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As a Canadian, right next door, I'm continually amazed that we can have two polar takes on healthcare and both get it so wrong. In Canada it is an incredibly ex
by wintogreen74 3y ago
As a Canadian, right next door, I'm continually amazed that we can have two polar takes on healthcare and both get it so wrong. In Canada it is an incredibly expensive way to pay for a universal public system in case you personally need it, at which point it's pretty poor quality, especially for new approaches or preventative, non-emergent care. Then in the States you have so many with absolutely zero safety net or primary care, at which we do a better (but still bad IMO) job of, while the well-insured or very wealthy have the most amazing health options in the world. We should both be able to come up with a solution that prevents rural mothers from dying related to childbirth AND gets someone a hip replacement in less than a year so they don't irreversibly deteriorate. Governments on both sides of the border just dig in their heels for political motivations, actual health outcomes not a consideration.
- cmh89 3y agoCanadian health care is relatively inexpensive though. Canadians spent $8,563 Canadian Dollars per capita on health care in 2022, which is currently equivalent to $6,320 US dollars per capita. Americans spent $12,914 American dollars per capita in 2021 for health care costs. We pay over double per capita what Canadians pay. Canada could increase the quality of the health care system by buying more services and paying more for services to increase quality. https://www.cihi.ca/en/national-health-expenditure-trends-2022-snapshot https://www.cihi.ca/en/national-health-expenditure-trends-20... https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and-reports/nationalhealthexpenddata/nationalhealthaccountshistorical https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/sta...
- kaczordon 3y agoAnd as the poster above you mentioned American health care is the most advanced in the world. So even if it is “double” the types of treatments available here are much better. I’ve had friends travel here just to get treated.
- nickfromseattle 3y ago> I’ve had friends travel here just to get treated. And a million+ Americans in border states travel to Mexico for routine procedures and prescriptions [0]. I imagine the numbers would be even higher if more Americans lived within travel distance of the southern border. [0] https://www.npr.org/2023/03/08/1161888974/medical-tourism-mexico-americans https://www.npr.org/2023/03/08/1161888974/medical-tourism-me...
- mrguyorama 3y ago"Most advanced in the world" to only 70% of Americans is a failed system.
- cmh89 3y ago>And as the poster above you mentioned American health care is the most advanced in the world. So even if it is “double” the types of treatments available here are much better. Most medical services are routine treatments that are the same wherever you go.People travel for special services, but special services don't represent most of that cost difference.
- andromeduck 3y agoIMO more interstate competition on services is the right way forward. We should make it cheaper for competitive providers to expand to neighboring states.
- WeylandYutani 3y agoPeople with money are basically cutting the line. This is acceptable because generally nobody really cares about the poor- they don't vote or influence society very much. Don't have lawyers and they rarely call a senator. You will see a backlash against public healthcare because it would mean a rich man is treated according to his medical needs. You're on the waiting list BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE NEEDED IT MORE. But I'm a Google developer I'm worth more to society! Who decides that? A death panel.
- mrguyorama 3y agoThe stupidest thing about this argument is that WE DON'T GET INSTANT ACCESS NOW! Even with the literally twice as expensive healthcare we have, and personally having good insurance, if I call my doctor to get an appointment for something non-emergency, it takes at least a month.
- cmh89 3y agoI have "excellent" health care and I can't find a dentist who has happenings after my old dentist decided to stop taking my dental insurance.