Comparing Canadian and American Health Care
Вставка
- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- For the first time ever, KPBS teams up with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to compare American privatized medicine with government funded, universal health care in Canada. In the end, which system would make us healthier? In which country would we live longer? And is basic health care a right or a privilege? [San Diego Week broadcasts this Envision San Diego episode called "Right to Health" Friday July 3, 2009]
As a Canadian I've never waited long and I've never heard anyone waiting anywhere close to a year for an MRI. This is bs
Propoganda again and a smear campaign
@Sean Steelethen you are a liar, you are not canadian
That lawyer is a joke? Fear of waiting weeks or months to see a doctor in Canada? I can see a doctor any day and immediately.
no you can't
Ghkjdf Hbjhffh yes I can. lol Fall hit my head drive to the medi-center he calls the hospital 12hrs later I'm at the hospital getting a CAT scan. Fort McMurray massive forest fires causing my asthma to act up when the smoke drifted down south, and my inhaler is empty, drive over to the medi-center see the doctor get a refill drive over to pharmacy get it filled. Cut myself on a rusty nail drive over to the medi-center get a tetanus shot. Etc etc etc Anytime I want to see a doctor I just drive over and see one at a walk in clinic. Are you even Canadian?
Trish Hach yes for montreal and one thing i know for sure is that you are the unluckiest person ever how many times did you went to the doctor damn man
and also you maybe went to the emergency room
but if you have something that is not visible you have to wait for at least 3 weeks
You're right, Wait times are typically for hip replacements or elective surgeries, not life threatening illness.
Ghkjdf Hbjhffh No not ERs maybe in Quebec you don't have walk in clinics like they do in western canada. Let me explain, they're clinics open usually between 9am to 10pm 7 days a week usually with 2-4 doctors on staff. You don't make appointments you walk in write down your name 1st come 1st serve. Their great if you don't want to or can't wait for an appointment with your regular doctor. We also have a thing called dynaLife Labs. They just do lab tests and what not. So not feeling well get in your car drive over to a medicentre see a doctor he says you need some tests sends you over to DynaLife for a test. These things get you immediate care and frees up ERs and Hospitals for seriously ill or injured. All paid for by Alberta Healthcare. Obviously Ontario and Quebec don't manage their health care properly with the horror stories I keep hearing. Maybe they should take some pointers from western canada.
I bet the Canadians in San Diego aren't poor or even middle class so can afford the US system. The first case were they asked a Canadian lawyer living in a massive expensive house about both systems was funny especially when he revealed what his job was lol. If your an average person stay in Canada, if your condition is pressing you'll be seen straight away.
And you don't have all the best docs in the world. THe U.S> does not hold a monopoly on great docs. If he was in any major Canadian Center he also would have received excellent care. My mom had the same disease and our system saved her life without her having to worry about a massive bill. And I'm not just the source, I could source countless relatives and friends and again poll after poll after poll showing Canadians STRONG support of our system.
The difference in healthcare costs between San Diego and say Bloomington Indiana is huge. WHY? In the rest of the 1st world healthcare is free. It's called civilization. Try it! You'll like it.
I think it still is less in Europe - the diabetes rate - in Canada or the US .
As to the wait times I developed cataracts and to see my optometrist who immediately referred me to a specialist within 6 weeks I received surgery on my left eye and got the right eye done 3 months later and that three month period was to be sure there were no complications with the first surgery and that I would at least have vision in at least one eye.
But we do have access in Canada to private clinics as well. I paid for a scan at a private clinic once when I didn't want to wait a few months, what I had wasn't painful or dibilitating but I wanted peace of mind. but if I hadn't had the money for it at the time I would have been thankful to get a free one, even if I had to wait a few months. Those who need treament right away get it right away, regardless of how much money that have. but if you can afford it, go ahead and get it faster.
I am a Canadian dealing with cancer. I have had four or five MRIs over the past nine months to track the tumour. No waiting. No charge. (OK, in my taxes, but that's OK). Cancer drugs are paid for. Multiple treatments, meetings with doctors, other professionals. No charge. Also a stent put into my coronary artery, no charge.I paid into the system all my working life. But now, it is paying off.
I am American, and every Canadian I have talked to LOVES their Health system. In the US of America, we have health insurance CEOs skimming 60 million plus a year in salary, while PEOPLE DIE!
Skipper Russell
So true!
beth98362 R The Republicans wanted to allocate 45 billion to fight the opium epidemic caused by the war in Afghanistan.
Buzz Crooks how would you feel if you went to America and they told you you've been being treated for cancer you didn't actually have??? You will never know with our shit health care (Cameron inquiry)
you think that doesn't happy in the US also? it shouldn't happen in any country and although unacceptable the odds are slim. if this really happened to you it is very unfortunate.
These kinds of videos always blow up on the wait times in Canada. The frank truth is that nobody waits for a real problem. "Oh my foot hurts" is a lot different than "hey I'm unconscious".
Think you're wrong there. The frank truth is that patients can point out serious and deadly problems for years, and then finally they educate their doctors through what they learned from the Internet. By then their diseases have progressed too far to be treated. More and more Canadians are diagnosing their own diseases before their doctors even have a clue, and yes, they were right all along and doctors were actually doing many things to kill them.
Doctors aren't taught about the most deadly diseases in medical schools and have no time to learn or keep up with medicine when they get out. Canadian doctors are about 20 to 25 years behind in medical knowledge overall than their American or European counterparts.
These doctors are bombarded with patients and nearly drop dead when they get home. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are doing the jobs of GPs. GPs are doing the jobs of specialists and UNsupervised clinical assistants are doing the jobs of neurologists, right from the entire testing to the writing of the report. Patients sometimes are led to believe they are seeing real specialists after waiting a year, only to be sent to substitutes who will do their entire examination and report without any supervision. Serious medical conditions are almost never followed up. (Believe that should be the job of the specialist versus the GP, because GP's don't often know when they should be referred again so patients simply get lost in the shuffle while GPs guess at interpretations of specific types of reports that only specialists should be interpreting ).
It's getting to the point where some doctors are even too afraid to put signatures on medical reports. They are only typewritten. They don't like the positions they're put in and are fearful that one day someone may find something wrong with this.
