Ontario finally does something about Hospital Parking

[Boges]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hospital-parking-ontario-1.3408477

The Ontario government is freezing the price of parking at all the province's hospitals and forcing every hospital that charges more than $10 a day to offer discounts for longer-term users.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins made the announcement during a news conference Monday at Women's College Hospital in Toronto.

"We believe that parking fees should not be a barrier to health care," Hoskins said. "This announcement will make a difference for those who regularly visit our hospitals."

Effective immediately, parking rates at all hospitals in Ontario are frozenfor next three years, and after that, price increases can be no more than the rate of inflation. Hoskins said

Starting Oct. 1, all hospitals with a parking rate of more than $10 per day must offer five-day, 10-day and 30-day passes at a 50 per cent discount off the daily rate, with full in-and-out privileges.

For a system that's supposed to be inclusive it's kind of ridiculous that you'd have to pay to park.

I don't understand why Ontario can't treat each hospital differently though. In a market, like Downtown Toronto, where parking is at a premium $10 a day is a steal. You could see people purposely parking at downtown hospitals for a cheaper rate as opposed to a Green P spot.

But in suburbs where Hospitals are surrounded by strip malls that offer free parking the idea of charging for pretty absurd.

The cost of healthcare is becoming quite unaffordable for provincial governments. You have to wonder what "service" disruptions hospitals will blame this move to curb the hospital costs on.

[bush_cheney2004]

...For a system that's supposed to be inclusive it's kind of ridiculous that you'd have to pay to park.

Why ? Should the government pay for the gas to drive to and from hospital as well ?

[Boges]

Why ? Should the government pay for the gas to drive to and from hospital as well ?

Well there are ambulances right?

You have these Rural and Suburban hospitals where parking is free everywhere else but not at the Hospital, it's extortion. These are places where you can only get around in a car.

[bush_cheney2004]

Extortion ? Parking in the city is more scarce and the market prices it accordingly.

Hospitals in my area validate parking when they feel like it, just like any other business.

What's so special about a hospital in Ontario ? Isn't paying a lot more the Wynne Way ?

Edited January 18, 2016 by bush_cheney2004

[Boges]

Parking in the city is more scarce and the market prices it accordingly.

It isn't though. In the City of Mississauga there's a hospital directly across the street from a very large shopping mall where all the parking is free.

So shoppers can park for free but sick people, you gotta pay because . . . free market! That seems like the opposite of the free market.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Boges

[bush_cheney2004]

It isn't though. In the City of Mississauga there's a hospital directly across the street from a very large shopping mall where all the parking is free.

So shoppers can park for free but sick people, you gotta pay because . . . free market! That seems like the opposite of the free market.

Then just do what other people do...park at the mall and walk/roll to the hospital. Problem solved !

[Boges]

Then just do what other people do...park at the mall and walk/roll to the hospital. Problem solved !

That's what many do. But you could be subject to ticketing as you aren't shopping at the mall.

The same works the other way. If Hospital parking rates are capped, then you could see people using hospital parking in a large city instead of valet or public parking at nearby businesses who can charge more because the market demands it.

[bush_cheney2004]

That's what many do. But you could be subject to ticketing as you aren't shopping at the mall.

So what ? If the ticket is less than ramp parking, do the math. Parking is a service subject to several supply and demand factors.

Example: hospital parking ramp prices triple for a sporting event....NFL games are the highest.

Access to health care is not access to free parking.

Edited January 18, 2016 by bush_cheney2004

[Boges]

So what ? If the ticket is less than ramp parking, do the math. Parking is a service subject to several supply and demand factors.

Example: hospital parking ramp prices triple for a sporting event....NFL games are the highest.

Access to health care is not access to free parking.

Not in good ole Canada. There's no competing hospital to go to.

Well in this instance the Ontario government has responded by not allowing hospitals to gouge people. So that's good.

[bush_cheney2004]

Not in good ole Canada. There's no competing hospital to go to.

Well in this instance the Ontario government has responded by not allowing hospitals to gouge people. So that's good.

If the price of parking is the big complaint for hospitals in Ontario, then things can't be that bad overall.

Not gouging people is an entirely different idea than free/government paid hospital parking.

[Boges]

If the price of parking is the big complaint for hospitals in Ontario, then things can't be that bad overall.

It can be very expensive to constantly be going to see doctors, especially the system we have were you're constantly being referred from one specialist to another.

Do private American healthy insurance plans cover things like parking?

Not gouging people is an entirely different idea than free/government paid hospital parking.

If you read the story, they aren't proposing "free" parking. Just capping rates and allowing people to receive lowered rates if they see themselves visiting the hospital often for a period of time.

[PIK]

My town is free for the 1st 20 minutes. A dollar for a hr, 2 bucks for 2 and 5 bucks for all day. And parking is not the big complaint, just a easy fix to make the government look like it is doing something. Smoke and mirrors.

Edited January 18, 2016 by PIK

[segnosaur]

It isn't though. In the City of Mississauga there's a hospital directly across the street from a very large shopping mall where all the parking is free.

I'm in Ottawa. There are ~4 main hospitals here (depending on how you count what a hospital is). None of them are across from a shopping mall. Many may have limited on-street parking near, but its typically pretty limited.

So shoppers can park for free but sick people, you gotta pay because . . . free market! That seems like the opposite of the free market.

Well, the shopping mall offers the parking with the idea that people will spend money at the mall, which provides the income to maintain the parking lot.

Hospitals have a different pricing dynamic... you usually don't have a choice of which hospital to go to, and the hospitals do not strickly operate on a profit motive, so there is no incentive for them to offer free parking to entice patients to visit.

One thing that should be noted: While I'm sure it will seem like a big cost saving for people if parking costs are limited, ultimately it is probably of little or no financial benefit. Money collected for parking fees would go to support the hospital; without those fees, they will require more support through government support. So you don't pay for parking, you just pay more through taxes.

[segnosaur]

And parking is not the big complaint, just a easy fix to make the government look like it is doing something. Smoke and mirrors.

Exactly.

With all the scandals by the provincial government and overall economic mismanagement, they probably think they can get on people's good side by giving people a small break on parking, a rather visible expense for some people.

[bush_cheney2004]

...If you read the story, they aren't proposing "free" parking. Just capping rates and allowing people to receive lowered rates if they see themselves visiting the hospital often for a period of time.

Is Wynne going to allow people to get lower "hydro" bills if they use a lot of electricity ? See the parallel ?

[scribblet]

Parking at Toronto Sunnybrook is $24.00 a day, don't think that includes evenings. It's extortion, but they just rent out the lot to another organization which charges the exorbitant rates.

[Moonlight Graham]

100% agree with your OP Boges. Good job.

[Topaz]

I've been told that one can deduce the expenses of visiting a hospital for treatment off one's income tax, just keep a record of gas used, meals and mileage plus parking.

[Bob Macadoo]

Parking at Toronto Sunnybrook is $24.00 a day, don't think that includes evenings. It's extortion, but they just rent out the lot to another organization which charges the exorbitant rates.

I don't have a problem with that.....hospital infrastructure doesn't maintain itself....pay now or pay later. I do applaud the initiative of a multi-day pass at a discount but the difference should be subsidized by gov't. You can't limit hospital non-procedure funding and expect champagne and cold powdered eggs for breakfast.....