How good is the Canadian healthcare system?

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Karen C

Not as good as it could be but then nothing is as good as it could be. That is part of what motivates us to be better.
Better than no healthcare or healthcare that you need but cannot afford.

Waiting depends on a lot of different criteria. When I had cancer that was moving very quickly towards my brain, I was operated on 2 days later. That was five years ago. I am still alive and kicking. I doubt if 'paid for' health care could have been faster or any better. In the past 40 years I have had five operations, two of them for cancer, and the longest I had to wait was two months and I could have had that sooner if I had been willing to go to a different town for it. Very few people "have" to go to the States though I know some who have chosen to go there. I have met Americans who have gone to South Africa for some procedures just because that is a place reputed to be the best for a specific malady and because they could afford to do that. I also know of some Americans who have not been able to get the medical attention they needed because they could not afford it and they are either dead or in a much worse state than they really have to be.

They say that the rich get rich and the poor get poorer. It is also true for many that the rich get treatment and the poor get across the counter placebos and die in the States. Little recessions do not usually change anything. But this is a bigger recession than most have been and it may well be that a lot of previously rich people will find themselves joining the ranks of the less rich and even perhaps the poor. I expect their attitude will change some when they experience that.

Canuck

There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.

1. How many people are on the waiting list

2. How important is your surgery

3. Do you need a specialist or can any surgeon preform it .

You will get your surgery you just need to be patient.

It is very true that the health care system moves a little slower then privatized health care but in the long run it works out better for everyone. More Americans die because they can not afford health care then Canadians on a waiting list.

Randy B

I've never had any problem with it yet. Sometimes there can be a wait time that is a bit long but when it's serious enough it's not a problem. My daughter is deaf in one ear. She had an ear infection recently in her "good ear" and it was a two week wait to get into the ENT. It was nothing that our family Doctor couldn't deal with in the mean time however and if it got that serious before the appointment with the specialist we would have just taken her to the Emerg.

The only thing the plan doesn't cover is medications but I have a plan through my employer that handles most of that (80%).

I like the system and while it needs some adjustment it seems to work just fine.

tuppenybitz

i have no complaints at all, i always get the treatment i need with no fuss or bother
i think it is a great service

my husband is housebound with wounds to his legs, a nurse comes 3 times a week to dress them and all the bandages swabs creams intravenous antibiotics are all delivered to my house and are totally free

Dead Day Afternoon

I've never had any problems.
The wait in the ER sucks but otherwise you're fine.

Go Blue

The free healthcare is nice.

If you're getting elective surgery or its not life-threatening then yeah, you're going to wait for a while.

People head to the U.S. sometimes but I don't think its worth it.

old lady

The system is excellent. Yes, you sometimes have to wait for some surgery (but not always, and not for all surgery) but you NEVER have to wait for urgent or emergency care.
If people want to get something elective surgery done earlier, they can go to the US for that surgery,or to India, or to Malaysia or to half a dozen other countries. But it's very, very expensive and isn't covered by Medicare.

thinkingtime

I waited 2 days to see a specialist, one day for a CT, one working day, over a weekend for an MRI, 2 months for surgery ,and three months, most of which was healing time, for radiation.

Yesterday I called for a doctor's appointment and got in the same day - that's unusual, it's usually a couple of days if I don't want to use the free walk in clinic..

Mind you, the lack of a private system means no queue jumping. That's a help if you can't afford private care.

Actually, we do have a"private system". It's called the USA where Canadians can get equally good treatment as in Canada, at a $$ price, while poorer Americans go without or wait to be sick enough not to be turned away from ERs.

Bluelady...

Hi,
Being used of medical needs in Canada and the states I can ensure you the waits can be the same and our Canadian medical system is not as free as people think it is. We do pay premiums and we do have waits, but take into consideration where one might live, need for doctors and nurses in our areas. I do believe that private medical might sound good but it too in time will reach it's limit and too become a wait like or the same as our medical already in the system. Don't be fooled, there are reason for the waits, maybe not seem fair, right or just dam upsetting but face it we are all in need. Doctors, nurses...ARE HEALTH CARE IS IN A DIRE NEED.
On another note: Why should one be penalized for being underprivileged...Just my thought on this posting. Thank you.

m.marley16

Its one of the best in the world, sure people will complain and say the wait is too long, but the only reason for this is because people are taking advantage of the free care, therefore thousands of people are going to the er, for every little thing, in the states millions don't go because they can't afford it. think of any problem, at the end of your stay your bill will be
0$
0$

Ashley =)

True. But how often will you need open heat surgery done? lol ... exactly. The basics are tended to with ease.

Johnny Friendly

In Canada, no one has to worry about going bankrupt or losing their life savings because they got sick.
No one is ever denied healthcare coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or has to go without because they can't afford the premiums.
Doctors can spend their time treating patients instead of fighting for approval and processing claims with 53 different health insurance companies.
Businesses never have to consider how they will afford the ever-rising health insurance premiums for their employees.
Canadians are free to go to any doctor they want. They don't have to pay extra if their favorite doctor is not "in network."
Also in Canada, you DO get private health CARE, you just can't get private health INSURANCE. However, you can buy supplemental insurance for extras that the public system doesn't cover.

It's not perfect (no system is), but the percentage of Canadians who would like to replace their universal healthcare system with a private, U.S.-style employer-based system is somewhere in the single digits. Whereas a majority of Americans, and American doctors, now favor a single-payer health insurance system in the U.S.

wombat.moose

it is very slow, very slow, although check ups are very thorough and the system is sufficient, but those clinics can be terrible as far as waiting goes, but thats why its there for everyone

Francois Quebequois

SUCKS!

Answerer

It's free. My mom's a nurse & she preforms surgeries everyday. Go in & they do it all for you for free. Of course we make EVERYONE pay via taxes. So if you're in buffalo & you break your arm, come up to Canada & get help for free.

pop

It just sucks.

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