What can patients do when in Canada, even when over 80% of the people plus the opposition call for a public heath inquiry due to so much illness not being treated until one disease after another has developed as a result, and when government simply says to the people and the opposition parties, "THERE IS NO WAY WE WILL EVER ALLOW A PUBLIC HEALTH INQUIRY!" (Alberta)
Is this how a democracy should work? It is indeed how it works. Courts won't intervene, stating that if the people don't like it, wait until election time comes around and vote differently next time, just like they would've had to wait if Hitler were running the camp. Canada desperately needs more improvement in this department than any other.
Let's start charging most people a monthly fee for a start. If he system is so bankrupt it can't function, why were these payments discontinued in the first place? Would you ask your boss to quit paying you if you were nearly bankrupt?
Juan Eduardo Yes and its going to get worse. Those immigrants wont put into the system as much as they take in. I know because it's the same story in the US. Eventually it all ends up as whitey paying for a bunch of muds who call him an oppressor.
SO TRUE and I know this from experience. When my gall bladder ruptured I was operated on that day. 5 years later and no bills later I'm doing great. Anyone that says the American system is better than the Canadian is lying or insane.
SuperStrik9 Then your a rare exception, most people have to wait for week or even months in countries that have government ran health care.
Paupa Dilly...I don't think anyone claims tat Public health is a perfect system...but between the Canadian & American system w/c one is better? I mean if those are the 2 options you have w/c one will you sign up for?
The term ''wait times'' is a relative term. I am an American without insurance. I simply can't afford it. And now because of the ACA, I am being penalized for not having insurance. Nine years ago I was told that I need an MRI. Because of my lack of insurance, I still haven't gotten an MRI. I am in pain everyday and there is nothing I can do about it. So a four week or fourteen week wait is not that long of a wait to me. It is better to wait than to not have any treatment at all.
+Hester Aldridge I'm in the same boat. I can't afford coverage and I'm being fined now for it. I agree that a wait time is better than never getting care.
+Hester Aldridge ACA was a joke, when it was going through the Senate and I heard they took the public option off the table, I was stunned.
My younger brother does pay for a $3000 deductible insurance plan for $60 a month varies depending on how much he makes, so it goes up in the month if his pay is higher due to over time, he only makes a little over $19K a year. It doesn't include dental, so he hasn't had a dental cleaning for several years. He told me about that, and it just made me sick to my stomach. Our medical system in the US is a piece of shit for poor or middle class people.
+Melody Bowie I admire the Canadian system. Although the Canadian system gets talked down by Conservatives in the US, the US system is still the worlds most expensive system with costs growing at an annual double digit rate and still leaves 30 million uninsured. BTW your drug prices are great!!!!!!!
+Melody Bowie That is good news for people struggling. I had to pay out of pocket for 3 drugs to help my mother and they were about $1350 per month. The same three drugs in Canada were about $290. Its insane. Thanks for the information! Canada rocks!!!
+Melody Bowie Thanks Melody!
Canadians are STILL complaining? You got to wait because there are more urgent cases? Wow.. I'm sorry... AND you have other free alternatives to keep you comfortable while you wait?.. The system isn't perfect, but we ARE spoiled compared to U.S. That lady complaining about her foot, can go PAY in the U.S and get the "Amazingly, quick medical attention" that Mr. Libel gets... she just has to make sure she sells everything she owns, or be well off like he is. Embarrassing.
I FOUND THIS SO SISGUSTING. sO Canada HAS WAIT TIMES. there ARE NO DEATH TIMES. (SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS) Other than long drives I have no time waiting for any treatment. I will take my system any day.
try turning up with no money
Agreed. His statement that if he was in Canada he wouldn't go to a doctor for the pain in his leg out of fear of having to wait... is utter nonsense. As a high paid lawyer with three children... he'd certainly have a family doctor in Canada and, even if the doctor or an associate wasn't available, he'd certainly visit a walk-in-clinic and wait a couple of hours.
A couple of hours "MINIMUM" you mean. Absolutely minimal unless you live in a small city.
lmaooo people saying waiting for free health care is a pain, when ppl wait 2 hours in line to save 2 cents on each litre of gas
40,000+ thousand americans die every year who do not have insurance. That's just insanity.
Aka sick corporate greed trading life for cash.
I think a lot die here too, for the same reason, although we hide a lot of things that I'm surprised the USA reveals about themselves. Cheap, poor, or treatment too late is often as bad as no treatment at all, and when there is extreme shortage of professionals, that doesn't help either.
J Pol what?
J Pol -- once again: Link?
When my mother had a stroke, EMS arrived in 3 minutes, and were rolling 2 minutes later, We covered 27 miles to hospital in 18 minutes - the girl driving just put foot to the floor and "gave it hell". Neurosurgery was waiting when we arrived. and an MRI and surgery were underway before I'd finished giving them her address. Post-Op was superb. She walked out 100% with no lingering effects. Lucky? Yes. But a lot of good people made it happen. We worried a lot, but never about cost, or care. QED.
ImagineeringTech I was surprised at how fast things happened at the hospital when my husband had a stroke. My head was spinning things were happening so fast. He had a MRI almost right away. There are longer wait times for non urgent things but when it comes to emergencies, things move fast.
I've never had to wait for treatment, and nor has anyone in my family. Hip surgery within 6 weeks (so Dad could lose weight), 3 weeks for thyroid surgery, 4 weeks for radio-iodine treatment, immediate assistance for bi-polar treatment, and 100% free, no-wait service for the best palliative care for my mum. The Canadian system isn't perfect,but it is easier and available to all.
I paid $3500 for an MRI. So... I'd gladly wait 4 months next time.
months of wait time are lies
Joe Boomer $3500?! Holy fuck!!!!!
There is no comparison, Canada's system is better for everyone except the very rich who can afford to skip lines and pay the excorbitant costs in the US.
I have issues with this misconception regarding wait times for certain procedures and elective surgeries.
I am a 54 year old man and for 40 of those years I rarely saw a doctor or a hospital because I was relatively healthy and didn't need to access our outstanding universal system, but in the last 14 years that has changed.
The rules are driven by priority. I have never waited more than several weeks for a procedure and less if the issue was urgent.
Sure, elective surgery might take a few moths but it is "elective", not urgent. No system is perfect and I have nothing but praise for the care we receive as Canadians.
The cutbacks are making a detrimental impact on things, but free is better than bankruptcy, outrageous insurance rates, denial of any care or dying due to lack of insurance.
So in the US you basically need to well off to get healthcare.
well only the rich have enough $$ to pay. If you're poor, tough luck.
