Canadian Health Care

[Shea69]

Hello everyone. I am an American, and I used to live in the Seattle area and I would often visit British Columbia. B.C. is a gorgeous place and the people there are very friendly and pleasant.

I would like to comprehend a bit more about your health care system. As many of you are aware, we here in the states have great medical facilities and doctors but we have a very poor health care system. Whenever someone suggests a national health care plan- there are Americans who get upset and some of those Americans compare a national health care system to that of yours in Canada.

What I persistently hear from my friends and (by members of the Republican Party) is that they "know" a Canadian and Canadians are unable to get serious health care/surgeries in Canada thus, Canadians come to the states for treatment. The other negative I hear about the Canadian health care system is that you have to wait a long time for a procedure or it takes a long time to see your primary physician for a routine doctor visit.

Please enligiten me to these comments about your Canadian health care system. Are my friends and the Republicans full of "bulls***" or are there some concerns with your health care system?

I very much appreciate and I look forward to your responses.

Shea69

 

[karrie]

Canada runs into major troubles due to the spread out nature of our population. Small towns, long distance apart. We also have troubles getting doctors to move into less rural areas, and can't compete with some of the American wages for specialists. Those are issues the US likely wouldn't face, and wouldn't necessarily be solved if we were to privatize our system.

Another thing to consider is that Americans do come to Canada and other countries as well for specialized medical treatment, just as Canadians sometimes travel for theirs.

 

[AnnaG]

Wait Times in Canada - Health Care System

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/product_files/WaitingYourTurn2008.pdf

CTV.ca | Critical medical staff shortage in Canada: panel

Rural communities face doctor shortage: Where are Canada's country doctors? | The Review

Hospital-acquired Infections - Are They Avoidable?

Superbugs: 8,000 Canadians die from hospital-acquired infections each year - Posted


MRSA Infection : Rates of hospital-acquired infection rising in Canada

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Shea, we could argue back and forth as to the merits of the two system, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Canada spends a lot less on health care (per capita) than Americans, has higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality than Americans. For a lot less money, Canadian health care system manages to achieve better results than American health care system.

We could trade horror stories back and forth (and I am sure there are plenty on both sides), but that doesn’t really settle anything. Stand back and look at overall picture, Canadian system is clearly superior to the American system.

 

[Colpy]

Hello everyone. I am an American, and I used to live in the Seattle area and I would often visit British Columbia. B.C. is a gorgeous place and the people there are very friendly and pleasant.

I would like to comprehend a bit more about your health care system. As many of you are aware, we here in the states have great medical facilities and doctors but we have a very poor health care system. Whenever someone suggests a national health care plan- there are Americans who get upset and some of those Americans compare a national health care system to that of yours in Canada.

What I persistently hear from my friends and (by members of the Republican Party) is that they "know" a Canadian and Canadians are unable to get serious health care/surgeries in Canada thus, Canadians come to the states for treatment. The other negative I hear about the Canadian health care system is that you have to wait a long time for a procedure or it takes a long time to see your primary physician for a routine doctor visit.

Please enligiten me to these comments about your Canadian health care system. Are my friends and the Republicans full of "bulls***" or are there some concerns with your health care system?

I very much appreciate and I look forward to your responses.

Shea69

On March 24, 2007 I had a heart attack, was taken to hospital by ambulance......I was in hospital for about 3 weeks, and had a quadruple bypass operation performed by a very good surgeon.

In July of the same year, I had laser surgery done on cataracts in my right eye.

I have no medical insurance. This all cost me not a penny. Free. Gratis. And high quality.

The down side of Canadian health care is that it is very difficult in my province to get a family doctor, and when you have a doctor, it is difficult to get in to see him. To see a specialist often takes 6 months....because the province will not hire more doctors.

As well, some surgeries for non-life threatening (but extremely unpleasant) conditions have a long long waiting list....(ex hip replacement)

So there is truth in both sides of the argument.........it is not a black or white issue....

 

[Tonington]

But, you'll never have to worry about pre-existing conditions, or the possibility of a bankruptcy. That's a huge plus.

 

[CDNBear]

But, you'll never have to worry about pre-existing conditions, or the possibility of a bankruptcy. That's a huge plus.

Ton, the volume of that statement, was deafening.

Spot on!!!

 

[petros]

The only people who complain are hypochondriacs who bog down the system for the rest of us.

ER and GP waiting rooms are full of abusers with stubbed toe & runny noses. Stay home and let your body do what living bodies have done for hundreds of millions of years before doctors.

That is about my only complaint about the status of healthcare in Canada

 

[Tonington]

Ton, the volume of that statement, was deafening.

Spot on!!!

It's not often I can do that without a zillion words! Brevity is not really my thing...unless it's a lab report. :lol:

 

[AnnaG]

Shea, we could argue back and forth as to the merits of the two system, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Canada spends a lot less on health care (per capita) than Americans, has higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality than Americans. For a lot less money, Canadian health care system manages to achieve better results than American health care system.

