Questions for the Canadians on this board.

[Superman]

Many of us Americans hear that the Canadian universal health program is very bad. When I hear this, however, it is always from conservatives trying to further their agenda on why universal health would be bad for the U.S. economy.

I would like to ask the Canadians on this forum what they think. Do you have good health care? It can't be much worse than the HMO's that we are forced to deal with.

Just for the record, I think that the health insurance companies here run the biggest rackets known to man. Insurance companies make millions from the populace and then they try to fight having to pay for legitimate medical procedures. It is sickening.

I am going on the record as saying that I would love to see the U.S. adopt universal health care. I think that the amount of people that actually die because of a lack of health insurance is a disgrace.

[Shinova]

I am going on the record as saying that I would love to see the U.S. adopt universal health care. I think that the amount of people that actually die because of a lack of health insurance is a disgrace.

I too dislike current HMOs, but adopting a universal health care system would raise taxes SUBSTANTIALLY, and for people like me, whose only health care expenditures are for contacts and glasses, this becomes kind of unfair.

I think government-funded health care is okay, but only for certain cases like intensive units, emergency operations, heavy-duty stuff like that, not things like routine checkups or stuff like going to the eye doctor or whatnot.

[Joe]

Don't get worked up over the product of national health care in America. It won't be happening any time soon. Shrillary managed to give the American public such a collective case of the willies about 10 years ago when she tried to nationalize a hefty chunk of the economy that no serious discussion of a national health care plan has really been raised since.

[Darth Wong]

Many of us Americans hear that the Canadian universal health program is very bad. When I hear this, however, it is always from conservatives trying to further their agenda on why universal health would be bad for the U.S. economy.

Most of what you've heard is bullshit. Some corrections:

1) We do NOT have to go to some government-selected doctor. We choose our doctors.

2) There are NOT huge long waiting lists to see a doctor. There are, however, certain expensive, specialized tests and treatments that are easier to get in the States than in Canada.

3) Doctors are NOT government employees. They bill the government health insurer for services rendered and run private practices, just as they do in the States. The difference is that the insurer WILL pay, and there's no paperwork for the patient to fill out.

The funny thing about American politicians using the Canadian system as a "we don't want to go there" scenario is that this is precisely the same thing Canadian politicians use the American health care system for.

I would like to ask the Canadians on this forum what they think. Do you have good health care? It can't be much worse than the HMO's that we are forced to deal with.

If I lose my job, I don't have to worry about whether Matthew or David would receive adequate health care if they ran into problems. If I develop some chronic illness, I don't have to stay with the same company for fear that a new company's health insurer won't put me on the plan because of a pre-existing condition. And when I check into a hospital, there is no fear in the back of my mind that the insurance company will fight the payment; everybody knows what OHIP covers (breast implants aren't, for example), and they WILL pay, with no lengthy fights or paperwork to fill out. Present the card and you're treated, no questions asked.

Just for the record, I think that the health insurance companies here run the biggest rackets known to man. Insurance companies make millions from the populace and then they try to fight having to pay for legitimate medical procedures. It is sickening.

I am going on the record as saying that I would love to see the U.S. adopt universal health care. I think that the amount of people that actually die
because of a lack of health insurance is a disgrace.

My mother sells Chinese herbs by mail-order. She gets most of her business (80%) from the States even though we're located in Canada, because Americans are cost-conscious about health care. They're always looking for a cheaper way to do things. Canadians don't worry about it; the system will pay.

This can be dangerous in its own way, but results outweigh theories: Canada's health care system doesn't cost any more per capita than America's medicare/medicaid system.

The big travesty about the American system is that the VAST majority of health care costs are created by the elderly and those on welfare, and guess who IS covered by Medicaid/Medicare? You're already paying most of the money already; why not extend it to cover the rest of the population? The only reason that makes any sense to me is that the politicians want to make sure the health insurers keep raking in the money from the portion of the populace that can afford to pay.

[Wicked Pilot]

I would go on to speculate that a contributing reason our health care system is fucked up is because of the damage done by lawyers and the outrageous damages they collect. Even frivilous suits that have no merit still cost the system as it is cheaper to settle than to defend. We can bitch about crooked insurance providers and HMOs all night, but even the good legitimate ones are getting ass raped by the suits too.

[Joe]

HMO's are government creatures, hardly a product of a free-market for health care. Another legacy of Richard "we're all Keynsians now" Nixon.

[Crown]

To everyone here; Go and watch Bowling for Columbine. Better yet visit the website and just veiw the introduction. For some reason the US government's priorities are somewhat scwed.

[Joe]

As much as I'd like to listen to another series of self-righteous rants from that shining bastion of intelligence, Michael Moore, I'll have to pass.

[Alex Moon]

As much as I'd like to listen to another series of self-righteous rants from that shining bastion of intelligence, Michael Moore, I'll have to pass.

My roommate had a friend in our room today, and she was talking about Michael Moore and how her boyfriend changed his point of view after seeing Bowling For Columbine. I was biting my lip by the time she left to keep from saying what I wanted to say.

[Darth Wong]

Yes, much easier to dismiss some of the facts raised by simply attacking the person who brings them to your attention

[TrailerParkJawa]

Well, I lost my job and thus my benefits. You can go Cobra to extend them for a year, but without a job I cant afford it. At least it is just me, some of the guys at work with families were expected to pay $300/month for Cobra.

I used to have Kaiser HMO, which is not know for high quality care, but I did not have to pay anything except for a co-payment on each visit. The big problem is you have to lie, just to be seen.