John Maddin and it sounds like you better not have an existing condition
if your poor the gov in the u,s, buys you healthcare, food, cheap housing. the middle class gets fucked
Yes
What that canadian lawyer says is Total BS, nobody dies from waiting for a blood test or seeing a doctor in Canada. If you don't have your own doctor, you can go to clinic and be seen within a few hours or little wait or not. Non-life threatening things you have wait but i rather wait than not get at all. Because he is part of the wealthy class, he's able get gold-plated access so yeah he loves it in the US because money can get you past any line.
Certainly money gets you past most lines also in Canada. I don't think that differs in any country.
I live in Saskatchewan. You can always go to a walk in clinic. Most if they are busy will give you an estimated time so you can do something else in the mean time. As far a blood tests we have DynaCare and they have an app that shows locations and wait times for all their locations. So you just enter your name on the app and type of test blood work for example arrive slightly before your estimated time and you will probably be 2nd or 3rd on the list with a wait time of less than 5 minutes. I don't think I would hire a lawyer that is technology illiterate.
J Pol what a bs you are
I'm listening to this Ex-Pat Canadian thinking "are you nuts ?!" First of all, if you have the type of leg pain caused by a DVT/ Clot you don't wait weeks before you go see your family Doctor. If your GP thinks you have a clot you will be triaged quickly to Ultrasound for a venous Doppler to confirm it and treated immediately with appropriate meds etc. Doctors don't go out on the street looking for business. If you are too stubborn to recognize there is a problem, don't blame the system. Are there things in the Cdn system that can improve? Yes, but I wouldn't trade universal health care for anything. Imagine working your whole adult life and then loosing your home because you got sick ? That is obscene ! God Bless Tommy Douglas !
agreed. the things you wait for are things that deteriorate over time. they gave the example of cataracts, which can take years before the doctor decides to do surgery. the key is to see your doctor regularly, get them to refer you to a specialist when it's time and your surgery will be timed for when you need it. Same deal with knee replacements etc. If it's possibly life threatening or not treating it will cause other problems eg diabetes there is no wait at all. The other benefit of universal health care is that you are not limited to which doctors, specialists, or treatment facilities you go to. those decisions are made by your doctor not your insurance company. if the treatment isn't offered in your province you can go to another province eg. I don't think they do heart transplants in PEI. I think those people still go to other provinces
+Canuckmom1958 I went to my Dr. after returning home from a flight out west. I had chest pains. I knew within 5 hours if I had a blood clot (did not btw). He did have to send me to the ER as the inhouse lab was an overnight job, but I had a blood test, and x-ray within 2 hours of arriving and just had to wait for the results.
+Rose Stewart Right ! And I don't know anybody who had to have cataracts removed who had to wait very long passed the time when it's clinically appropriate to remove them ( ie: the cataract has to be "ripe" before they remove it) and they only do one at a time so there may be a small delay between the two procedures, but it's usually 4 weeks, to give the first eye time to heal.
So wait two months for free surgery? Am I the only one who doesn't see an issue?
What hogwash, Living near Toronto it takes me typically an hour to see a doctor. If it is off hours it takes about 2 hours at a clinic and it is too late for the clinic 4 hours at emergency. I only way I can see that it would take that long to see a doctor is if you were stupid enough to choose a doctor who is taking on way too many patients or if you lived in a remote community where it is difficult to get doctors to move there.
"A man who went blind cause he couldn't see a doctor" Wow
I'm American living in Canada. It is now 2018. In 2004 I was living in San Diego. I had a fairly good job and had had Kaiser Permanente Health Group insurance for 20 years and the payments per month were acceptable. My last 4 years in San Diego (2001-2005) I was paying Family Insurance Plan payments of $298.00 to $340.00 per month. That was acceptable and I thought is was a great deal and reasonable. Then in 2005 my monthly payments jumped from $340.00/mth to $740.00./mth because the State of California said that Californians now had to pay for Undocumented Immigrants and Welfare Recipients to have Full Coverage as paying enrollees.
Thank heavens that I had a Canadian spouse who had enjoyed fast service and the best doctors and treatments that money could buy and new the value of Health Insurance. She had been diagnosed with some pretty costly ailments and even though I could afford ailments at the time -- my company closed their doors and I was without money to pay so off to her country of Canada we went. Not for me but, for my wife - who already had a GP in Canada. I was completely bafooned at the excellent Canadian Health Care she introduced me to in December of 2005. I became a Permanent Resident in early 2006 and I now was under the same Canadian OHIP Health Plan. It wasn't quite as super as Kaiser at the time -- but, pretty darn close. I would say it matches Kaiser and Sharps now in 2018 for the most part. The major difference is we don't have to pay anything and yes MRI's and CT's took a bit of time to get into back in the day (2006) but, now they are readily available in Emergencies and with a few weeks for NON- Emerg cases which I still had to wait for in the MRI Trailers at Kaiser and Sharps. The lines were pretty long just like they had become at Kaiser after new California Health Rules had taken affect -- so I was okay with the one hour wait to see the GP that I didn't have to pay for. But, then -- I had a bicycle accident and four months later had a brain bleed start and that's when the OHIP Canadian Health System went into action. Paramedics are within 10 to 20 minutes anywhere in Ottawa and I had a CT within 20 minutes of arriving at the E.R. and was at the Brain Center for this stuff within the hour afterwards. I treatment had been started at the ER and the bleed had all but stopped. I had had maybe 3 CT's and three MRI's as I remember before leaving the hospital 12 days later. I had lost my speech so I was ushered into an immediate Speech Rehab for patients like me who could no longer speak clearly because of some brain damage. I went to Rehab for three months and when I left I was speaking with some noticeable stumbling -- and went to Group Therapy to continue therapy for the brain injury. I can now give group talks as well as anyone.
Then -- I had a LAD 96% blockage (Widowmaker Heart Attack) for whatever reason as I was an avid bicyclist riding 50 milers all the time...but, in any case -- I got to the Heart Institute within 30 minutes and was in the operating room 10 minutes later and got my 3 stints. My cardiologist was none other than the man who started the Stemmy Program which is now all over the world and I am still riding just as hard as ever and giving my dogs 2 to 3 mile walks at break neck walking speeds (my dogs out walk me) and so far I am doing pretty good. Will I ever have another heart attack -- who knows? But, for now -- I've learned to eat better, stress much less and appreciate the Canadian way of life which includes a great health care system that actually serves the people and saves lives every day. I have NO complaints and say no bad things about the system. If I had stayed in California -- I probably would have died twice and even if the Paramedics were to get to me -- I'm not sure I would have been able to pay for insurance to save my bacon so -- my hat is off to Canadians who make the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) possible.
