Democrats, If The U.S.'s Healthcare System Is So Bad Then Why ...?

Question

does the Canadian government pay for patients to travel to the U.S. for treatment?

Canada is increasingly sending patients to the U.S. for treatment.

"MW suffered from Stage 3C ovarian cancer with a complication of an impending bowel obstruction. The Appeal Board found that the waiting time in Ontario for the ovarian cancer surgery received in New York was between six to eight weeks.

The Appeal Board was satisfied that the out-of-country surgery was generally accepted as appropriate for the Appellant’s condition and that the surgery was available in Ontario. The primary issue for the Appeal Board was whether the delay in having the surgery would result in death or medically significant irreversible tissue damage.

The Appeal Board found that MW needed to travel out of country for surgery to avoid a delay in Ontario that would lead to death or medically significant irreversible damage. "
http://www.hsarb.on.ca/english/reports/HSARB_Annual_report_2006.htm

Another case:
The Appellant, LJ, was previously diagnosed with breast cancer and had mastectomies performed on both breasts as well as six cycles of intensive chemotherapy. Three months before this appeal, an oncologist found a new node in LJ?s neck. The Appellant?s surgeon recommended that she get a Positron Emission Tomography scan (?PET scan?) at the University of Buffalo. The results of a PET scan could make surgery on the node unnecessary and surgery carries a risk of paralysis due to the location of the node.

On the basis of the evidence before it, the Appeal Board found that PET scanning is generally accepted in Ontario as appropriate for a person in the same medical circumstances as LJ. Furthermore, the Appeal Board found that PET scans are not performed in Ontario by an identical or equivalent procedure.

Another case:The Appellant, WP, suffered from Parkinson's disease and had deep brain stimulation surgery performed on him at the William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan. The Appeal Board found that deep brain stimulation is generally accepted as appropriate and that the treatment is available in Ontario. The Appeal Board was also satisfied that there would have been a delay of 17 months before WP could have obtained the surgery in Ontario. Evidence was submitted to the panel that, by the time of the surgery in Michigan, WP was suffering from dyskinesia (involuntary movement and rigidity) and akathesia which is associated with a high rate of suicide. The Appeal Board found that the delay of 17 months would lead to either death or medically significant irreversible tissue damage.

Most HMO's in America own PET scanners and 64 slice CT scanners. They own them to avoid being sued for malpractice.

PET scanner: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/genomics/2003/talbert/metpatients.jpg

64 Slice CT scanners: http://www.winchesterimaging.com/images/64slice.jpg , http://www.medgadget.com/archives/img/RSNAP90079-large.jpg , http://www.radiologyregional.com/imagesfolder/anatomy00.jpg , http://bgh.kaleidahealth.org/images/64Slice_scan.jpg

Answer 1

In the USA, ANYONE can receive medical care ..THEY simply go to an Emergency Room...
Yes, hospitals charge for their services BUT medical care is ALWAYS provided regardless of income, status or citizenship..
MD's and other health professionals incur years of educational training and DEBT,equiptment from the simple dip sticks for urinalysis to the fancy scanners,maintaining the physical structure and paying the utilities,...ARE COSTS that must be paid.
Every human born will one day need medical assistance; income does not change this FACT. In the US,the old,disabled,orphans ARE subsidized by taxpayers. Other subsidy programs assist low income children,vaccinations are free to low income families...

I have NO desire to subsidize health care simply because people want something for nothing!! Everyone regardless of income is required to make choices,priortize their needs and plan for unexpected and or likely (health care) expenses.
Universal healthcare is ONLY an issue because politicians want votes and people want whatever they can get free or at clearance rate...
There are too many whiners who claim that they cant get "x' or cant afford "x", YET FAIL to acknowledge that they have made NO effort to change how they spend their $$ or or how they chose to live their life... No one can forsee what medical needs may arise BUT failure to expect that care will be needed is beyond stupid.
Charity is a freely given gift..IT is not a "right"!
The USA is by far the most generous society as it offrs opportunity,education and subsidized programs for many.
The healthcare in the US is excellent and yes people are expected to pay for services rendered.."national" healthcare will destroy the system, -medical personnel will chose other professions, imported poorly trained care givers will provide service...,conditions will have to meet a criteria list before treatment, facilities will become poorly maintained and lack newer equiptment.... private facilities will emerge for the wealthy ...etc.
I am amazed that soo many buy into this politically crafted deceit..spouting need to help the "suffering" who cant get care and really simply lusting for a freebee that will let them spend their $$ on something "good"/
FORCED charity is oppression and likely to sour those who routinely DO support various charatible (helping) organizations...

