Canadian health insurance is dramatically different. My provincial health card covers pretty much everything except drugs, dental, and optometry. Many drugs are partially covered too and have a small patient co-pay. Drugs in hospital are covered 100% as far as I know (I’ve been in the hospital a few times and have never gotten a bill for anything).

The last few times I can think of paying for anything other than glasses/contacts:

- $40 for a doctor visit and x-ray when I sprained my wrist and had forgotten to renew my health card. Reimbursed when I did renew.

- $25 for a month supply of bupropion (Zyban) for quitting smoking

- $9 for a bottle of Tylenol-3 after my knee surgery (completely covered otherwise)

Things that have been covered 100%:

- stitches when I got kicked in the head while tubing behind a boat

- stitches when I sliced my finger open with a knife (stupid kid stuff)

- appendectomy

- knee surgery #1 - meniscus cartilage tear when I was a kid, didn’t start acting up until my 20s. This included an MRI, a consult with a sports medicine surgeon, and the surgery

- knee surgery #2 - same knee, tore it up again 5 years later while skiing. Only cost here was optional physiotherapy afterwards, at $50/session.