How does the quality of health care compare to other countries?
2006-09-30 16:02:46 · 10 answers · asked by farahwonderland2005 5 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
I generally like the health care here .. we do actually pay into it, not as much as Americans do, but we still do. Roughly $70 a month if for medical/dental. Enables us to go and have our prescriptions, doctors appointments, check ups surgeries, pretty well anything, for that cost. The downside is, we do wait a long time for surgeries. Also for exams, I am currently waiting 6 months to have an MRI done. Depending on the surgery, you could wait anywhere from a few weeks, to a year for it.
2006-09-30 17:27:20 · answer #1 · answered by Island_Mommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, not being Canadian I can't say for sure. But, recently in a class at college, we had a speaker in from a university in Canada to talk about their healthcare system. She said that most Canadians are satisfied with the basic healthcare. I think she said that cosmetic surgery (the just for vanity's sake kind, not reconstruction) is not covered, which maybe (in my opinion) some Americans would have more of a problem with. She said that it is true that there is some times a wait to get a non-urgent procedure. However, look at the uninsured here in the good ol' US of A. 3 weeks wait in Canada for hip replacement vs never getting one if you are an uninsured American. The wait apparently does not upset most Canadians. They look at us and say "better wait than never." She said that she doesn't know how we can sleep at night, knowing a simple accident could bankrupt us. She was in a car accident and spent several days in the hospital. She didn't have to pay anything. Here, that's thousands of dollars out of pocket. The quality she said is similar, however some of the ultra-high-tech toys that we have, they don't. Not that that should matter to the average Joe. Us poor and middle class won't ever get benefit from those ultra-high-tech devices anyway.
2006-09-30 23:22:09 · answer #2 · answered by Jesacat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually Canadians do pay health insurance. A lot of companies have benefits that pay their health plans for them or jointly. It depends a lot on the plan you've got. You can get insurance to cover prescriptions too. My husband's company plan has covered a lot and we're thankful for that. There are some private diagnostic clinics popping and the doctors will use them to speed up diagnostics. The health plans will also pay for them too. No we can't lose our homes if we get sick but it can get close to that.
2006-09-30 23:11:53 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ive heard alot of people complain about it because it takes at least a year to get to some of their specialist there. California had amended to have state wide heath care but good old "Terminator Boy" Arnold shot it down! Go figure someone who can afford to pay his own medical bills with both hands tied behind his back! My husband and I have ZERO health care and I think almost fifty percent of Americans are in the same boat as us. Its totally pathetic don't you think? I'm smart enough to know if we had some medical emergency and had to have medical attention, before I would attempt to pay it off which I know we couldn't, I would go right down and file bankruptcy with out batting and eyelash because we are truly poor and don't live with alot of what other Americans have. I pray we find a way to fix this mess sooner or later!
2006-09-30 23:10:07 · answer #4 · answered by soniaatcalifornia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there's a general being pleased with their health care for haven't read in the news or heard anything to the contrary. Its socialized medicine -where everyone gets medical care and one still has the option to get private insurance. How does the Government provide this medical care of every one of their citizens -by a portion of income tax being used for that purpose and not allowing Insurance companies to run the countries health care(smart)
2006-09-30 23:08:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It really depends on the province; but personally, I like Canada's health care system overall. Prescription drugs and surgeries are generally free in most provinces except for Alberta, so far as I know. In Ontario and Quebec, eye examinations, check ups, prescription drugs are all free to the needy. Yet in Alberta, you have to pay for everything if you do not have insurance.
Sort of sad, because Alberta is considered one of the richest places in North America; and instead of giving money to the healthcare system to improve their services and help out the ones that actually need it; they give out money to everyone who lives in Alberta to buy 'beer'.
Not that it's bad or anything, just ironic.
2006-09-30 23:14:18 · answer #6 · answered by Arianna Duvet 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apparently...not that much.
Most Canadians who can afford to travel to the US to receive their health care. Those who can't afford this option purchase private medical insurance, thus avoiding the poor "national" health care system.
2006-09-30 23:07:07 · answer #7 · answered by An Unhappy Yahoo User 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many Canadians who can afford to travel to the U.S. for non emergency procedures. The wait in Canada for such things can be VERY long. Canada also does not have the quality of doctors that we have. Not to say that they are bad, it's just that without the financial incentive that U.S. doctors have,Canada does not attract as many to the medical field as we do.
2006-09-30 23:17:25 · answer #8 · answered by thrill88 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in USA, but I know there health is free, there is no concept of insurance carrier, copays, prior authorisation etc. This comes at the cost of higher taxes but theie health care at least does not get turned down when it is needed the most. good luck
2006-09-30 23:04:57 · answer #9 · answered by HK3738 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dont mess with canadians they are all NUTS
2006-09-30 23:07:32 · answer #10 · answered by concrete surfer 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