One day I had poison oak on my face and it was causing my eyes to swell shut. They would not see me, until my friend who was calling for me lied and said I was experiencing respritory problems. Once you get to a doctor they are pretty good. She got me on a steroid to reduce the swelling and I recovered far quicker than otherwise with greater comfort to boot.

[Enlightenment]

When I hear this, however, it is always from conservatives trying to further their agenda on why universal health would be bad for the U.S. economy.

Conservative propaganda is almost always diametrically opposed to reality. Canadian healthcare is nowhere near as bad as HMOs--speaking through their hired mouthpieces in the conservative horde--would like you to believe. The quality of care is largely acceptable except for things like prescription drugs, dental care, and eyeglasses, none of which are covered for most people.

In terms of economics, no matter how much the conservatives play with the numbers, the fact of the matter is that medicare/medicaid is the least efficient public health system in the G7. If the administration of services was brought up to the Canadian level of efficiency it would be possible to provide universal health care to the entire US population without spending any more money than the US government already spends (wastes) on medicare & medicaid.

[Stuart Mackey]

I am going on the record as saying that I would love to see the U.S. adopt universal health care. I think that the amount of people that actually die because of a lack of health insurance is a disgrace.

I too dislike current HMOs, but adopting a universal health care system would raise taxes SUBSTANTIALLY, and for people like me, whose only health care expenditures are for contacts and glasses, this becomes kind of unfair.

I think government-funded health care is okay, but only for certain cases like intensive units, emergency operations, heavy-duty stuff like that, not things like routine checkups or stuff like going to the eye doctor or whatnot.

New Zealands tax rate is not overly high, same or less than Americas I think, and we have universal heath care.

[His Divine Shadow]

Canada, the shining beacon of light and representative of all that is good in the world

[His Divine Shadow]

Finnish taxes are high compared to america, but we also have much more than universal health care.

[Mark S]

Well there isn't a long waiting list to SEE a doctor but I've been waiting a while now to get a family doctor. I blame that on all the doctors that leave Canada for the States because they can get paid more. Not that I can really blame them for that either.

Other than that, I think our Health Care's great!

[Mr Bean]

If the administration of services was brought up to the Canadian level of efficiency it would be possible to provide universal health care to the entire US population without spending any more money than the US government already spends (wastes) on medicare & medicaid.

Ahh yes 300% Efficancy thats should be very easy to achive?


No the Problems with American's Heath System expesnse are three-fold

1. Lawsuits, The Amount of Lawsuits in this Country conserning Malpratice are Redicious and have been driven that way by increably loose Law Language and rediciouls rewards in the Past leading to the Term "Jackpot Justice" and the fact that 61% of Lawsuits in American Today(Of any Kind, US Today Statistic 2001 ) are dissmissed as Friviolus, The Medical Percentage is ever higher rating at roughly 80% and this Drives up Heathcare costs somthing fierce thanks to the fact that Malpratice Insurance is THE single Biggest cost number under every Doctors and Hospitials Bottem line making them have to charge more across the board

2. Drugs, To be exact Drug Companys, Lenint Patent Courts and very pro-business Judges over the past Fourty Years mean that Teterqailian(sp? Anyway its use to help slow down Bone weaking such as in Older folks)

In America a two week Supply of Teterqailian costs nighty five dollers
In Canidia it costs fourty six dollers
In Mexico it costs thirty nine dollers
And its now illeagle to Import them into America at those Prices

Why are they so expesnive? Simple Folks can't be without it, They are charging the maxium they can get away with and no one will stop them

A famous cases was a HIV Treatment Medication that costs over one hundred and sevendy dollers in America, In South America a Company found a way of Producing enough of the Drug Supply for a month supply for... Seventy Cents.... When they tried to Import them to America the Company that made the Drug took them to Court and got a ban placed on the Important by that company
Meaning they get to kept selling it for that hundred and sevendy dollers while the South American Company sruged and started selling it to Canadia and Mexico for ten dollers for that month supply....

There are many many examples of how Redicilous Drug Prices have gotten in America and how the Courts have constiantly held the Companys side in the aurgments

3. The Existing Free-Heath Care
In the US if somone walks into a ER room with no Insurance, No Money, the Hospitial is legaly required to treat them to a point that they can get back out the door under there own power

While few people want to get rid of this Law, Most people relize that adds to the bottom line quite abit...

[Stuart Mackey]

If the administration of services was brought up to the Canadian level of efficiency it would be possible to provide universal health care to the entire US population without spending any more money than the US government already spends (wastes) on medicare & medicaid.

Ahh yes 300% Efficancy thats should be very easy to achive?


No the Problems with American's Heath System expesnse are three-fold


snip
2. Drugs, To be exact Drug Companys, Lenint Patent Courts and very pro-business Judges over the past Fourty Years mean that Teterqailian(sp? Anyway its use to help slow down Bone weaking such as in Older folks)

In America a two week Supply of Teterqailian costs nighty five dollers
In Canidia it costs fourty six dollers
In Mexico it costs thirty nine dollers
And its now illeagle to Import them into America at those Prices

Why are they so expesnive? Simple Folks can't be without it, They are charging the maxium they can get away with and no one will stop them

A famous cases was a HIV Treatment Medication that costs over one hundred and sevendy dollers in America, In South America a Company found a way of Producing enough of the Drug Supply for a month supply for... Seventy Cents.... When they tried to Import them to America the Company that made the Drug took them to Court and got a ban placed on the Important by that company
Meaning they get to kept selling it for that hundred and sevendy dollers while the South American Company sruged and started selling it to Canadia and Mexico for ten dollers for that month supply....

There are many many examples of how Redicilous Drug Prices have gotten in America and how the Courts have constiantly held the Companys side in the aurgments

snip

Sounds like leagalsied price fixing.