....and that's not to mention that my GP is a young beautiful blonde who is really smart. I'm an old fart now of 64 this year...15 years her senior. Not to worry -- my wife loves her, too.
This stuff just makes me angry and sad, America is not the protector of the weak any more, it is the bully, praying on the weak.
Health for All...
I totally agree. If he had even phoned his doctor and they suspected a blood clot he would receive immediate help. The people who have to wait for doctor's appointments are the ones that go to the docs office when they have a cold. The comments on the mri's and knee replacements are a bit more difficult though. My dad recieved one the same week when he was diagnosed with cancer. I also managed to get a catscan a wk after visiting a walk in clinic bc of a possible larger problem.
Agreed. It breaks my heart to know that people can't receive the help they need because they can't afford it.
What a fucking myth!!! We don't wait a year to get an MRI. These people will say anything to level the playing field for the two system. A year LOL!!!!!
You are speaking for yourself. Speak for others as well. If you haven't been in their shoes you can say anything you want and it will still be garbage.
J Pol so you know someone that waited a year? I've never heard of one that someone knew the name of the person. It was always a friend of a friend of a friend of mine
The person with a blood clot in his leg was worried about waiting in Canada. He needn't worry. My doctor suspected I had a blood clot in the lungs and sent me to the hospital for an emergency scan with contrast to see if that was the case. I had the scan within 2 hours of first seeing my doctor in his office. I live just outside of Vancouver BC.
It would not have been free for Lesner. NOt to mention, he ran into his problems in the middle of the backwoods of Manitoba and was at a very small community hospital. He was ignorant of excellent care we have because he's never had treatment here.
Mr. Leibl, the son and the lawyer does not realize (or maybe he does and does not want to admit it) that the only and ONLY reason he took care of the blood clot quickly and saw a doctor in the U.S. is because he HAS a good paying job. Mr. Leib you have a good paying job therefore, you and your family do not have to worry about it. Lose your arrogance please and see the reality. Not everyone is as fortunate as you are in the U.S. And god help anyone who has a precondition.
WHo cares what Lesner said, its one person who NEVER actually received care in canada and he was at a SMALL community hospital. Just like if he was at a small one in the U.S., they wouldn't have been able to help him either.
americans provide free health care facilities and medicines to other countries but within the US they are against the concept of providing free health care to their own people. its strange
Wow!
because this is a capitalist system and the only reason we are dipping in care when we used to be the best in the world is that the government is sticking it's grubby fingers in it like it did the radio,train system, TV, bus system and so on that all died because of government involvement and restriction.
If you don't see it the UK's system is awful and the CA system is based on the UK system making it just as awful and even in europe the best system in norways which is a VERY capitalist system and the best in the world is an even more capitalist system in singapore while the UK has dingey and discusting hospitals who have abusive doctors which treat the mentally ill awful.
the CA system takes so much in taxes and provides little to no good service of care which Steve Crowder exposed and showed that the GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES told him to use private healthcare to help them out.
ua-cam.com/video/q2jijuj1ysw/v-deo.html
@ Mike alcazar.... 48%!? being a canadian thats hilarious that you think we spend that much on taxes, we have a sales fee of 7% that goes to the goverment,and 7%is deducted from our cheques but the goverment pays us back a good percentage by the end of the year that they don't use. (I usually get 3000$ a year back).... seriously.... do some research....48 percent lol
Nice to hear someone gets paid that much, but I'm sure most have never heard of such a thing.
CJ -- all good points except the one about "the government pays us back...". Obviously you don't understand income taxes.
Another reason Canadians live longer than Americans... stress. The perpetual worry of possibly becoming ill in the States, losing a home, business, etc. Possibly reovering physically, but never recovery financially = vicious cycle of sickness/stress/financial turmoil. I thank my lucky stars I was born in Canada, the social care systems including free healthcare makes for a more stress-free, peaceful, healthy life for myself, children, family and society in general as compared it seems than in the United States.
but their are a lot of people from canada in tge usa tho as you can see in the video and usa immigration
Ghkjdf Hbjhffh There are a lot of people who come to Canada for health care as well. It depends what you need. The university hospital where I live has some great specialist. If you need something like bariatric surgery Canada will pay for it in the states. You are better at that. After my husband's last stroke I took him at 2am when the place was empty.
Dawn E and not that many if you tell me but even if they go they don't live there while canadians in america they chose to live in it and that tell you that health system does not chose which country is better to live in
I agree. The cost of a hospital stay in the USA seems like highway robbery!
brad john hopwood i
I use a Toronto hospital. I got a non urgent MRI in three weeks, and an urgent one in 12 hours. This MRI is open 24 hours a day, so I go overnight, actually for the reduced traffic. My surgery was set up in 7 days for day surgery. Last time I went to an ER, I waited 40 minutes. I can see my family doctor in the same day or the next. I have never had to worry about health costs and that helps a lot.
+Betty Dunn
I'm glad to hear you share that. I was telling someone else that all we hear in the US about Canada is how long the wait times are in Canada.
my dad has his finger sawed off ..they made him wait 13 hours in Gatineau (which is listed at one of the modern worlds worst hospital) after 13 hours to see a doctor they said it was too late to put it back on....horrible.....ive been waiting 2 years!!!!! for surgery.....its awful for all the taxes we pay... ive calculated over 60% of my pay goes to the many taxe, sneaky fees like license renewal and plates which is a tax, tax on tax ... but we get very little back
Well I'm unsure how Quebec runs things but in Toronto I tore my ACL and needed surgery. I seen a specialist within a month... Had an MRI the following month then surgery the month after that.
Frankly for something so minor and non life threatening I was pretty okay with 3 months... I think people just like to complain. As for normal doctor visits I suffer from Anxiety and if I needed to see a doctor today I could within the hour... Canadian health care is far from perfect but I'd take free surgery and tests any day.
The american healthcare system makes the rich richer, and these poor people defending it make me sad...
Overall both Canadian and American healthcare have problems but they need to grow and evolve over time to improve. I feel that America is constantly fighting change that seriously needs to happen. Having universal health care with the option of paying for private care would make everyone happy. I know that someone will cry about tax costs going up, WELL TOUGH SHIT healthcare is a necessity and if you are willing to pay $200+ for a check up then pay your god damn taxes for the good of the people.
