What can anyone share with me re: Canadian Healthcare vs. U.S> Healthcare?

I had a conversation with a chimp voter who said the Canadian healthcare system sucks.

I am wondering what the pros and cons are versus the U.S. system?

Quality
cost
coverage
waiting periods... etc.

It's always worked very well for me, except the time I broke my collarbone. But that was hardly the fault of the system.

All I really know is that if I break my hand, I go to the hospital, wait a little bit, get fixed up and show my health card to the nurse, who takes down the number and thanks me pleasantly. No bill comes in the mail, and at tax time I'm happy to pay. Also, they saved my life when I was a little baby, so I have no complaints about competence.

Others may have a different perspective, but like I said, works for me.

but from what I have read its main strength is cost. The Canadians save money by eliminating individual insurance companies. You pay the government for the insurance but you choose your own doctors.

That aren't funded by the Cato institute, the for profit US insurance industry, or the for profit hospitals. Here's one.

http://johncoleman.typepad.com/ex_nihilo/2004/08/mercedes_canadi.html

Their conservatives are howling about "maybes" and "mights" the way the US variety is now shrieking about Social Security. The fact is that both systems are solvent for the foreseeable future.

The Canadian system is superior to that in the UK for one reason: the system is for everyone. The only way their rich people can opt out of it is to seek healthcare for pay outside the country. Since rich people don't like to wait in line with ordinary mortals, many do. In the UK, the rich and upper middle class have been able to opt out, and as a consequence, the basic healthcare package for people of ordinary means is chronically underfunded.

Canadians do get to choose their own doctors and participate in their own treatment. Yes, they may wait a little longer for elective procedures, but anything that needs attention promptly is dealt with promptly.

One thing every Canadian nurse I've ever worked with has told me, "If I get really sick, just put me on a plane for Canada." These were nurses with US health insurance!

That should tell you volumes of information right there.

(Note: the US is one of only two countries in the developed world that do not provide national health insurance, the other is South Africa, and how developed are THEY????. You're known by the company you keep)

Lots of good links in them also.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1131785

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=960398

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1488398

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=639120

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1942277

system is MORE costly per capita than Canada's universal health care.

I have no bad anecdotes from friends and family. Coverage is universal,but there is a deductible to pay for drugs (not sure what that is). You can go into a hospital with a broken leg,give your healthcard,and when you get released you don't owe a dime.

Tommy Douglas introduced medicare so the poor are provided for and the middle class are not financially ruined. It works pretty good.

The fact that everyone is insured in Canada saves a *fortune*
in emergency room costs --- in the US there is a tremendous drain
on the system by people who are not covered and go in to get emergency
care, then default on paying for it (no surprise, when you see the
immense amounts it costs). When I lived in Canada, the coverage seemed
to be good. Down here, on the other hand, my coverage (BC/BS/MM)
is not good at all, and expensive as hell, both for me and my employer.

each country's GDP, than the US. Every citizen is covered, those under a certain income receive it free, those like myself pay around $56.00 a month.

My own experience is thus:

I was visiting another province when I was in a car accident, I did not need an ambulance and was able to go to emergency on my own. I waited less than one half hour, I was then examined, ex-rayed, a cast put on my wrist.

I then flew back home, made an appointment with my own doctor, met him at the hospital, he examined me and told me to come back in 10 days for another ex-ray. I returned in 10 days, was ex-rayed, the cast removed and I received a clean bill of health.

Total cost, over and above my monthly cost of $56.00 was $0.00.

I have found our health system to be good, could be improved some but I definitely support our system over the US one. We can choose our physician, there is no HMO involved.

It only takes a referral from my physician for me to get in to see a specialist, again no HMO involved to decide whether I should get that extra care or not.

Edited to add: Link to all you need to know about our system

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/care/index.html

for responding. It is very informative. I appreciate it.

Could a US citizen take a short trip to Canada and use their system?

Not sure though, and you may have to pay more than a citizen, at least till you become one!

I think in Ontario, you have to be resident for 6 months (it might only be 3, but I think it's 6)

surgery done. Probably not emergency surgery. But could really have been anything at all beyond trauma. The costs out of pocket are much better there. In fact, the more people go to India for surgery (if they are not covered) the more prices in the US may come down.

I do know that health care is one of those funny quirks where the market efficiencies actually work different than in a market for say fruit. Because prevention is so important in keeping costs down...the socialist system actually is more efficient & equitable. It is better at delivering both.

That said - there are some specialists and clinics that Canadian hospitals cannot compete with but new & successful techniques quickly get passed on and are available in Canada. There is a slowdown with MRI machines (they are so expensive & expensive to run the government purposely only has a few). But that is where they are allowing private clinics. If you let the rich pay for such a procedure then there are less people in line at the government one.

