It's not like that, health care is often 'managed' by the insurer themselves - they have little interest in performing unnecessary procedures and a lot of interest in preventative intervention and early treatments as these are money savers for them in the long run.
Many have a misconception that it's like the model used by dentists in Ontario (who use software to figure out the maximum amount of milk they can suck from the insurers teat.). It's not.
I knew an American who admitted to riding over-zealously which put him severely injured into an American ditch. He was air lifted to a hospital where he was treated and advised of the loving care he was going to get, the post op care, recovery and physio. His parents drove probably 700 miles to get to the hospital because one was on meds that made flying a no-no.
They arrived just as the hospital found out the guy didn't have insurance. He could stand so the hospital declared him healed and released him to his parents who had just checked into a motel across the street. A friend twisted the hospital's arm to give them a wheelchair. The guy, with broken bones everywhere, had to endure a 700 mile drive back to his parents place in a SUV and they had to take care of him. Recovery without physio is not a good plan.
Case 2) On another forum a well known and helpful member wanted the thoughts of others. He was IT but lost his job and medical coverage. Tests at the free hospital said he had cancer but they didn't have the equipment to say exactly what version. For that he would have to go to a for-profit facility that wanted $10,000.
His question was should he gamble the $10 K in hopes of a cure but risk leaving his wife with a bigger mortgage if the results were unfavourable.
We raised $15 K for him. He got the tests and it turned out the cancer was treatable and the state would pay for the meds. He walked out of the hospital with a bag of pills worth more than his Goldwing.
The hospital sent him a bill for around $10 K. He ignored it and the reminders until the hospital sent a final notice that they would accept $4 K. If they didn't get that it would go into collections. Then he paid the bill.
IMO OHIP has no accountability. I have no idea of what my medical visits cost OHIP and no doctor has ever indicated that they know. I guess everything is free. Contractors build hospitals for free. 3M and Siemens donate CT equipment, X-ray stuff for free. Hospitals don't pay wages or for electrical power etc. Food is free. Nurses and cleaners are volunteers.
In any other organization the recipient of goods or services starts a paper chain so the guy that writes the cheque to pay for them can relate the goods and services to the cheque amount. "Mad Mike, you submitted an expense report indicating you bought $90 worth of gas for a company vehicle. Yes / No" Cheque approved.
It doesn't go "Someone sent us a bill for something. Let's pay it." I wonder how many people can relate to the waste when they think "Free". You tend to be more careful with stuff you have to pay for or at least (Hopefully) when you know its value.
A pipe dream would be every OHIP covered person gets a year end statement:
Dear OHIP member, During the last 12 months the following amounts have been logged against your account
Date. Procedure Cost
XX
XX
......................... Total $ XYZ
You have contributed YZ and other taxpayers paid the rest.
We suggest you go on a diet, stop drinking and smoking.
Get vaxxed and wear a mask.
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