System attractive to businesses and organizations of all sizes.

Most Canadians feel that two-tier health care is now a reality in this country.

But the president of Canada's first private health insurance company believes that ship has already sailed.

According to Jim Viccars of Acure Health Corp., Canada effectively employs a multi-tier system, based on how easy it is for you to access the best diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Jim Viccars, president of Acure Health Corp., left, and Jim Irwin, VP of business development.

"Yes, it is a multi-tier system," reiterates Viccars. "And rural Westerners are right on the bottom tier."

Acure Health Corp. was created to serve those Westerners and others who languish on seemingly endless wait lists for such essential treatments and diagnostic services as heart bypasses and valve repair, hip replacements, slipped discs, prostate surgery, MRI and CT scans and dozens of others.

"Wait lists are packed with people from small communities who must come to a major centre to get an appointment with a specialist," Viccars says. "If they require surgery, they also have to come to a large city to have their surgery or specialized diagnoses. I'm told the No. 1 users of private MRI services are farmers."

With a distribution system now in place throughout B.C. and Alberta, Acure Health Corp. was created with just such people in mind - those poorly served by an overworked and under-performing public health-care system.

After eight years of careful planning, Acure has introduced its Medical Access Insurance (MAI) program as a badly needed supplement - not an alternative - to the public system. There's no question the existing system provides admirable primary care, accident and emergency treatment, maternity and childcare and treatment for chronic conditions such as cancer. Unfortunately, due to enormous pressures on the system, some operations and conditions are subject to long waiting lists. Despite the best intentions of government and the health-care bureaucracy, these lists continue to grow.

A seasoned and well-rounded insurance professional, Viccars and his expert team have created an alternative group insurance program available to businesses, business associations and professional organizations with a minimum of two employees. Reasonable premiums make MAI an attractive option for organizations of all sizes.

So far, the response has been enthusiastic, to say the least.

This is definitely an idea whose time has come.

Closely patterned upon successful programs in the United Kingdom and Australia, Medical Access Insurance was designed for people who don't wish to put their active lives on hold while they endure an excruciatingly lengthy wait for treatment.

Here's how it works. Policy holders who find themselves in trouble - an acute heart problem, for example - are taken off the public wait lists and whisked away immediately for treatment in private facilities.

Instead of waiting as long as a year to see a certified cardiologist, you receive prompt attention.

The same applies if specialized treatment - such as surgery or angioplasty - is called for.

"There is cause for some alarm among Canadians. We're not getting the quality treatment we deserve," asserts Viccars, referring to national rankings published by the World Health Organization that place Canada 30th among global public health-care systems.

By contrast, the U.K. (18th) and Australia (11th) have climbed up the rankings since introducing private health-insurance plans.

Under terms of the policy, clients need only to have been placed on a wait list longer than 45 days to register a claim.

"That's when your insurance kicks in. Once that has happened, we'll have you serviced in weeks, rather than months or years," pledges Viccars. "You're taken out of the line and a medical file review is expedited. A treatment protocol is then set up, giving you your choice of facilities and your choice of physicians."

Unlike some medical insurance programs, eligibility for MAI is virtually unrestricted. No medical exam is required.

Policy-holders with a history of heart trouble, for example, are allowed full coverage for every other contingency for a period of two years, cardiac problems excepted. HOWEVER, after the completion of that preliminary two-year term, any future flareups of your heart condition will be included in your coverage.

"That's a tremendous advantage. Frankly, I've never heard of an insurance plan with such generous terms," Viccars said.

No deductibles, either. And no co-payments. You're 100 per cent covered, including approved travel expenses and companion travel expenses.

There's really no reason to delay. Inquire about protection for your corporation, organization or professional group today. And get well sooner.

For information, visit the Acure Health Corp. website (www.acurehealth.com) or phone 403.539.5797. Or e-mail Viccars at jviccars@acurehealth.com.