But yes - all people are under the same exact treatment for all but the fewest things. And it makes a great big difference in terms of universal support for the system. We also have much fewer bankrupsies because of our system. And better preventive health care. Infant health is much better as you could well imagine. And all the emergency rooms are orderly and slow (if you are not an emergency). But they encourage people to go to private clinics that are open at night (private just means that it is not a government run clinic - you still pay nothing).

And yes medical costs are kept down because the government sets a price for a 15 minute consultation, $16 for a shot, and on and on. And no longer any extra billing. So the only way a doctor can make extra, extra money is to be a specialist or to have long hours.

There are shortages but that is really your fault USA with your throwing the money at the doctors & all. Many health professionals go to the USA, get a load of how harsh the system is, turn around and come back. AND THOSE ARE THE PERSONALITY TYPES WE WANT TO KEEP - THE ASSHOLES YOU CAN KEEP!

Over the course of my life, I've had two surgeries, several rounds of physiotherapy (for a bad back and also a bad ankle injury), 3 or 4 CT scans, numerous x-rays, 6 colonoscopies and literally thousands of doctors appointments (starting at a young age due to juvenile arthritis). The doctor appointments include visits to specialists. This is in the span of 45 years. I have a great family doctor, he'll order a ton of tests to be sure he can determine exactly what is the cause of your health problems, so long as the test isn't an invasive procedure. Those he orders only if he thinks it's absolutely necessary to come to a correct diagnosis.

I go in, get my treatment, surgery, whatever and walk back out. All I need is my health card. Last year, the Ontario government imposed a health tax which is paid according to taxable income. My cost will be between $300 & $400 for the year.

Annual flu shots are free here for any who wish to get one.

All in all, the system has worked extremely well for me and my family.

about 2 Detroit orthopedic surgeons who were trying to lure Canadians who needed surgery down their way. The article stated that - get this - the surgery in Canada cost $500 (which is of course covered) and the SAME surgery in the US costs $3800.

:wow:

It was in the Windsor paper. As it was on Canada.com, it wasn't archived. :eyes:

I've had a lot of dealings with the system as I have a chronic illness, and yes, the waiting times for specialists can be a few months...however, mine wasn't life threatening, and one can be put on a cancellation list and often get in sooner.

When my mum became ill, she was well looked after until the very end.

I'd be living on the streets if I were in the States. The costs of all the tests I've been through would have bankrupted me, I'm sure.

I agree, that it's a great system; we do need more cash into it, however.

The system does need more money, which is why I don't begrudge the tax that the Ontario gov't put in last year.

I've audited a hospital for several years; the system definitely needs more cash.

:hi:

A lot of our clients are american hospitals.
I talk to everyday American's regularly about healthcare and I'm amazed by some of the stories I hear.
It's a little unfathomable to alot of us Canadians that healthcare is considered as a commidity in the US.
I get sick, I call my doctor and pay a visit.
Our public medicare picks up the tab and I pay taxes to support the system.
I'm glad stockholders and the like are kept out of the equation.

I've had some minor illness. I go to the walk-in clinic just down the road, sign in, give my Alberta health care card. Within about 30 minutes (depending upon the time of day), I get expert attention. At no cost (well, except for my taxes). The main thing here is that whenever it's been serious, I've never had to worry about cost. And I have had some very critical illnesses. Which, to be frank, if I lived in the states, probably would have bankrupted me. As well, at one time I had to have a VERY large fallopian tumour removed. I had just started my job so I had no sick time. But, the government stepped in and paid for my rent, flew my mum out to look after me and paid me an amount for my recovery period so I could live with dignity. As well, there was no charge for my emergency visits and my actual surgery. Well, there was a minimal cost of $32/month. However, the only reason I had to pay that large amount was because of how much I made. As it was, in the next taxation year, I didn't have to pay any medical premiums. Oh, by the way, did I mention that I got additional coverage by my employer. It cost me a whole $9 a month on a $35,000/yr income. It covered all my prescription drugs, dental, eye care and alternative treatments (i.e. massage therapy, chiropractor).

1.You have to wait a really long time - Of course it seems like you do in the US also at least in the ER.

2.US has better quality because of the "free market" - Though from what I've read Canadian health care is better, since their hospitals don't have to worry about keeping costs low. ( people are getting preventable infections in US hospitals )

3. I remember hearing Limpballs say that Canandians are going to the US for their health care because the US is better, of course most everything he says is either a lie or a distortion.

and finally...

4. Socialized medicine is Communist, dammit! You don't want to be a commie pinko do ya! Or It means more taxes! Oh no!