I suspect Ontario and Quebec may have better health care than in most places.
J Pol -- untrue
I broke my ankle when I was visiting Canada on a fishing trip and I had surgery in about a week to reset and brace the ankle, I still have the metal and they did a very good job. I have no real pain in my ankle and the scar is hardly visible. I was actually thinking about moving to Canada and attempting to get citizenship because of the state of America and now that there are so many people who are supporting a person like Trump, it makes me think about the people who I share this country with. It's very disheartening to see how many people are for Trump fascist and radical views on other races and religions. It makes me sick to think of it and the fact he's willing to bomb innocent people simply because they're the families of a radical jihadist group is crazy and he should have been boo'd off the stage, but he went up in the poles after suggesting that. I'm glad Bernie Sanders is higher in the poles now, but if someone like Trump is elected, I would lose all faith in America and Americans.
Right now, I believe in my heart that Bernie Sanders will be our next president because the radical right is a dying breed and many millennials are progressive and that gives me hope. It's not even about Trump horrible personality that worries me, it's his policies and his knowledge of politics. This guy is crazy combative and anyone who questions him is an enemy and anyone who challenges him he tries to destroy them financially. Take a look at how he acts if he doesn't get his way, he's like a spoiled child, I'm referring to the whole FOX 59 debate protest from Trump, it was all because Meagan Kelly asked Trump some hard questions and this guy totally buckles and lashes out like a child and says he's not showing up to their debates. He had a problem with Uni vision and there he also acted like a child. He's insulted women with horrible terms that no real man would ever use. He's about a dumb as a box of rocks and if I keep talking about him this will get increasingly bigger as I go along, LOL!
To wrap things up, this is not a good interpretation of Canada's healthcare system and I've witnessed it on more than one occasion and most of the things said here in America are myths that are told by the mainstream media to combat a single payer system, but we're smarter now and I think that shows in the support for Universal healthcare!
Wise Beard Man it's different province to province, so I guess you're hearing the worst case scenarios but it's not a very realistic picture of what it's like to live with universal health care in Canada. For example, in Nova Scotia cataract surgery they can get you in almost immediately...too soon for some people if they have to travel to have it done. My mother in law lives in a nursing home and they missed the fact that she was having trouble with her vision so she got in 2 days after my husband asked them to check her vision. The second eye was done 3 months later, only because they wanted the first to heal completely. They never do both eyes at the same time here.
But we have issues with other things that some provinces don't. It can take months to get into government run physiotherapy but after that your appointments are scheduled as needed. It can take over a year to get into a pain management clinic. And we have a severe doctor shortage in the main city where 40 percent of the province's residents live. Everyone including refugees wants to live here. Many move from other provinces because of jobs in ship building or oil and gas. But doctors don't want to move...the standard of living and the cost of housing in more rural communities is a fraction of the cost in Halifax. So many people have to wait to get a family doctor because doctors run their own practices and decide how many patients they want to take. There are walk in clinics but you get a better level of care from having one doctor consistently, since they see the big picture of your health and can be more proactive.
Wise Beard Man very well said from Canada and there is room for you here I hope you are wright about sanders.
If you came to Ontario I believe after 3 months of living here (but it could be 6 months) you can get an OHIO card & your health care I'd taken care of. Prescriptions have to be paid out of pocket but I understand the cost is far lower than the US. When a Canadian files their Income Tax return starting at around $22,000 I believe you pay 0.098% (that's less than 1%) to the health care pot. This goes to a max of $980 a year. So even if you were a big executive making millions a year the most you would contribute is $980. In the past 4 months I've had several ultra sounds, an MRI, a CAT scan & am waiting for an endoscopy not to mention numerous visits to the ER of which it cost me nothing! & now for kids 25 & under prescriptions are covered.
Terry -- unfortunately, Wise Beard was not "wright" (??) about Bernie.
Karen -- good for you! Unfortunately, pharmacare will bankrupt any province/country that institutes it. Saskatchewan, the Canadian birthplace for Universal Health Care, used to have pharmacare, and eventually eliminated it.
A. Read the study Phantoms in the Snow which showed that very very few Canadians go south for care.
B. The U.S. produces the most people that go abroad for care. According to Delliotte, over a million Americans sought healthcare last year elsewhere because they coudn't afford it at home.
(Canadian)
THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG!
I wanted a blood test (just to see if I was health) and I got checked 20minutes after I told y family doctor. The next day I heard that I was completely healthy!
The doctors thought she had cancer or something in her breast. She had surgery in less than three days (it was nothing) the longest I was in a waiting room was less than an hour and that was just because I had a dagger in my foot (from bowling) and I could have just gone home and taken it out but I just couldn't take pulling it out. There's no long wait in Canada and if you waited for a test or result, that's because it wasn't urgent and you could have/can waited.
Canadian health system (in my opinion) is best
Yes, I think most Canadians will agree that the blood testing department is actually not run too badly and no one would want it changed.
Why is it wrong? The doc might have thought you didn't look as healthy as you were. Better safe than sorry.
Bull and Shit in that order
ua-cam.com/video/q2jijuj1ysw/v-deo.html
Dana -- a dagger in your foot? what kind of bowling do you take part in??
.
There you go that is the core problem Healthcare is PROFIT driven!!!
Can't be any other way when Insurance companies rule Colleges of Physicians and surgeons. Insurance company interests aren't generally health care.
"A man went blind because he couldnt afford to see a doctor" cheeky
Also the idea of "i don't go to the doctor because i would have to wait" is nonsensical. Specially because you don't have to wait for a consultation or to regular medical procedures, or even exams like X-ray scans for a diagnose. "I don't go to the doctor because a consultation would cost me a month worth of rent.", seams to me a more real and valid reason to not go to the doctor.
The Canadian that they interview towards the end of the video who gives his view of US healthcare system is hardly impartial or ordinary, he works as a lawyer, so he's obviously very well off and he makes his living trying to encourage other Canadian's to work in the US so no surprise he's going to praise it and i am guessing the Canadian's he's dealing with are also in high income jobs and do not represent the vast majority of people. The better comparison was the Canadian in the changing room who said his daughter cannot get treatment because she has a pre-existing condition, how is that acceptable. This wouldn't even be an issue in any other western country and what is not mentioned here is that countries with social medicine still have private health corporations offering care for those with non emergency problems who do not want to wait, so if you want to pay loads for private US style healthcare you can. The other thing missed out here is that a lot of people do not get sick in other western countries because they can see their GP for free so health problems are discovered early when they are easier, quicker and cheaper to heal and also a lot less distressing for the patient, also unlike the old lady at the start of the video, medications are free or very cheap.
