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I never understand this generality, when the US stands as the only 'developed' nation without universal health care? In Canada we have universal health care, a

I never understand this generality, when the US stands as the only 'developed' nation without universal health care? In Canada we have universal health care, and it works reasonably well. Some would argue waiting lines and all that, I've never experienced them to be that bad, I live in a large urban center (Vancouver) and have found the services to be exemplary.

TomOfTTB 16y ago
Again this is getting into the actual debate which I think is more complicated than people make it out to be but I think it is possible to provide baseline care and I think the U.S. should do that. Where you see a constraint on resources is in specialty areas and you hear stories all the time of people with specialized ailments coming to the U.S. and spending money for treatment.
- jasonlotito 16y ago
  > and you hear stories all the time of people with specialized ailments coming to the U.S. and spending money for treatment I'd rather hear stories like that then stories about people denied treatment because they got denied by some corporate bean counter. And your stories aren't indicative of any failing of the Canadian system. Let's not forget the American's that rely on Canada for their health needs.
  - larrywright 16y ago
    There's a flawed assumption in your statement that Canadians aren't denied access to coverage due to government bean counters. I have a relative who is an Oncology nurse in a major US city. She sees a lot of patients from Canada who come to her hospital because they can't get the treatments they need in Canada. Of course, it's only the wealthy ones, because they're the only ones who can afford it. Similar problems exist with the US government healthcare (through the VA). My father was denied a lifesaving transplant because he didn't meet the government board's criteria for a transplant. Mayo Clinic came through with the transplant and saved his life.
    - jasonlotito 16y ago
      > There's a flawed assumption in your statement that Canadians aren't denied access to coverage due to government bean counters. On a much lower scale then in the US. I see first hand the realities of the differences between the two systems. In Canada, their is much less worry about health care than in the US. Their are still issues, but not the same fundamental ones that the US has. This also ignores the fact that Canadian patients often go to the US for reasons other than the one you describe. Often times, they go to a hospital known for being the best in certain types of care. Other times, it's also a timing issue: they want it resolve sooner than what Canada will do for them. Finally, the same problem exists on the private side as well. Health insurance companies deny lifesaving operations all the time. Edit: Another problem with your argument is the assumption that Canada doesn't have private insurance on top of public. It does. It sits on top of the public insurance. And while it's great your father got help from a non-profit, I wonder how much help he would have gotten from a non-socialised health care plan?
      - larrywright 16y ago
        Other times, it's also a timing issue: they want it resolve sooner than what Canada will do for them. Isn't that a huge problem though? For cancer and other progressive illnesses, each day's delay can mean the difference between surviving or not.
        jasonlotito 16y ago
        It depends on the illness and the severity. My wife's parents and family have never been turned away or made to wait for urgent things, including cancer. The decisions regarding this are made by the doctors. They can expedite things if they think it merits expediting. However, just because something isn't as serious doesn't mean someone wants to live it with, so they can pay extra to get it resolved quicker.
- joegaudet 16y ago
  All I know is a friend of the family under only Canadian health care was covered for a quadruple bypass surgery something I am told in the US would effectively bankrupt any normal non-insured citizen, and has made a full recovery to the point that he can now go Skiing with us again. There may be some short comings to our system, and inefficiencies but I will say I am pretty damn happy that I live in a country that provides that level of coverage to any citizen.

TomOfTTB 16y ago

Again this is getting into the actual debate which I think is more complicated than people make it out to be but I think it is possible to provide baseline care and I think the U.S. should do that. Where you see a constraint on resources is in specialty areas and you hear stories all the time of people with specialized ailments coming to the U.S. and spending money for treatment.

jasonlotito 16y ago
> and you hear stories all the time of people with specialized ailments coming to the U.S. and spending money for treatment I'd rather hear stories like that then stories about people denied treatment because they got denied by some corporate bean counter. And your stories aren't indicative of any failing of the Canadian system. Let's not forget the American's that rely on Canada for their health needs.
- larrywright 16y ago
  There's a flawed assumption in your statement that Canadians aren't denied access to coverage due to government bean counters. I have a relative who is an Oncology nurse in a major US city. She sees a lot of patients from Canada who come to her hospital because they can't get the treatments they need in Canada. Of course, it's only the wealthy ones, because they're the only ones who can afford it. Similar problems exist with the US government healthcare (through the VA). My father was denied a lifesaving transplant because he didn't meet the government board's criteria for a transplant. Mayo Clinic came through with the transplant and saved his life.
  - jasonlotito 16y ago
    > There's a flawed assumption in your statement that Canadians aren't denied access to coverage due to government bean counters. On a much lower scale then in the US. I see first hand the realities of the differences between the two systems. In Canada, their is much less worry about health care than in the US. Their are still issues, but not the same fundamental ones that the US has. This also ignores the fact that Canadian patients often go to the US for reasons other than the one you describe. Often times, they go to a hospital known for being the best in certain types of care. Other times, it's also a timing issue: they want it resolve sooner than what Canada will do for them. Finally, the same problem exists on the private side as well. Health insurance companies deny lifesaving operations all the time. Edit: Another problem with your argument is the assumption that Canada doesn't have private insurance on top of public. It does. It sits on top of the public insurance. And while it's great your father got help from a non-profit, I wonder how much help he would have gotten from a non-socialised health care plan?
    - larrywright 16y ago
      Other times, it's also a timing issue: they want it resolve sooner than what Canada will do for them. Isn't that a huge problem though? For cancer and other progressive illnesses, each day's delay can mean the difference between surviving or not.
      - jasonlotito 16y ago
        It depends on the illness and the severity. My wife's parents and family have never been turned away or made to wait for urgent things, including cancer. The decisions regarding this are made by the doctors. They can expedite things if they think it merits expediting. However, just because something isn't as serious doesn't mean someone wants to live it with, so they can pay extra to get it resolved quicker.
joegaudet 16y ago
All I know is a friend of the family under only Canadian health care was covered for a quadruple bypass surgery something I am told in the US would effectively bankrupt any normal non-insured citizen, and has made a full recovery to the point that he can now go Skiing with us again. There may be some short comings to our system, and inefficiencies but I will say I am pretty damn happy that I live in a country that provides that level of coverage to any citizen.