"On average, how many Canadian patients on a waiting list die each year? Do you know?" "I don't sir, but I know that there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don't have insurance at all." BOOM
+MJ Guy Lol What? the population has nothing to do with middle class income. Your country makes a shit load of money compared to Canada, but what your middle class makes is lower...think about that for a minute. Where does all your money go? Answer: the companies and corporations pocket. That's why they pay politicians to keep minimum wage low, to ship jobs away, encourage privatization of things that should NEVER be capitalized like health care, so that companies don't decide to only insure the healthy or make unaffordable like it does. Look into how much America made last year, and how much of it went to the rich and to the middle class. You work your ass off while the people you work for keeps 99% of your hard work, and your 1% is devided by all the workers. You don't get payed vacation to spend with your family, or sick days, health care untill Obama care came along. Wake up, you being taken advantage of. Happy employees makes better workers, healthy workers cost less. America should be treating their people better, not just the billionaires. I enjoy many social programs like health care, child care subsidy, child tax benefits. I pay my taxes and I benefit from them.
Canadian Doctor here. I can tell you for a fact that our system is superior. My patients never worry about losing their life savings. I never have to deal with insurance companies and Canadian doctors are also not leaving the country.
@broomsterm Already live in Canada so am good. Besides why would you wanna die in debt still working and an 80 year old with 20 jobs, when you could die retired old and satisfied with life.
darkenergylambda Canadian healthcare sucks www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2018/01/08/democrats-idolize-canadas-health-system-as-it-recovers-from-worst-year-ever/amp/ Who cares about life savings if you can’t see a specialist on average for 5 months not including a medical test after that another 4 weeks for a CT or MRI for 11 weeks. That’s a total of 7-8 months on average to get a diagnosis. By the time one starts on a treatment plan.... your.... dead.
@@GabrielGonzalez-kb5by Hi Gabriel, there's a few things worth mentioning to your argument. For starters, you stated the article talks about "averages" when the word average/averages isn't even discussed in the article. It talks about median values. There is a huge difference between them and I'm going to provide you with a source to and a direct quoted example on this difference. "The median is defined as the "middle term" in a set. In the set {0, 3, 5}, the median is 3. If the set has an even number of terms, the median is the average of the middle two terms. For example, in the set {10, 12, 15, 20}, the median is the average of 12 and 15: 13.5." www.gmathacks.com/quant-topics/when-the-mean-is-the-median.html Secondly, for example, in Canada they have policies that will reduce their wait time if there's justification. A lot, of those people who wait longer times are for non-life risking reasons, whereas people who are given the shorter times are the peoples who are at severe risk. Lastly, everyone should care about losing their life savings. Said person will more than likely have a spouse or children that depend on them. Their lives could be gravely impacted. Your example is a bit of a selfish take, no offense. Please keep an open mind and continue to educate yourself on the issues.
No Canadian, no Brit, no European, or any person who lives in a country with single-payer wants an American healthcare system. But more and more Americans want a universal single-payer healthcare system. Think about it. 🤔
Dr. Martin might be the only person who knows more about comparative healthcare policy than I do. Martin provides specific studies and statistics while "Ms. Pipes" just offers hearsay about some people seeing advertisements in a paper. The U.S. profit-based healthcare model ranks 37th in the world in cost, access, and outcomes. The U.S. has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the advanced world due to the cost of pre- and post-natal care; the U.S. also has an average of 500,000 bankruptcies caused solely by medical debt. America also has an average of 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year due to individuals waiting until it's too late to seek healthcare due to cost (they say 45,000 here, but it depends on the study). Americans pay four times more on average for prescription medications and prescription drug prices are the number 1 driver of healthcare costs increasing at three times the rate of wages eating up all modest wage gains. Americans are so cruel and unthinking that they would rather keep a system with no positives and that costs taxpayers half a trillion more than a universal system simply to prevent someone from getting healthcare they feel "does not deserve it." No other country in the world wants our model and even those countries that still have private insurance regulate costs of all medications, devices, and procedures.
most europeans don't live in a single payer system. Brits have the option private insurance for essential care. So do Germans, Scandinavians, Dutch, etc. Canada is an outlier in this regard in banning private insurance for essential care.