The problem with buying health insurance in Canada, other than the one offered for free, is that they all offer the same thing. In other words, you don't generally get better coverage, but you may get a couple of chiropractor appointments, dental appointments and eye care as well as better travel insurance but most of the sick don't need travel insurance anyway, so don't want coverage for that, yet have to get it anyway, which is probably mainly what they're paying for. If you were entitled to extra surgery options or better hospital treatment it would be worth it, but all of the companies seem to offer only the former and not much that all the others don't offer.
I don't think it's fair to ask an expat immigration lawyer living in So-Cal about his experiences with the American health care system. He obviously makes well over $100,000 a year and is completely covered by private insurance. Of course he's going to be unsure about which system is better because he doesn't care about all the poorer people who have no access. Nobody's questioning the quality of the care in the USA, which is the question this lawyer answers; people are questioning whether they can afford it if something goes wrong.
Interesting...where I am you don't have to wait MONTHS for an MRI, more like a few weeks if it's not that serious
AOFarenheit -- same situation here, in Alberta
I'm Canadian and I honestly don't think it's fucking fair Americans have to put up with this. Their health care is like a phone bill (pay as you go). Like, shit. "Don't get sick in America. That's the way it is." What the fuck is he talking about? You can't stop yourself from getting (let's say) a disease and other times you don't know if you're sick. Like cancer or if you get injured.
Vicki -- the "Don't get sick in America." statement is made to make a point, about cost of care in that country.
Trust the lawyer to lie. No one has to wait weeks for a regular appointment to see a doctor . I wander what he had to gain by telling that lie or if it was just force of habit?
Often patients do have to wait a week or two, depending on the doctor he has or how many other places that doctor works at. Many doctors only work part time as well. In Canada we can go to emergency clinics when the doctor is away, but normally we can't bounce around from doctor to doctor. If you have one of your own, you basically have to stick with that one, because the other doctor won't offer treatment anyway unless he thinks you need it now! He will just tell you to follow up with your own doctor if it can wait. Emergency clinics in Alberta can sometimes result in very long -- such as 5 hours for a badly broken bone or whatever, while children bouncing and running around with Mom claiming that maybe they broke a bone two weeks ago will get treated first. Sometimes the triage process is extremely difficult to figure out, although that has improved slightly in the past few years. Waiting 13 to 23 hours to get admitted for a longer term stay or because your records have been lost though is still problematic, however, as well as waiting 5 days in an emergency room before they can move a patient to a hospital room.
I am a Canadian who was found to have Cancer two years ago. The medical system in BC got right on top of it very fast with scans and tests. I very soon had an operation that successfully removed my Cancer. Subsequently I was called to come in for further tests to make sure the Cancer had not reappeared. My most recent examination did not find any Cancer. I could not be more pleased with our Universal Health Care in Canada.
What a joke this lawyer was....bull. What a biase on Canadian Health. Go to Canada ER and you will get any test you need right away.
+geegeetube You will also be admitted immediately, if that is necessary. Kudos
You are another person who is speaking for yourself, but there are many Canadians who have had to wait 13 hours or more in an emergency department, certainly in Alberta anyway. One nurse told me that if I had come in on a weekend, that wait would have been 23 hours. And yes, in some Alberta hospitals patients stay in the emergency room for 5 days (in an emergency room bed) before a hospital room becomes available. This is not a rare occasion either.
J Pol I stayed 2 days in an emergency room bed. No problem I was in a hospital not a hotel. The only time I was in a waiting room where there was a long wait time was on Boxing Day and all the doctors offices and Clinics were closed. We were there for a serious problem people were triaged and my wife was admitted immediately. The ones that were there for an owie I guess they waited a long time.
J Pol stop lying
My husband went to an emergency room in Canada having a heart attack. It was on a Sunday. One day later (Monday) he had an angioplasty and two stents placed. The system works in life and death situations. When he left the hospital three days later, there was no bill. All covered under our health care system.
Wait times ? Its called triage we have the patience and understanding to know that those who have the most life threatening circumstances come first.
I can't believe that in Syria before the war, we used to get all of theses services instantly and free of charge, while in Canada and USA not.
after all, our life in Syria was not so bad... sigh :(
+diamond glitter I didn't know that Syria had universal healthcare. Its a tragedy what's happened in that country.
Syria has free health care and free education, even universities are free. food was very cheap. especially bread a person could get 10 kilos of bread with one dollar. what happened is a long story but basically people wanted freadom. because criticising the government was not allowed.
+RuleofFive the distribution of resources was not equal. Small group of people get most of the money. I think this is happening in the US too
+diamond glitter I was reading that in addition to the one million Iraqi refugees that flooded into Syria after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 there was also a drought that caused more food to be imported and food prices to spike. This is a combination of climate change and horrible US foreign policy that affected the whole region.
+diamond glitter I didn't know how resources were distributed in Syria before the Civil War but I agree with you that there is a disturbing income inequality in the US. We spend too much money on our military by acting as a security force for large oil corporations and too little on our society.
I live on the U.S. Canada border and even just going to the clinic There are always people from the U.S. in there because they say it is cheaper to pay out of pocket in Canada than to buy real health insurance in the U.S.
They really shouldn't keep saying "Canada". They should say Manitoba. Each province has their own health care and their own issues. I've lived in Ontario my whole life. I've never really had to wait for anything. I had a CT scan when I started getting migraines. My appointment was only three weeks later. And I was told that if the migraines increased, they would get me in sooner. In my city, MRI and CT departments run 24hrs. You could have your appointment at anytime day or night.
I had bariatric surgery two years ago, completely paid for by the province. (The reasoning being, it's cheaper to pay for one surgery than for all the illnesses I would later get from being obese.) I had to wait for about 18 months between being referred to the program and the actual surgery. During that time, I had to follow a program and jump through every hoop. They wanted to make sure I was dead serious about loosing wait and following through post-op. I could have been kicked off at anytime if they didn't think I was working hard enough. And I am completely fine and in agreement with that wait and jumping through those hoops. Two years on, I'm off all cholesterol and blood pressure meds. I'm healthier than I've been in 20 years. I literally had my two year check up with the bariatric clinic yesterday. So they don't just operate and let you go. They keep up with me to make sure I'm still on task.
