title: The political culture of healthcare: why substantial dental care in Canada is covered by government insurance only in Québec - lessons for the United States?
abstract: This opinion paper explains the unique and favourable terms of dental health insurance coverage available to residents (both permanent and temporary) of the Province of Québec, Canada. In comparison, the United States and British Canada are the poor stepchildren of government-mediated provision of dental health coverage. The differences in dental healthcare provision between these regions are a question of culture - more specifically, of differing socio-political cultures and different perspectives on the importance of dental care. Lawmakers in the United States can learn from this policy of government-administered dental insurance that appears to work well in Québec.
authors.affiliation: Dade County Dental Research Clinic/Community Smiles, Miami, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Flaer
authors.forename: M Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Younis
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Hajeri
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005380:Financing, Government; D005602:France; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000191:economics*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011792:Quebec; D013219:State Government; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States