For Canadians only?

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Cariad

The healthcare system here isn't perfect, but it is very good. No eligible person is denied coverage, no one goes bankrupt because of medical reasons. It does have its shortfalls, but nothing is perfect for every one person.

Does it put a strain on your taxes?
In some provinces, the health care premium is included in your taxes, in other province you pay for it or your employer does. In Ontario for example, you never really "see" it come off your paycheque, but recent media reports put it at around $600 a year for adults. (on average-higher for elderly, less for younger) Most adults go to the doctor/hospital enough that this is a fraction of what they would pay equivalent in the USA. As with anything, there is always a need for more doctors, more research for disease etc which is funded by the government with our taxes. The government tends to have a million ways to spend money, and not enough of it to go around it seems.

Are there long waits at hospitals?
Sometimes. The hospitals will prioritize you when you go to the hospital. If you have a case of the sniffles, you will wait longer than the guy having a heart attack. Sadly, in some areas there aren't enough clinics or available doctors for "regular" appointments so people are forced to go to the hospitals for minor things. Then they wait and wait. If your question is regarding surgeries for things like knee replacements, there is a bit of wait. Again, the patients are prioratized. The guy with more money or better insurance does not get first place...it depends on need of patient. (and area where the patient is-eg in Northern Ontario as opposed to Vancouver area where there are more doctors and hospitals)

Are people commonly denied?
Not commonly, no. However, there is a lot of health care fraud in this country. People who lie and cheat the system to show they are eligible for coverage when they are not. (and take away from those who are really eligible and make them wait) If you have seen the movie "Sicko" there is a woman there who uses a Canadian friend to show she is Canadian to get health care not available to her in the USA. That is an example of what I mean. Health care here is also provincially run, and not run as a while by private insurance companies.

Canadians have this idea that just because they are Canadian that health care is their "right" and everything should be covered. Not true. If you are not present in your province (or even country) for a certain amount of time per year you are NOT eligible. (barring certain circumstances that you need to make your provincial health plan aware of in advance) Also, health care here does not have the purpose to have face lifts. It is to provide basic health care to every eligible Canadian. It is up to each Canadian to show they are eligible by providing the right documents and fulfill their end of the bargain.

How does this conflict with the healthcare system in the USA?
There is no class system for health care here. The rich and poor are treated by the same doctors, with the same access to care. You do not have to have your doctor approved or be turned away from a hospital because it isn't on the list of approved places. A doctor/hospital here CAN turn you away if your complaint is not life threatening and you do not have coverage; but they will not let you die. People do not go into debt or have to chose which hand will be saved because of money. From what I understand, health premiums as compared to the USA are cheaper as well. A Canadian can be turned away for not having the right documents or not being eligible due to their choice (eg living in Arizona for too many days a year) but they are not refused treatment because of an existing condition. (nor does this effect what their health care premium costs, even in provinces you pay out of pocket rather than in taxes)

Like I said, it is not perfect up here. You hear all of the time about individual situations where the system can improve or failed. It does not seem to be as common as the USA-nor as nice as health care in England or France is. I think the worst thing we could do is say it is perfect....because then we stop striving to make it better.

Mike_D

Frankly, it's pretty awesome. I love that I can go to a hospital and get essential care at the Emergency ward, in a timely manner, without worrying about whether insurance covers it or not. Recently, I pulled out my extended health card at the ER, and they said "we don't need that" -- can't argue with that!

I really don't think it puts a "strain" on my taxes. People go on and on about how they want tax cuts, but one cannot have basic services without them... deep tax cuts are false economy, in my opinion.

Overall, I would say it contrasts (not conflicts) with the US system a fair bit.

Helena

No one is ever denied health care in Canada.

scotty_k24

I find the health care system in Ontario to be good. Not great, but good. I'm 24 and have had some serious health problems in my life, and not once have I had to wait months or anything crazy like that for an op or whatever. Usually it's within days.
It definitely doesn't strain my taxes.
Everyone already has health care, and most people receive extra insurance benefits through their employer - so I don't think there are and health care denials. The worst thing about it in my opinion, is that our best doctors usually go for work in the USA as they make a lot more money there.

I don't know if it's a big conflict between our 2 countries health care systems. USA has what, 100 mill more ppl than Canada? It's hard to say that we would be able to afford the same health care system with such a large population. I think it would be great for average American families to have a health care system similar to Canada

contessajfjg

I grew up in Toronto and I will give you my experience on the health care system. No one is ever denied health care because there isn't insurance companies to do so. If you need something medically done you are never denied, it is true you might wait longer in Canada for an operation such as a liver transplant, my best friend and her father were both on the waiting list she needed one because she was born that way while he needed one because he was an alcoholic, she got hers first, he died before he ever got one, he never stopped drinking.
I have had to wait once in the emergency room for 40 minutes, it was in the middle of the night, I felt fine and could wait it wasn't exactly an emergency just no other places were open and my parents were freaking out that I had a high fever, as I waited other people who were seriously ill were seen first.
There is a shortage of family doctors per people in the Toronto area, I actually have a family doctor however she lives so far away in Toronto I usually just go to a walk in clinic, like for my pregnancy I went into a walk-in told them I was pregnant they gave me a blood test and gave a refferal to an OBGYN who I went to see a week later and already had my blood results sent there. Taxes are higher then in the US especially property taxes, but I really do not mind it.
I know live in the US and recently had a child here, it cost almost 12 grand luckily insurance covered $10 grand so I only had to pay $2000, my husband had to go the doctors in between jobs when he sprained his foot, seeing a doctor for half an hour cost $150 plus paying for the brace and paying for the doctors note. In Canada all these things would be free. Also in Canada I grew up quite poor and my doctor knew that so she always gave my family free samples, or something, we never had to pay for medications, my mom has sever asthma and always gets free inhalers.
In the US I have bills showing over $50,000 grand in medical bills over the past few years, some paid by insurance others not paid, right now I have about a $3000 outstanding bill which I pay $400/month to a collection agency, I can easily scan these bills on my computer if you wish to see the breakdown of US costs.

James B

Awesome. Haven't had a complaint in twenty three years (total!) and haven't paid a dime for any medical service provided to me outside of my taxes, which aren't much.

Larry003

Nationally, health-care is considered great, but individually, people have very different stories.

Personally, I've found it pretty great. I got injured a few years ago in a ski accident and just went to the hospital and got a few casts. I didn't have to wait at all. Okay - that's a lie, I had to wait to go to the washroom afterwards. They even provided physio afterwards for a few months. I didn't ahve to pay anything. In terms of my taxes, it's no big deal. I'm used to a high tax bracket and considering that buying power is quite high despite the tax, I live okay on a 40K salary. And no one is denied healthcare coverage by insurance companies because there are no insurance companies for that purpose. In my province it's a branch of the government that regulates that.

forever5

Just yesterday I went to a clinic (my doctor was booked up) and I was out with my prescription in just over an hour.

No one is denied health care.

Grand pa

In BC we pay $ 96.00 a month for 2 adults hospital free drugs are income based With a deductale Every one in BC has the medical service plan I have had 2 Angiograms a mild heart attack diabetes Daily IVs for a month No charge Waited 4 days in the er to have my first angiogram

eat me hillary

Taxes are quite high in Canada.

Generally, people owe around 30% to the Feds, 15% to the province, some more for local taxes, excise taxes on many goods, and sales taxes around 15%.

No one is denied health care in the US either, you peons. It is illegal to do so.

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