For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, public health care insurance is available through a health care system called Canadian Medicare in Canada. This is a decentralized health care system that is administered by 13 provinces and territories. Each has its insurance plan, and thus, the benefits will vary accordingly. It means that a health insurance plan in your province may not cater to your needs, and you may want to purchase additional insurance to protect yourself. In Canada, about two-thirds of people purchase private health insurance.