Canadians, how does your healthcare stack up compared to the USA?

Question

Here in the USA, as I'm sure you've heard, we are weighing the pros and cons of Universal Health Insurance as proposed by Hillary Clinton.

Some questions that Americans have for you:

How much of your income do you pay in taxes and how much of that goes toward your healthcare?

What is the longest you've had to wait for treatment?

Are you happy with your system when it comes to healthcare?

When was the last time you recieved a bill for a regular check-up or routine dental work? How much was that bill?

What is the biggest medical problem facing your family and how are you dealing with it?

If you can shed some light on these topics, I'm sure it will help us in our decision making!
Thanks!

I wish there were a way I could post this ONLY in Canada... unfortunately, the answers are tied to all English speaking countries.

Answer 1

We had many of the same fears that you all have before we went to our system back in the 1960's. Since then if any party dared to change it, they wouldn't recieve a vote(within reason). Here's my story for you to consider. I am married with 3 boys. We all wear glasses. We all see our family doctor yearly, dentist yearly, optomitrist yearly. This past year included 6 ER visits, 1 emergency dental visit(3 cracked teeth and 1 chipped)baseball bat accident. Then last friday our oldest spent the night in the ER with severe stomach pains, then ran dozens of different tests including 2 Cat-Scans. Saturday evening they operated and removed a swollen appendix. With my wife having a supplememntal insurance plan through her job that covers prescriptions and glasses, our out of pocket expenses for the entire year was less than $100.00 . These are facts, not fiction, not rhetoric. I have had 3 surgeries on my wrist the last 3 years that cost me NOTHING. Yes, there is wait times for elective surgeries, yes, there can be waits at ER's because our system is based on "worst goes first". No one is denied care, NO ONE. I pay about 29% tax on my salary which includes this Health Care and while some do go to the U.S. for some things, it is only because they have money and don't want to wait their turn, not because care is any less than south of the border.We all pay taxes, our health care system may not be perfect but it is a tangible use of my tax dollars that each and every Canadian citizen has access to every day. Health care for the sake of health or Health care for profit. That is the choice you all have and after all, we all pay taxes and we both elect representives every 4 years to administer what those taxes we pay are used for. Profit should never be part of the equation where Health Care is concerned, health and care are. Seroiusly neighbours, you link our system to Socialism, Communism...Get a grip. If our leaders mismanage things, they are gone the next election, most people I know find the idea of voting one way for life a ridiculous notion. Vote for the best person, no matter which party they represent. Don't let rhetoric take away your common sense. Canada isn't broke because we take take of our own through a Universal health Care System and I sure don't feel taxed to death to pay for my neighbour and fellow Canadian. Wish you all felt that way about your neediest countrymen rather than cry Socialism etc. Anyway, sorry for the rant. Have a safe Holiday season and best wishes to all in 2008. AND I HAVE NEVER RECIEVED A BILL FOR HEALTH CARE, it is just part of my overall taxes deducted from each paycheque.
P.S.
Thank you for the kudos but I am no hero, just an ordinary everyday father. For the poster: To ask this question and get responses from Canadians, post your question in the travel section, under Canada.

Answer 2

In some areas, Canadians are coming to the United States for care since there is a shortage of spaces in the Canadian system. The Fraser Institute has done a study detailing wait times across Canada and how some have came to the USA to avoid the wait and pay at their own expense.

Answer 3

Bob D had a lot of good points

Like any option there are both strengths and weaknesses.
Weaknesses are there are longer waits for those who could afford to pay. Those who could not afford to pay or have weaker insurance plans are better off, If you have deep pockets you could get the most expensive care. Socialized medicine has reduced(not eliminated ) the endless litigation and insurance quagmires. Our health care costs are probably3 to 5 percentage points less as percent of GDP

Positives include public health. Vaccinations can really reduce total health care costs but if it charged to patient might not get

Negatives losing some of best and brightest.

Answer 4

Every industrialized nation in the world has some form universal health care( except the US)....enough said

Answer 5

All I know is any Canadians that can afford it come to the USA to see a doctor. I hear it's a mess up there and like 50% of their good doctors moved to the USA and the ones that are left are quaks.

Answer 6

I have to come back to see the answers to this.

Answer 7

i hope your not going to take that guys answer seriously, hes not even canadian.

Answer 8

BobD,

you are my new hero. Thanks for the very detailed answer.

BTW, thanks for the question.