What's the difference between Canadians' & Americans' ?

SirJosephPorter

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Nov 7, 2008
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I'm not so sure about that S.J. I think if you show up at a hospital in the U.S. without funds or health insurance- they will just refuse to treat you. So I don't think there's a problem for any but the victim if he's not covered.

In USA it is required by law that a hospital cannot turn anybody away for emergency medical help. They must treat the patient. Sure they can (and will) send him the bill if he has no insurance, but if he cannot pay, that is the end of it.

And that is the problem with young people not having any insurance. A young man thinks he is invincible, that nothing will happen to him and he does not take out medical insurance.

But if he gets involved in car accident or is diagnosed with cancer, hospital must give him emergency treatment. Since the young man cannot pay, hospital is stuck with the bill. So young people not having insurance is as much of a problem as the poor not having insurance.
 

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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In USA it is required by law that a hospital cannot turn anybody away for emergency medical help. They must treat the patient. Sure they can (and will) send him the bill if he has no insurance, but if he cannot pay, that is the end of it.

And that is the problem with young people not having any insurance. A young man thinks he is invincible, that nothing will happen to him and he does not take out medical insurance.

But if he gets involved in car accident or is diagnosed with cancer, hospital must give him emergency treatment. Since the young man cannot pay, hospital is stuck with the bill. So young people not having insurance is as much of a problem as the poor not having insurance.

That is probably the way it should be BUT if they quit doing that for a month, I'll bet you'd see some sudden changes and the problem would be 99% solved.
 

SirJosephPorter

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That is probably the way it should be BUT if they quit doing that for a month, I'll bet you'd see some sudden changes and the problem would be 99% solved.

You are probably right JLM, but we have certain minimum standards of decency, of humanity. Letting somebody die because of lack of money isn’t one of them.

But you are right, if there are a few high profile cases of young men dying because they did not have any medical insurance, you can be sure that most of them will get insurance in a hurry.

But I don’t see that happening.
 

Cannuck

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Feb 2, 2006
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You are probably right JLM, but we have certain minimum standards of decency, of humanity. Letting somebody die because of lack of money isn’t one of them.

Of course it is. People die all the time because of a lack of funds. We just don't play with the statistics the same way we do with things such as impaired driving. A perfect example is the golden hour. Southeastern Alberta has been fighting forever to get and maintain air ambulance service. The chances of surviving a traumatic injury drop off significantly the longer it takes to get a patient in front of a surgeon.

Medicine Hat News - Supporters out for HALO

It costs money to save lives. The government isn't in any mood to give it.
 

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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In USA it is required by law that a hospital cannot turn anybody away for emergency medical help. They must treat the patient. Sure they can (and will) send him the bill if he has no insurance, but if he cannot pay, that is the end of it.

And that is the problem with young people not having any insurance. A young man thinks he is invincible, that nothing will happen to him and he does not take out medical insurance.

But if he gets involved in car accident or is diagnosed with cancer, hospital must give him emergency treatment. Since the young man cannot pay, hospital is stuck with the bill. So young people not having insurance is as much of a problem as the poor not having insurance.

So I think the bottom line is health care is pretty much the same in the U.S. and Canada, everyone gets treated and it gets paid for mainly by the taxpayer.
 

lone wolf

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Nov 25, 2006
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Of course it is. People die all the time because of a lack of funds. We just don't play with the statistics the same way we do with things such as impaired driving. A perfect example is the golden hour. Southeastern Alberta has been fighting forever to get and maintain air ambulance service. The chances of surviving a traumatic injury drop off significantly the longer it takes to get a patient in front of a surgeon.

Medicine Hat News - Supporters out for HALO

It costs money to save lives. The government isn't in any mood to give it.

You're a firefighter.... Have any clout with the powers that be? Present this:

Ornge

Wikipedia has a great write-up but the link isn't very co-operative. Search Ontario air ambulance
 
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SirJosephPorter

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So I think the bottom line is health care is pretty much the same in the U.S. and Canada, everyone gets treated and it gets paid for mainly by the taxpayer.