IamTheSherm I dunno, I figure i'd take her word over things happening in her own country rather than some study conducted by American interests. Just seems smart.
wow crushing republicans is more important than solving problems.. (this is the problem with our politics , who cares what party they are we need solutions )
+MJ Guy what like what she was saying wasnt true? last i looked everyone in Canada doesnt enjoy the US system at all, especially when it comes to politics
***** why trade with the guy at the end of the street that you barely met when you can trade with the guy next-door which you have known for a long time?
***** So you should know better, I've lived in Europe and north America as well ... The people who vote for the GOP are the definition of sheep mentality. + Dr Martin seems very educated so I dont know wtf you're talking about.
People's health is not a profit issue. It's a human rights issue. Anyone arguing for keeping a system that works on profeting on sick people and manipulating prices should re-evalue their moral ground.
CSX Productions Nothing is free. Free healthcare does not mean you don't pay for it. The system works by collecting tax money and putting it in healthcare. I live in Norway wich has free healthcare. Our country saves money from this system. You can't go bankrupt if you become sick. This has proven to benefit society in many ways. Most of all, keeps people healthy and able to work. Your system fucks people over wich in the long run weakens your workforce. If you lived in a country wich has free healthcare you would begin to understand the benefits of this system. Food can never be free, because alot of people eat to much. There isn't enough food to go around. Medicines however we have enough of. Nobody needs to make money of it. It is not neccesary and it only weakens the society.
Kent Olaf Steinhaug "The system works by collecting tax money and putting it in healthcare." Meaning it is not free. "I live in Norway wich has free healthcare" It isn't free. "Our country saves money from this system" Compared to the US, no one lives in Norway. More government programs cost more money. "Your system fucks people over wich in the long run weakens your workforce." The people not working are the ones sucking the Medicare system dry. The person receiving the healthcare is not the one paying for it. Medicare and Medicaid are having too much money pumped into them which driving up private costs. "If you lived in a country wich has free healthcare you would begin to understand the benefits of this system." Healthcare is not free. "Medicines however we have enough of." You don't have any many blood-sucking minorities or as much poverty as the US does, which is driving up the demand. You also likely obtain your drugs from the US. "Nobody needs to make money of it. It is not neccesary and it only weakens the society." Drugs are not free. Money and investments are needed to fund their production and research.
CSX Productions Actually it is free and not free. You only pay for medicines, wich are cheap. The word free in this sense means if you don't work and don't pay taxes,you still get help. It's all paid for anyway by the state. How many people live here is irrelevant. UK and France have the same system. Yes a poor country would have trouble funding such a system. I guess USA is poor then? How come every country that implement this system see their economy boost? I've seen how it works for you. 30 million people can't get help. I don't see that number going down anytime soon. Your only option is the same system most of Europe use. It's a fact.
" I guess USA is poor then?" Not a poor country, but the media loves to embellish the poor to try and push their agenda for socialized medicine, like that will solve the problem. Then again, a lot of these "poor" people have smartphones, and pay for alcohol and cigarettes with their food stamps.
CSX Productions My apologies if I wasn't clear enough. Canada has public payer, and there are several private deliverers in addition to public delivery. Do you even know anything about Canada? It seems all you've seen are right-wing commercials and websites who want to keep Americans ignorant and in the current awful medical system that the US has. How sad. Canada does not have a "stripped down" delivery. In fact, my city recently opened a swanky new hospital that's like a seven-star hotel! It would put US hospitals to shame. There are no drug shortages. In fact, several drugs are stocked in an excessive surplus to make sure if production of some drugs is temporarily halted, there's more than enough to last until replacements are arranged. There are NO waiting lists for URGENT care. For ELECTIVE procedures ( ELECTIVE means NON-URGENT), you wait your turn. And there have been tremendous improvement in reduction of wait times across several areas. While some (negligible portion) -entitled- Canadians do go to the US, Americans go to other countries for care as well. So what's your point?
+Angela Chan I suppose it really does depend on what kind of issue we have. If it's an issue as tragic as a sudden heart attack or a stroke, then of course those sort of emergencies become prioritized.