There's no way in hell I would ever want the American medical system. I'll take my minor wait times in Ontario, thank you very much.
MavenCree yup. Agreed. We have 13 separate health care systems plus the federal government that deals with active duty military and reserves. And each has its own issues but not all have the same issues.
I have no idea what the issue is with wait times in Quebec. We don't have the same waits as them in Nova Scotia, either for treatment in the ER or for surgery if it's not an emergency. But every American story against universal health care uses them as an example, with the issue of wait times and how much harder it is to get health care if you don't speak French.
Maven/Rose -- yes each province funds its' healthcare; however, the federal government also contributes healthcare dollars to each province. Also, certain standards are expected to be met and maintained across the whole country, in an attempt to make all provinces "equal" in treatment.
And that's why I'd rather wait to get access to health I know I'll get than not be able to pay for it. While the waiting times are certainly quite unacceptable (and I do wish for reform to Canadian healthcare that does not make the private healthcare alternative a viable option for its citizens), at least it's fair: if it's absolutely certain you will die without access to a health service, you get bumped to the front of the line.
Waited a day for an emergency MRI two years ago in Canada.
What city?
J Pol I have read most of your comments. I am wondering do you work for a heath insurance company or big pharma?
Don't Bet on it -- J Pol may work for health/pharma, I don't know. I DO know he has made many incorrect/inaccurate statements throughout this thread... pay him very little mind
Any one that saids money is not important is lying money is very important I'm 19 living in Los Angeles ca my family is lower middle class, but we cannot afford insurance and one day I fucked up my back I lasted with that pain for about 7 months I couldn't pay for a doctor because is to expensive, and the free clinics we have here are not that good they didn't found anything wrong with me. Finally the pain when away never found what was wrong, but it could have been something very bad.
The only real problem is that Canada needs to train more healthcare professionals. I think it is time to open up a few more slots in medical school instead of turning down 95 percent of the perfectly qualified people that apply. Let's also not forget that much of the healthcare costs in Canada are the result of pricing in the US. Much of the medicine and medical equipment used in Canada comes from US companies that gouge and hide behind copyright laws.
One more thing, that lawyer advocating US healthcare forgets that he ONLY has immediate healthcare because he is.....a lawyer. He has a good job and can afford insurance. In Canada you have to wait, but in the US, you might not have any or have "Obamacare". I think many Canadians are happy to wait a little, so everybody has access.
I haven't seen any of these long wait times that people talk about. I've had MRI's and seen specialists almost instantly. A friend of mine had a (non urgent) hip surgery recently, he only waited about 2 weeks for it. The lawyer in the video has free insurance from the company he works for. No wonder he praises the system, he doesn't even pay for his (probably expensive) insurance, and it helps promote his work!
This is why I wish Canada would become more inventive and wish inventions were actually encouraged by government. Instead, we sit back saying, "well oil and grain will last forever so why bother getting inventive?" Neither will last forever and I have to say I think Americans beat us by a mile when it comes to innovation. Also I don't think we should be bailing out companies like Bombardier who just can't seem to ever stop drowning. Why should one company be bailed out by taxpayers and not all? Canada should introduce more innovating programs in their schools as well, such as Junior Achievement, which used to teach children what it feels like to invent something and how to go about marketing it.
In the US, the doctors, nurses, facilities and equipment are in ABUNDANCE, and of amazing quality, but if you can't pay, you're screwed.
In Canada, the facilities and medical professionals are also there, also of amazing quality, but there are fewer doctors, nurses, facilities and equipment, therefore the wait is longer.
Solution: For the US - change the ENTIRE system, increase the range of coverage
For Canada - HIRE more medical professionals, increase healthcare funding
I like just having payments come out my taxes for health care. Don't have to get stressed out about making payments. For the most part both systems aren't much different. The US may be more advanced but its not like Canada is that far behind. I think the problem with Canadian health care is that we're so close to the US and we lose a lot of Canadian doctors to them.
I'm a 39 year old male from the United States....I was recently hit by a car while riding my bicycle and so far my medical bills are at $82,000.00 and I still need more surgeries. This is an absurd amount of money and there is no way I could ever afford this......
All I gotta say is.. The rich keep getting richer and the poor keeps gettin poorer, by the way it doesn't take a year to get an MRI or months for surgery, if you need it, asap is the result, besides who looks forward to surgeries and hospitals anyhow. #1Canada
it depends where you live in canada. i live in Surrey BC it took 5 days for an MRI on my ankle. some places you wait longer than others. but if it is urgent they will bring you in right away. and dont forget about the cost of an ambulence in amerca
Dealing with Insurance companies suck too, we buy dental, home, vehicle. etc....pay them monthly and when you need to use it, well you had better have read the fine print. Ya, I'll stick with our Canadian health care instead.
Thanks BW022, you added good points to my comments. I have a neighbour who moved from Newfoundland to our province last year. Therefore, he did not have a family doctor. Six month ago, he saw blood in his stool. He went to a walk-in-clinic. The next day (less than 12 hours), he was seen by a cancer specialist. Last week, he finished his last round of chemo and he is clean of the disease. Yes, true, in Canada you might wait but never for life-threatening matters. No one dies or goes bankrupt.
Very well said my friend! I like that you stick to facts because statistics don't lie. I love Canada and it's fare and humane health care system that everyone has a right to!
Neither system is perfect. But in all honesty, I would rather wait then be in debit for years just because I was sick.
3:30 Set up to make money for Private Insurance
in America you have to pay thousands of dollars just to meet the doctor before he check on you
I love this video! it is a balanced, super-informative expose of the misconceptions about the two systems, the pros, and the cons. I personally believe the Canadian system is much better, and I hope one day we will have something like that in the United States. Thanks for uploading this video!!
Love you @waub !!! Miss you on CBCRADIO in northern Ontario..
Thanks Dr. Gordon !!! Oh you have to wait.......how sad! I hope your boo boo gets better.....this is so bogus.Canadian Health Care is great. "Wait times" are used to scare Americans.