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Answer 2

The US healthcare system is not "bad", but very inefficient. If you have good isnurance coverage, the treatment here is better than anywhere in the world. The problem is that the current design of the system is making it cost prohibitive to continue without any change. One issue with this is that private insurance companies not only provide coverage, but they need to make a profit. That is why their overhead costs are 20% compared to 3% for medicare. This 17% difference gets passed on to consumers as higher premiums. Also, the system is too expensive for about 47 million people, which causes huge unnecessary expenses. People without coverage almost never go to doctors for annual check ups and to have minor problems looked at. This prevents doctors from catching problems in the begining stages when it is easier to treat and cure. The first time uninsured go to the doctor is when the problem has become serious and it requires thousands of dollars to treat. Since they are uninsured, the costs get passed on to the government and come out of our taxes. A good example of this is diabetes. When catched early, it is easily treatable, not very expensive and doesn't shorten or dramatically change a patients life. Uninsured hardly ever see a doctor at this early stage and by the time it is caught, the treatment is much more complicated. The price that gets paid by everybody is hundred of thousands of dollars in life saving treatment and a shortened much more difficult life for the patient. By adapting the current system, we can continue to offer the best treatment in the world, insure everybody and actually reduce how much it costs.

If we don't make any changes, though, the system will either bankrupt the government or cause everyone to pay significantly higher taxes.

Answer 3

Did you actually think this through?

Who said that that the quality of health care is bad?

It's the best in the world 99% of the time. BUT and here's the key....

ONLY if you can afford it.


I can give you an example of my situation. I have 2 jobs.

I can get health insurance for $300 a month. I would have a $5,000 deductible a year before coverage sets in.

I would then be responsible for $100 emergency room visits, $50 if admitted.

No maternity benefits, not that I need that.

I would then be responsible for 30% of everything after that. I woud have to get pre-approval for almost everything.

There are 47 million people uninsured. You can get life threatening emergency care, but that's it unless you can get Medicaid (welfare). I make too much to qualify for it.

When I did have medical insurance under my mom's policy (COBRA) it was $324 a month. After several back surgeries, 2 the insurance refused to cover, I had to file bankruptcy. This was 16 years ago.

This is normal in California, the main reason for filing that here is now over 40%.

Now, that is a MINIMUM of $8,600 every year. I had doctors who had never seen me making desicions on my care. I offered to travel to Georgia to see the head of this group, no go.

Yes, there is a crisis in this country, it is not exaggerated. We need something.

Answer 4

Strangely enough it does work fairly well.
The low low population of Canada does not seem to make possible the expensive technology needed to respond to medical needs here in Canada especially when the U.S.A. is right next door and has the technology.
The Canadian Health Care System pays the bill for it's citizen to travel there and receive treatment.
Seems to be working.
Would your health insurance do the same?

Answer 5

You're missing the point here. Quality of care is not the issue. The problem is health for profit too many people cannot afford care while health care executives are making billions. Salary caps and luxury tax would defer enough money to make healthcare more affordable on all levels.

Answer 6

That sure was nice of the Canadian government to pay for their travel, stay and healthcare in the US.

Our government would never do that for a US citizen unless it provided them a good photo op. They won't even pay for people to be on medicaid with terminal cancer.

Answer 7

I have documented data on the death of US health care. Two main reasons the failure to address the cause and [prevention of medical problems and the adverse reactions to medications

Answer 8

You are mixing up health care quality with health care insurance. In the US there are three kinds of people seeking health care: people with insurance so they don't have to seriously worry about paying for their care; people with enough money that they don't have to seriously worry about paying for their care; and people without insurance and with too little money, who often remain sick because they can't afford the cost of health care. For the first two classes of people, the health care standard in the US is world-class.

Answer 9

The Word of God says that by His stripes we were healed.

I'm talking about Jesus and him being crucified.

Hate me for saying it if you want, but the best healthcare that there is is the words that come out of your mouth.

This isn't to say that doctors aren't beneficial. Sometimes while when one is awaiting healing, doctors play the intermediary part.

For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Also, Jesus said a very profound statement. He said that whosoever shall say unto this mountain be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart but believes the things he/she says, he/she shall have whatsoever he/she says.

Proverbs also says that life and death are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Answer 10

No one is questioning the quality of care.

It's the cost of care and the insurance companies power in determining if you get that care covered or not that is the problem.

Insurance company supervisors have testified before Congress that they have electively decided against allowing certain procedures because they were too costly to the company and the person died as a result of that decision!

That is unacceptable to me and should be to any American!