I am a Canadian who occasionally complained about long (several hour) emergency waits for broken limbs from mountain bike downhill racing. The triage system pri

I am a Canadian who occasionally complained about long (several hour) emergency waits for broken limbs from mountain bike downhill racing. The triage system prioritizes people who are dying, not adrenaline addicts. ... However ... I got diagnosed with Cancer (lymphoma) in 2008. I was xrayed, CT scanned, blood tested and ultrasound guidance biopsied so fast that my head spun. From initial lump discovery to the onset of chemo was only a couple of weeks. Quality of care was first rate, and it's been 5 years. My experience with Canadian health care for a life threatening condition was extremely good. I should also note that the cost of my medication was a significant $100k+ figure, not including chemo drugs, and this was all covered to an out of pocket of under $1k. I was a working as a contractor, and didn't have any private medical insurance of any kind. Needless to say, looking at the cost of treatment, and the ruinous effect it would have had on my (and my wife's) finances, I am very glad I live in Canada.