We could trade horror stories back and forth (and I am sure there are plenty on both sides), but that doesn’t really settle anything. Stand back and look at overall picture, Canadian system is clearly superior to the American system.

According to the WHO, yes, it is .... barely. 30th in the world as opposed to 37th.

 

[AnnaG]

The best thing to do is stay healthy. Then you can avoid the system altogether.

 

[Liberalman]

A simple answer for a simple American

You pay No Money out of your pocket because it comes out of your taxes.

This means government healthcare cannot be Gouged by the private healthcare companies like they are doing to ordinary Americans.

The American people Wins and Wins and Wins.

 

[YukonJack]

Life expectancy is not a measure for quality of life.

Now that I am seventy, I realize that it is more important to add life to my years than years to my life.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Life expectancy is not a measure for quality of life.

Now that I am seventy, I realize that it is more important to add life to my years than years to my life.

Sure it is, Yukon Jack. Life expectancy, infant mortality, availability of preventive care, these all contribute to good health. American system I slacking in all these criteria.

 

[taxslave]

On March 24, 2007 I had a heart attack, was taken to hospital by ambulance......I was in hospital for about 3 weeks, and had a quadruple bypass operation performed by a very good surgeon.

In July of the same year, I had laser surgery done on cataracts in my right eye.

I have no medical insurance. This all cost me not a penny. Free. Gratis. And high quality.

The down side of Canadian health care is that it is very difficult in my province to get a family doctor, and when you have a doctor, it is difficult to get in to see him. To see a specialist often takes 6 months....because the province will not hire more doctors.

As well, some surgeries for non-life threatening (but extremely unpleasant) conditions have a long long waiting list....(ex hip replacement)

So there is truth in both sides of the argument.........it is not a black or white issue....

Not free. It cost those of us who work and pay taxes and health care premiums a huge amount of money for your "free" care. This is the major fall down in our system in that anyone can reap ALL the rewards of the finest treatment money can buy without contributing a dime. At least until the entire government collapses under the weight of free health care and education for all.

 

[Tonington]

This is the major fall down in our system in that anyone can reap ALL the rewards of the finest treatment money can buy without contributing a dime. At least until the entire government collapses under the weight of free health care and education for all.

Don't be ridiculous. They can't reap ALL the rewards, which by the way is a bizarre choice of words for someone who has a health problem. They will only get what they need, not the whole frigging thing, like it's some perverse lottery.

They can be secure that if they should fall ill or become injured that they can get the care they need, and not have to worry about where the money will come to pay for it. Chances are they paid taxes into that system.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Don't be ridiculous. They can't reap ALL the rewards, which by the way is a bizarre choice of words for someone who has a health problem. They will only get what they need, not the whole frigging thing, like it's some perverse lottery.

They can be secure that if they should fall ill or become injured that they can get the care they need, and not have to worry about where the money will come to pay for it. Chances are they paid taxes into that system.

Indeed, Toningotn. I for one don’t mind paying more than my share, so that those unfortunate enough who cannot pay can still get the health care. That also leaves me secure in the knowledge that if I should need massive amount of health care tomorrow, I will get it without having to worry about money.

 

[Toro]

Generally, the healthcare system in Canada is pretty good. If you have a critical need, you generally get it treated pretty quickly. If you are poor or lower middle class, you get better care in Canada than in America. You never have to worry about healthcare and losing your job. Nobody ever gets rejected for a pre-existing condition.

However, if you have a non-critical condition, you often have to wait. My father lived in pain with neurological problems that were not life-threatening and it took him nearly a year to see a neurologist. You used to have to wait months for an MRI. Generally, cutting edge technologies are less available in Canada.

I am a Canadian living in America and have better healthcare coverage than I had in Canada, but I am financially stable. If I were poor, I would move back to Canada.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

Generally, the healthcare system in Canada is pretty good. If you have a critical need, you generally get it treated pretty quickly. If you are poor or lower middle class, you get better care in Canada than in America. You never have to worry about healthcare and losing your job. Nobody ever gets rejected for a pre-existing condition.

However, if you have a non-critical condition, you often have to wait. My father lived in pain with neurological problems that were not life-threatening and it took him nearly a year to see a neurologist. You used to have to wait months for an MRI. Generally, cutting edge technologies are less available in Canada.

I am a Canadian living in America and have better healthcare coverage than I had in Canada, but I am financially stable. If I were poor, I would move back to Canada.

It is pretty much the same thing in UK as well. For non essential symptoms you may have to wait for a long time. I saw on CNN the other day, somebody went to different countries with a vague symptom, pain in shoulder. He reported no other symptoms.

In USA they immediately performed a whole bunch of tests, which came out negative. In Canada, he was told that it will take up to one year to get an appointment with orthopedic surgeon. In UK he was told, well it is just a minor pain, live with it.

 

[aman12]

My wife was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome,. she had surgery within a month and has had several follow up visits with her surgeon. as well, she has had several physio appointments. All of this is fully covered at no cost.she was granted 6 weeks leave with pay by her employer according to provincial regulations. How can anyone argue against such a health care system. Conservatives need to give their heads a real good shake.