Canada Health care vs The US Health Care?

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freeside49

no way not in a million years and would tar and feather any politician that trys. We have had it since 1965 and everyone really believes it is a Canadian right to have access to healthcare. Its not free we pay taxes of course but we never have to worry about changing jobs due to health insurance, unemployment, "pre-exitsing conditions don't exist. There is no upper limit.. if you need a bone marrow transplant there is no worry about "does my insurance cover it? cause yes it does.
It doesnt cover dental;, drugs or eyeglasses but everyhting else except cosmetic surgery is covered cradle to grave.
Same as the states in terms of technologies and medical practice and cutting edge stuff. (work in the field 25 years) .
In Canadian cities it is efficient having one major hospital in a city doing all open hearts or all whatever speciality rather than 2, 3 or 4 small sites like in many US cities. But with everyone having access there is lines for certian high demand procedures and the costs to the government are extensive but then it does produce a happier, healthier more evenly balanced society., IMO
In some provinces you have to pay an extra fee per month on top of taxes. In BC here it is $100 per month for my family. If you make under $25K/year you dont have to pay that fee.
. my insurance is the same as everyone elses insurance.

Michael T

I've had routine and emergency care in both Canada and the US (grew up Canada, now live in the US). The quality of service is pretty much the same as far as I can tell. In both places, it takes a day or two to schedule a non-emergency doctor's appointment, and if you need to go to the emergency room, be prepared to be out there for a few hours. The only real difference in the states is that there's all sorts of insurance forms to fill out.

I've luckily never had to experience serious illness in either country, which is where the major differences are alleged to lie. The general consensus is that Canadian health care is better for preventative treatment (because no one is put off going to the doctor by the expense) while American health care is better for reactive treatment (because the profit motive leads to advances in high-tech treatments.)

info seeker

No way! I can go to the doctor whenever I want and not pay for my visits. All procedures, specialists and surgery are paid for by the system. Once you reach 65 years old all your prescriptions are free.

I pay $44/month for all of that! :-)

lil_miss_pool_fish

not a chance.

Melanie B

I like the Canadian health care system. Our taxes may be higher but it's better then having to pay out of pocket if I ever needed surgery. A lot of employers here provided a benefit plan as well but our basic medical needs are covered by our taxes.

The quality of care is exactly the same. People here get treatment regardless. I saw Sicko and it was horrible to see American citizens being left untreated because they didn't have insurance.

thinkingtime

No way.

My treatment was as good as anything in the US and at no charge. I was the breadwinner with no benefits when I got sick. We reckoned that if we had had to pay it ourselves as in the US, we would have had to sell our house.

Actually, taxes are not much higher in Canada, if you factor in US health insurance fees which have to be paid by an employer or an individual.

We are safe in Canada. We will never be refused treatment, or go bankrupt to pay for it.

PS Another response says that there are more MRI machines in Pittsburgh than in all of Canada.

How many MRI machines are there actually, in Pittsburgh? I'm curious.

According to to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Medical Imaging in Canada, 2007 reports that in 2007, there were 419 CT scanners and 222 MRI machines installed and operational in Canada.

Are there really 223 MRI scannners in Pittsburgh?

PPS I assume that all the thumbs down are for the comment about losing the house.

Because I was uninsured, I would have had to pay upfront for my extensive radiation. We could have legally kept the house but I would have had to do without the radiation.....

Karen C

I'm with 'freeside' on the tar and feather routine if health care is ever taken away. In fact, I think I know a few politicians I would like to practice my tar and feather routine on. :o)

1thousand is super fantastic.

Really you get what you pay for. I'm Canadian and pay taxes to have 'free' health care. For people who can afford better health care than what is offered..it can seem like the system is slow and good doctors are few and far between. BUT for the poor who could afford nothing I bet it seems like a pretty good deal. Both people DESERVE the same health care and in Canada both GET the same mediocre health care. Wait times are awful generally, but other facets of our health care system are awesome. So no, I wouldn't trade. Mostly b/c of the needs of the many vs the needs of just me.

*ajidamoon* the Eh team

Canada has a higher quality of life, and we live longer here. Sure taxes are a tad higher. Would I trade? No way! I have received every procedure I have needed, many MRI's, X-rays, set broken bones, four C-sections, two minor surgeries and a ton of cancer screening. The longest I have waited to see a specialist was 9 days. I can call up my GP and see him anytime I want, free of charge. So, does lower taxes balance out the fear of getting an illness or getting in an accident that I would have to live with everyday? No way.

tomjc43

This is a question that cannot be answered on places like Yahoo Answers because there is no answer only opinions. And like all opinions everyone has one.
In Canada in the last three years I have been diagnosed with Cancer. I had the diagnosis, operation, and treatment started and completed within 9 months. This was diagnosis, operation, chemo therapy, and radiation completed and follow up began 9 months after reporting to a clinic with symptoms. Total Cost to me $0.00.
I have now been declared Cancer free but still have annual Cat Scans, Xrays and whatevers at still no cost.
Eight months ago I felt a great deal of discomfort in my arm and leg. I called 911 and within an hour I was in a hospital 100 Kms form my home receiving Stroke Protocol Treatment. Today I have a minor limp that is being monitored, take 5 pills a day, and see two specialists each month. Total cost $4.44 per month for my medications. These are the stories of Canadian Health Care.
However If I want to see a doctor about a nagging cough I have to go to a clinic and wait four or five hours to see a doctor who will tell me to go home and take two aspirins.
Universal Health Care has it's problems mis users of the system aren't penalized. If I smoked, drank, and had poor diet I would still receive the prime health response that i would get for taking care of myself. There are times when I wish we had the American System. But then I would still have insurance and probably pay less than I do now with my taxes because I am in the wealthy section of society.
But we still have the same access to health as do the Americans. It is just that it costs us more for the free lunch.

curicta85

no way,wouldn't trade it for nothing! Wherever i go i don't have to worry,i'm covered! And it makes me feel good to know that if something happens doctors will take care of me and i won't have to spend my whole life paying the medical bill .
I've never had problems with health care,and i think it's really good.I have benefits which is covered by my company so i don't pay for prescriptions or a doctor.
Having higher taxes is fine with me,rather that then US system.
I've heard real life horror stories and i wouldn't go to the states without being insured.

Steve

I've lived in, and had coverage in both countries. The quality is the same, and there are very few Canadians who would trade their system for the US system.

MasterPython

If you have cancer you are better off in the states, you have a higher chance of living. In several provinces they don't even bother to try the newer drugs.

Fred Lane

Over all the health care system in the US provides a much higher standard of Quality. There are more types of treatment for a variety of ailments that are not available in Canada. The city of Pittsburg has more MRI machines than the entire Country of Canada. 5 million Canadians out of a population of 30 million cannot find a family doctor because of a National shortage, and recently a lab in Newfoundland botched tests that resulted in hundreds of Women being given clean bills of health when in fact they where in the early stages of Breast Cancer.
So yeah Canada provides free health to its Citizens, but you get what you pay for.

Canadian Press Sept 24 2008
WINNIPEG
"It's an unacceptable tradgety that a man waited 34 hours in a Winnipeg hospital emergency room and was dead for several hours before he was finally brought to the attention of medical staff", Premier Gary Doer said Tuesday.

But the good news is it didn't cost him anything. Fred

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