Does Paul Martin's Doctor Provide Two-Tier Healthcare?

Two weeks ago, Canadians learned that Paul Martin frequents a Montreal based private healthcare provider.

It appears, however, that Medisys -- Martin's clinic -- not only provides private medical services, but may be exploiting a Medicare loophole allowing it to practice outright two-tier healthcare.

Martin claims that his own treatments at Medisys are all covered under Medicare; however, many patients may not be so lucky. Here's how it works.

Medisys offers expensive executive healthcare plans covering wellness, prevention and diagnostics -- services not considered "essential" in some provinces.

As we've learned from the Prime Minister's case, Medisys also provides services that are covered under Medicare. Medisys even bills itself as a "one-stop location for all [your] medical needs".

Presumably, regular people can't just walk into Medisys with their health card expecting to get a family doctor. However, wealthy people, who can afford expensive private health plans, are apparently getting access to Medisys' lavish facilities for their essential, Medicare services -- services that are supposed to be delivered universally.

If Medisys does indeed offer the "one-stop" services it's webpage claims, it would constitute a two-tier healthcare provider, closed to those who can't afford it -- unless, of course, they're the Prime Minister.

Let's call it 'up front' user fees.

Medisys did not reply to email seeking clarification of their service structure.