Not really, JLM. In USA you will get only the emergency care if you don’t have insurance. You have to pay for doctor’s visits. Thus you cannot do any preventive medicine (Pap test, prostrate exam etc.). For that you have to pay out of your pocket. Same goes for pre and post natal care for mothers, vaccinations for the babies etc.

Without preventive treatment, the incidence of acute illnesses increases and that perhaps may be why life expectancy is lower and infant mortality higher in USA compared to Canada (indeed, compared to almost any developed country).

The problem of people not having health insurance is very real in USA.
 

JLM

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Nov 27, 2008
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Not really, JLM. In USA you will get only the emergency care if you don’t have insurance. You have to pay for doctor’s visits. Thus you cannot do any preventive medicine (Pap test, prostrate exam etc.). For that you have to pay out of your pocket. Same goes for pre and post natal care for mothers, vaccinations for the babies etc.

Without preventive treatment, the incidence of acute illnesses increases and that perhaps may be why life expectancy is lower and infant mortality higher in USA compared to Canada (indeed, compared to almost any developed country).

The problem of people not having health insurance is very real in USA.


O.K. I didn't think of that, actually the system would probably work better if they did.........."an ounce of prevention....................."
 

mkwblue

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Jun 15, 2009
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I'm a Kiwi aka New Zealander and I'm not familiar with either culture or country as most Kiwis' are not.

We had an American guy here whom my friend assumed was Canadian and she asked what part of Canada was he from and he made it very clear that Americans' and Canadians' are nothing alike and he was insulted.

Are Canadians and American's vastly different as people? Are the two cultures also vastly different?

I haven't met many Canadians' or Americans' in person but I must confess the Canadians that I have met in comparison to Americans have been a little more friendly and hospitable but that has been my own personal opinion.

So as a Kiwi / New Zealander who knows no different, please tell me what differs between the two people/s and their countries...
Hello, I'm USA. And I think I'm friendly. But don't know any Canadians so maybe I'm not! LOL
 

Cannuck

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Feb 2, 2006
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You're a firefighter.... Have any clout with the powers that be? Present this:

Ornge

Wikipedia has a great write-up but the link isn't very co-operative. Search Ontario air ambulance

We have http://www.stars.ca in Alberta. The problem is their helicopters are based out of Calgary and can't make it to the southeast corner of the province. Fixed-wing can but they can't land on a highway or farmers field. We need a helicopter in Medicine Hat and it's too expensive. Money over human lives....
 
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mkwblue

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Jun 15, 2009
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Indianapolis, IN. USA
Differance; Canadians vs Americans

I use to think that USA was way too judgmental, til I meet a man from UK...now he is very judgmental. If you don't agree with him, you are just wrong, period!(so he thinks)
 

In Between Man

The Biblical Position
Sep 11, 2008
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The differences only go so deep.

Hey...Canada day is coming up. I love Canada. If you want to see what I look like, I spend Canada day the same place every year. The art gallery, downtown Vancouver. Here's your clue: I alwayz drink Fresca out of a can.

Hey...Independence Day is coming up. I love America. Uh...the fourth of July is a Saturday this year...sorry gotta work. I'd tell you all where that is, but I'm afraid that VanniFucci will come find me.
 
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ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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Children in most of the United States if not all have health insurance till they are 18. No one is turnes away from any hospital in need of emergency treatment. Everyone can get medical treatment (not elective) just not in the hospital you may like, no one is left to die unattended on purpose. The problem in the U.S. is that the cost is so high for those who have to pay, including insurance companies.
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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I use to think that USA was way too judgmental, til I meet a man from UK...now he is very judgmental. If you don't agree with him, you are just wrong, period!(so he thinks)

Lets not forget Canadians, they are near, if not at the top of being judgmental.
 

Hiker

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Jun 16, 2009
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In many ways Canada today is like the American south of the 1950's. DarkBeaver seems to be a Mississippi racist incarnate. While he is amongst the most repulsive posting, I think he represents a significant portion of Canadians. I think when both countries are rid of DarkBeavers our 'world' will be a better place. Perhaps it will take a few generations to rid ourselves of the thought process that drives people like that.
 
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