In December 1966, a very important factor was put in place, which very quickly had a positive impact on our country, Canada. It was a very defining event and creation for Canada, and it was actually the most defining moment for Canada, the creation of medicare. It helps everyone across Canada, including the poor, those living in poverty, the average citizen and our veterans. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayThe first reason why Medicare was a defining moment for Canada is because 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 in Canada, at stores like Costco and Shoppers Drug Mart, are 6% cheaper than those sold in the San Francisco Bay Area in the United States. This significant comparison proves that very few programs will benefit citizens as much as Medicare. Being able to afford the medications that people need will really help them buy them. Medicare also helps increase life expectancy. When Canadian citizens have access to more affordable health care, including the medications and services they need, life expectancy increases. Being able to receive the services needed to treat different types of illnesses is guaranteed to increase life expectancy rates in Canada. Medicare also helps people spend money on other priorities, like schooling, bills, and other daily investments. The elderly poverty rate fell from 30% to 10% a few years after Medicare was implemented (Lankford K, 2017). When families and other individuals have access to Medicare, they have confidence that they can provide for themselves, with little or no worry. In 1955, less than 50% of Canadians had health insurance, which cost about $80 at the time. This was a cost the poor could not afford. Medicare gives everyone the help they need and has reduced poverty levels. Second, Medicare ensures equality among all individuals in Canada. Before the 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 health care system in ways that make patients increasingly equal. Certain types of people were overlooked in services, because they were not seen as a priority or because they did not have enough money. Medicare gave every Canadian the health services they deserved. The creation of universal healthcare also ensured that everyone was treated equally, without any influencing factors like being rich or poor. Before Medicare, doctors could choose which patients they saw and treated first. Normally, the rich would be treated first, because they would pay the most. Medicare has done a very good job of keeping everyone equal and fair since 1966. Finally, Medicare helps veterans by providing them with the medical services they need after they return home. He gave soldiers access.