of shelter.
Barua said showing taxpayers how much they pay for health care and how the amount has increased over time will help them to “assess the value and performance of the health-care system, and whether it’s financially sustainable.”
“When people speak of ‘free’ health care in Canada, they are entirely ignoring the substantial taxpayer-funded cost of the system,” the study concluded.