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NOTE: These 'letters' are replies from the DailyKos blog on the topic of health care sparked by the editorial below:
Leader Times (Kittanning, Pennsylvania)
Canada's death row
Nationalized (government-run) health care has been the goal of many for decades. And Canada's system, some say, is a good model.
Yikes. ...
"Universal health care," the spoonful of sugar that's supposed to make nationalized medicine go down better, increases demand. Which begets shortages. Which beget rationing. Which begets waiting. So long have the delays grown for some services that Health Canada had to form the "Wait Time Alliance."
On Sunday, the group offered its interim recommendations. ...
This isn't medical care; this is death row. And it's an expensive one at that: Canadians are paying $5.5 billion just to figure out how to reduce waiting.
Obviously, nationalized health care is an idea whose time hasn't come.
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I've dealt with Both.
Ok, I'm a dual citizen. I've lived in Canada for most of my life, but moved to the US in Nov 2000, and moved back to Canada in Dec 2004. During this time, I've experienced both the US and Canadian Health Care system.
I will take Canada's broken health care system over America's Broken Health Care system any day of the week!
On a $30,000 annual salary here in the province of New Brunswick, I come home with $885 every 2 weeks. In California, it was $912. That's about a $60 difference in salary/month. Basic HMO care in the US was $129/month through my company, featuring large deductables and extensive areas left uncovered. A PPO plan would have cost double that. The only way I could have paid less was to go through the "Baja HMO" plan, which was like an HMO program, except I would have to choose a doctor IN Mexico!
Better care for less money. It's that simple.
My dad broke his leg badly in Alberta when putting in a window. He had to wait in the emergency room for 6 hours, as they operate on a "Triage" system of "Worst come, worst served". If I remember correctly, the only costs we had were for the ambulance ride; the surgury required to put a metal pin in his leg was completely covered.
2 years into my work in Maine, I lost my job. UI wasn't enough to cover my basic needs AND the costs of COBRA to continue my health insurance. I took a part-time retail job, which offered no benefits.
I sprained my ankle badly while running downstairs to catch the bus to work. Ambulance was required (I went into shock on the way in), but there was no wait for services. Treatment was ultimately a pneumatic cast and crutches, total bill $1,024. Too broke to afford insurance, too rich to apply for government assistance... I was lucky I found a decent job within a couple months, but it still meant stretching my debt to my limit, and borrowing from the parents to afford the move to the new job.
What good is a beautiful hospital and world class medical care if no-one can afford it? What good are medical insurance and Medicare taxes if you can never take advantage of them?
by Left Wing Fox on Fri Apr 8th, 2005 at 08:50:53 CDT
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I also have experienced both systems
In the US and Canada as a nurse and as a patient. I worked in Florida for 6 years as an RN from 1994 till 2000 when I returned home to New Brunswick. The health care system in the US is for the "haves and the have nots".
I saw extreme abuse of the system by hospitals, doctors and health insurance companies while working in Florida. Also while there I was also a patient. I had great coverage through my job as an RN, however, I still had to pay out of pocket several thousand dollars for my emergency surgery and my short 2 day stay in the same hospital I worked in.
I am happy I am home now and can enjoy my "free" healthcare.
Yes, sometimes I have to wait to get an appointment with my own family doctor but if I am really in need I can go to a free clinic.
In the US if I went to a clinic it would cost me upwards of $75.00 or more for a 5 min visit.
People talk about "wait times" here in Canada. There is no wait time for emergency or serious surgeries. Only elective surgery, such as hip replacements. Or other electives.
An example: Two years ago I went to my doctor because through self-breast examination I found a lump. My doctor sent me for a diagnostic mammogram. I was surprised when his nurse told me it was for the very next morning.
However if I were requesting the same test done not for diagnostic purposes I could have waited several months.
I could go on and on about the differences between "here" and "there" but like I said I am happy to be home!
by edie on Fri Apr 8th, 2005 at 09:28:39 CDT
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On waiting
Yesterday morning I went to my local (Canadian) hospital to see my cardiologist and have a blood sample taken. I made the appointment for his clinic a couple of days earlier. I waited 15 minutes to see the Dr., and about five for the blood. You have to wait for elective surgery; non-elective is immediate, and I mean immediate. My cardiologist was doing standard tests on one of his colleagues a couple of weeks ago, saw something a little out of line, put him on the tread-mill, saw something really awsful, and in five minutes he was on the trolly to a room for observation.
Do I have to mention that all this didn't cost a cent (other than what we pay in taxes), and is always available?
Knut
by Knut Wicksell on Fri Apr 8th, 2005 at 12:25:28 CDT
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