" it can be quite hard to get a family physician" In Waterloo Ontario, I was unable to get a doctor. The Ont. Gov's policy has been push people into clinics,

" it can be quite hard to get a family physician" In Waterloo Ontario, I was unable to get a doctor. The Ont. Gov's policy has been push people into clinics, wherein they don't have your records, and they don't take a 'long term approach'. I had a situation that was difficult to diagnose - nobody could help me. It's against the law in Canada to pay for services, I was in a very desperate quandary and my health was at stake. I was eventually able to get into the 'Cleveland Clinic' in Toronto - an American firm - that finds some ways around the system. The Ontario system is also hurting quite badly from inefficiencies. Most European systems allow for some degree of private insurance, and that should be the direction Canada moves in - as a matter of civil rights, as a matter of economic opportunity, but also to perhaps help the public system itself 'learn from' the private operations. Yes - the Ontario system 'covers everyone' but it has problems. Politically, I don't think this will win in California. I significantly doubt that most Californians who actually have 'good but overly-expensive' coverage will support universal coverage. There are tons of opportunities for efficiencies - like requiring that hospitals bill the 'same price for the same service' to everyone. Among other things. It'd be great if they tried some of the more obvious things before they go 'full on universal'.