What's your take on the medical coverage in Canada?

Question

Conservatives in the US like to make all sorts of outlandish claims about Canadians "sneaking across the border" to have operations performed in the US. I've lived in countries with national health care in the past, and never have I seen anyone call for a repeal of public care or an attempt at privitization.
Tell me what you think of the single payer system in Canada, and if there are any efforts to bring in private companies up there.

Sorry for any confusion, this question is for CANADIANS ONLY. I thought that it would only be posted in the Canadian questions section, didn't know it would show up in the genpop.

Answer 1

I actually watched a movie where Americans going across the border to Canada (posing as citizens) to secure free medical treatment~ since you have to pay for medical coverage in the U.S, and usually a co-pay as well or you won't get treatment.

Answer 2

It is not a truly national system, as the doctors are not on staff with the government. THey get paid by the service they do, and so the harder they work, the more money they make. As well, there are private clinics set up that charge for some/all services not covered by the provincial health plans, as well as doing work within the provincial health plans. These would include such things radiology and plastic surgery (most plastic surgery is elective and not covered.) It is good in that you cannot get cut off, and if you are unemployed, you will still have health care. This is a problem in the US. Often if you become chronically or seriously ill, with say MS, cancer, HIV, you will miss so much work that you can be dismissed. And there goes your health coverage. If you can't work, how do you pay for private insurance? And who will take you on with a pre-existing condition. And if you could be taken on, how can you afford the premiums. This is a dilemma that is often missing in the debates, however seems to come up on the news shows.
I did work in public healthcare for 20 years. I would rather wait (if needed) and get the same high quality of work that is available to all. I would not want to be limited to what my HMO would allow.
It is important to remember there is always rationing. Whether it is rationed by the government, or by your pocketbook, the vast majority of people will always have some sort of limitation, whether it be time or money, on what services they will have. At least with this system, the most ill will be looked after. A society is judged by how the poorest are looked after, not by what the rich can afford for themselves.

The one problem I have with a public system is the feeling that the government should be always doing more. I am from a generation that still remembers when you had to pay for your own care. Most people now do not remember these times. I am not sure whether it is just a general progression of lack of personal responsibility, or the nanny state. I know that it is also in the US that people think someone else (or the Gov't) should be looking after their problems, and that it doesn't matter what they do, someone else should bale them out.

That is my take. Overall, I am for public health care.

Answer 3

Almost every Canadian you ask will state quite proudly that we are very proud of the standard of care and security our health care system provides.

There are often attempts to bring in Private companies, however it is generally forbidden under the health care act as private, or for profit health care is historically shown to detract from the standards of patient care.


A lot of what is stated in the USA regarding the Canadian heath care system is spin and rhetoric. I have never known anybody to pay to go to the states for care. If the best care is provided by an institution outside of Canada, and it is urgently needed, Many of the provincial health plans will pay for the patient to receive that care. So yes, sometimes Canadians do end up in the USA for treatment, however this is covered.

The Provincially Run health system is focused on patients, there is no profit to be made. No bottom line to be maintained. Care is never sacrificed, treatment is never limited.

EDIT to poopsie (the highest tax bracket in Canada is 33.5% and that is a bracket generally reserved for those making in excess of $250,000)

Answer 4

this may well be a tragic challenge. i'm on Medicare and am afraid to even commute outdoors the U.S., because of the fact i'm not lined for scientific well-being coverage. on the 2d, i'm in a Medicare HMO that DOES furnish international assurance -- yet I could stay in my Medicare place of living area 7 months of the 12 months. so as that facilitates somewhat. the way I understand the hot Obama well-being plan, there are going to be cuts to the Medicare HMOs, so interior the destiny they won't proceed to furnish this foreign places assurance selection. i'm awaiting replace to take place on a each year foundation in the mean time, there will be variations each and each fall whilst the hot plans deliver out their innovations for here 12 months. it could be surprising in the experience that your mom could marry somebody in Canada -- i think of assurance could start up suitable away. regrettably once you're older coverage is a substantial challenge that runs your existence. You danger ending up impoverished in case you have a substantial difficulty and don't scientific well-being coverage, so it somewhat is not something to take gently. Plus your mom's sister will experience financially obligated to assist her sister with scientific charges, which will reason rigidity.

Answer 5

Canada, like most countries with "universal health care" has many private companies operating there. If you can afford to pay for the private insurance then you can get it. It is very expensive. So what you have is government insurance for the middle and lower income people and private for those who can afford it. I have heard from several friends that live in Canada and they tell me that they come to the states frequently to see their doctor's, Why, you might ask. They come here because they can get in to see the doctor within a day or two whereas in Canada it might be as long as 3 to 4 months. So, thank you, I will stick with the care I get right here in the USA.

Answer 6

To answer your question;

It's failing, here is Canada's own assessment.

http://www.hospitalreport.ca/downloads/2007/EDC/ed_report_2007.pdf

A Canadian crisis is growing as the number of family doctors is shrinking. The problem is rural and urban, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Currently, more than 4 million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor and the situation is expected to get worse over the next decade.

The study surveyed over 20,000 Canadian physicians and points to an “alarming” decline in access to health care across the country.

Answer 7

I think US could learn a sh*t load from Canada, but these stupid @ss politicians are too f**king stubborn to make a change....partly because they make a sh*t load of money from the lobbyists who pay them to vote a certain way....I don't know if the US will ever get a clue that health care should be a right and a privilege for every American....That everyone should be able to get treatment when they are in need and not have to worry about the cost....There are so many people to point fingers at in this country and too few to actually have the balls to do something about it...makes me sick....I wish they could realize that people would be less sick, less stressed and live longer if we could only model something that the Canadians have learned years and years ago...

Answer 8

Actually Canada also now does have some private hospitals opening up to give people the option and also to help reduce load.

As a Canadian I am happy with our system but it obviously is not perfect....government corruption unfortunately.

Answer 9

Conservatives like to say that it takes weeks or months to get checkups but just from living in America, I can tell you health care anywhere else is better. Used to be that you had to pay for police and firefighters too. If you didn't pay for it, your house burnt down. I don't know if any attemps at private companies are being made, but I do know that they have a pretty good system there.

Answer 10

I think it's awesome...my only problem with it would be if I had to wait forever to get a minor surgery. but, hey - it would be worth it, I suppose. I couldn't even afford to get minor surgery right now because I have no health insurance!! D'oh!