Episode Details

Canada's healthcare system is under unprecedented strain, with thousands of people experiencing serious harm—or death—while waiting for diagnostic procedures, specialist care, or life-saving treatments. Despite public trust in the system, delays have become a hidden personal risk that most Canadians fail to plan for. As we age, delays in diagnosis and treatment don't just affect outcomes—they accelerate physical decline, cognitive stress, emotional exhaustion, and financial vulnerability. Loss of access means loss of control, which directly undermines resilience, independence, and healthspan.  Ingrid Gahsner approaches healthcare delays through the lens of risk management. Drawing on decades of client experience, she reframes access to care as a foundational planning issue—one that deserves the same attention as financial or retirement planning.You'll discover why healthcare delays must be treated as a real, quantifiable risk, what alternatives exist within Canada and internationally, and how healthcare access planning can reduce physical, emotional, and financial harm—without abandoning public healthcare values.
Ingrid Gahsner is a licensed Canadian risk management consultant with over 30 years of experience in insurance, corporate benefits, and compliance. She is the founder of IMI Canada Group Benefits and the author of Off the Wait List, helping Canadians protect their health, time, and financial security through proactive healthcare access planning.

Episode Timeline:
00:00 — Why healthcare wait lists threaten healthspan 
05:30 — What inspired Off the Wait List 
10:25 — Ethical and structural failures in Canadian healthcare 
16:20 — "Waiting isn't a strategy" explained 
18:45 — How d