Well right now the poor are left to die in the US, I think that's evil.
for America and Canada my sincere apologies from the world the best of luck from the UK as no one seems to be held responsible for any THING why is this WORLD UPSIDE down and back to FRONT and inside out ,,, the best of luck to all that have BEEN THROUGH the hospital treatments the world cries a Teardrop every second of the day for the elderly and disabled that need the help the utmost GOD BLESS YOU ALL FROM A CARING SOUL ,,,
waiting for an mri in canada?...took us 24 hours we had an appointment the next day(2016)..last month my friends mom just requested one the same night she was admitted(2017)..i got one for a job i worked after i slipped off a ladder(2006) same day i was admitted to the hospital....so this scary "wait time" i've never seen... shout out to BGH your staff is miserable but you're quick..BIGGER SHOUTOUT TO *KGH* you're staff are all missing wings
i nvr said health care in canada was free and the taxes isnt just for health care. im just saying its easier to pay taxes then to recive thousands of dollars of bills at once that you have to pay before a specific time. i said usa's health care is better if your rich because theres no waiting time but if ur poor, you're screwed for life. i rather wait 2 years then to not recive health care at all. sure canadas health care isnt perfect but i like it better than usa's. everyone has a right to live
I can't hear you. My ears are plugged due to the stellar Canadian healthcare system---the increased taxes... long wait times... average doctors, and the jet engine noise from Danny William's airplane that is taking him from Newfoundland to Miami for his heart surgery
Get sick in America and even with insurance you could lose your home to bankruptcy. In Canada you won't. That alone makes Government healthcare in Canada better.
I think you are talking about wait times for elective surgery -- yes it's longer because it's just that 'elective'. I have seen doctors very quickly, and pay nothing at the end of the visit.
I would have checked with other provinces particularly Ontario or BC if you wanted to know what healthcare was like in a bigger metropolis. I have no complaints and would never trade what I have for the US style of healthcare.
You can talk about waiting all you want but Emergencies don't wait. Yah I've had to wait for some procedures but if I had to pay for it out of my own pocket it would never happen.
I live in a small town and needed an MRI for an emergency a month ago. Took a few hours while I waited in an ER with nurses and doctors looking after me on an IV. Didn't cost anything. I also went to the hospital right away rather than waiting to see if it was a problem or not.
If I didn't have an emergency need for an MRI I would be happy to wait because I know the people ahead of me need it before I do.
I live in Iraq and every thing is free MRI, CT Scan and Cancer treatment.
great! as long as you can get yourself to the clinic through all the military battles
Supermans insurance ran out and Micheal Douglas had his cancer treated in Canada
Jan Spencley is clueless about Canadian health care, Intentionally so it would seem!
Not just Canada, more like the rest of the modern world.
Actually China's Universal Healthcare-Pharmacare is very good. CGTN The Point-Hub-Heat, Shanghai Eye, Reporterfy Media-Cyrus Janssen.
obviously if ur rich, the health care system is better for u in usa..
I am a Canadian.. I had a CVA in 2013, I rushed to emergency and right there I was CTscanned and admitted. The following day I had an MRI. I stayed 8 days at the acute care hospital and transferred to a rehab facility where I had intense therapy for 43 days, I returned home and was given a caregiver to give me showers 2x a week, with a cleaner weekly, and continuous therapy as an outpatient at the same rehab facility until I am able to walk and talk. I PAID ZERO (I know I already did through taxes deducted from my 30 year employment.)
Last Nov 27, 2018, I was admitted again due to heart ailment. I had all medical tests done to me within hours of my arrival at the emergency. I stayed in the acute care hospital for 17 days in their effort to stabilize me. Then I was transferred to another convalescing facility for 63 days . I was released last Monday Feb 19th and at home, my caregiving care increased to daily, plus weekly cleaning. I will continue my therapy at another facility as an outpatient.
I PAID ZERO.
EVERYTHING COVERED, FREE BOARD AND LODGING, MEDICINE, MEDICAL TESTS, NURSING CARE by the excellent CANADIAN UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.
true
If you are not well and get ill godbless
Dear Americans,
When Canadians tell you that our healthcare system is better- we're not trying to fool you- we're actually acting against our own best interests. YES, it WOULD be better for YOU if you switched over to our type of system, but that would actually nullify one of our unique advantages which comes from you retaining your broken system.
One of the biggest downsides to a single-payer system is that if you don't want to wait, and you're rich enough to afford the treatment yourself, you don't have the option of going to a private clinic. There ARE no private hospitals or clinics in Canada in the sense that you can pay them to let you queue-jump. So what do rich Canadians do then, when they get sick, and can't line-jump ahead of other Canadians in our public system? Why- they go to the United States, of course, where they're HAPPY to take our money in exchange for prompt care.
So in that sense, we kind of have it both ways. We have a public system with mandatory wait times- where you can't get premium or priority treatment based on your ability to pay, or jump in line to get treatment. But at the same time, we live RIGHT next to a country with a thriving private system, which WILL happily take your money and give you treatment right away. So the poor and middle class get the "free" public system that they need without having to worry about rich people paying extra to jump in line, and the upper class have to option to spend a fortune to get treatment right away in the US if they feel like it.
So I mean, yes it would be MUCH better for you to switch to our system, which I still think is vastly superior, but the tricky thing is part of the success of our system DEPENDS on the dysfunctionality of yours. Which is kind of a weird way to look at it, but true...
Melody Bowie Yeah, it's not as bad as people think. I do personally know a family who paid a few hundred grand out of their own pockets to get their daughter's Lyme disease treated in San Francisco, though. You obviously kind of have to be in the top 1% to be able to afford that.
Sometimes you don't pay. My radiation was outsourced to the US and paid for by my province.
I 've had a couple of MRIs in Ontario and the wait was between 7 and 10 days. My clinic has its own X Ray machine and technician.
Im looking to know what "reconsisting conditions" are. just wondering
that person's spelling/grammar were as bad as his "superior american healthcare". I believe he meant 'pre-existing condition'.
If your need is acute, you do not wait.
There is an awful lot of incorrect information being bandied about on health care in Canada. The bottom line is, our health care is great. Waits are a fact of life like waiting in line at an airport to get through security. I have had much longer waits there than to see a doctor or have tests done. We love to complain about any wait times but I would never trade our system for one like the US is suffering with. My broken wrist took a total of 3 hours from walking in to see a doctor to walking out the door in a cast, not a bad result. Get over it people and be happy that you have a government who understands what the people of their country need and are are constantly working to improve things.
true
I had to go to American to appreciate Canada! ;)