Angela Chan When my husband had a stroke he was cared for right away. No wait time at all. When it comes to emergencies the Canadian system is extremely fast.
Dawn E she didn’t want to say the answer to his question about how many people die on waiting lists because it’s more than 45000 people. More than 42 000 people leave Canada to get faster care every year. Also if you need an mri/cat scan/ organ you will be waiting. Canadian health care is drained and abused.
The statement that was made was that there are waiting times for "elective surgeries". I am 60 and have never met another Canadian who has traveled to the US for tests or surgeries. Our health care is far from drained and abused.
There are things I hate about our healthcare system such as wait times and unspoken better care for those with power, money and influence but I would NEVER want to introduce insurance companies into our system here.
***** I feel bad for you. Honestly it must suck knowing that if you break your leg, or are unfortunate enough to get cancer, you're going to go broke getting the care you need. :S
+hebber1961 When comparing the two systems, I think it is important to note that the Canadian universal plan does cover a vast majority of health care services and procedures, it does not cover them all. Much like many Canadians, I pay private health insurance for items not covered by the government programs: prescriptions, physio, dental work, eye examinations, prescription glasses, ambulances, semi-private hospital rooms, etc - items that are not covered by, in my case, OHIP. While I agree with your overall comment, we should point out that we do have private health insurance in Canada that covers off areas where the government does not pay.
+mr7wi We do, but it barely costs us 30$ a month for a single person. Families a bit more. Unlike the US where its 100$+ a month. It's alot easier in the Canadian system because if you work a full time, your employer has no other choice than provide health benefits. They pay a percentage and we pay the rest. The US, they fork the 100%.
***** Ha.. i'm not paying more taxes.. this country is overtaxed already. You are going to ask poor struggling American workers to pay taxes for that? They would respond by electing an even stronger Republican majority in congress than there already is.
STDrepository Republicans have blocked almost everything from increased social security, tax hikes for the rich, vet benefits etc, they do nothing but prevent this country to compete with countries that have already done all that.
As a Canadian, I thank you Sen. Bernie for having the ability to comprehend the Canadian healthcare system in a way that is, unlike a lot of other examples, accurate. When I hear American pundits or politicians talking like we are victims of our healthcare system, it doesn't make any sense to the average Canadian. There are problems, as there are within every system of doing anything. But I have had to deal with our healthcare system quite a bit, and it does differ from province to province, because it is under provincial jurisdiction, but overall my experience with it has been overwhelmingly positive.
***** I have had to go to a clinic for stuff like that a number of times. I just go into a clinic, either my family doctor or walk in, show them my provincial BC care card. Wait times can be bad sometimes, but I generally wait 15-20 minutes before I see my doctor. Sadly I think prescriptions are more like it is down there. It depends on the province you're in, because healthcare is under their jurisdiction. In Manitoba on their plan, I had to pay a deductible at the beginning of each year, that was around $200, then I didn't pay for the rest of the year. Here in BC it's weird, some of my meds are covered, some aren't
Yeah I'm quite happy with it. The system has its issues. But I think it depends more on the individual hospitals and the size of the area they service than on the system itself. I remember waiting in the ER in Winnipeg, sitting there for something like 7 hours, and then waiting even longer once I got set up in a room. But here in Vancouver I've been in and out of an ER in 2 or 3 hours. The biggest problem at the moment is there aren't even family doctors, so a lot of people end up going to walk-ins when they have a problem. But personally I haven't had any trouble finding a family doctor, so I'm not entirely sure what the problem is. But once you get your provincial health care card, you can go to any hospital, any clinic, or go to any testing place and not have to worry about paying or dealing with insurance. There are some specialty clinics that aren't covered by the public system if you go to them directly. But if you are referred by a doctor in the public system to that clinic you will usually be covered by the province.
***** .... typical american. You can't just get free healthcare by renting/buying property. If you own property here, you don't get free healthcare. Citizens and PERMANENT residents only. You can't get the best of both worlds.
Yeah I'm not sure how it works. But to be honest, I don't really mind my tax dollars going to Americans in a situation of need. Otherwise I'd probably just spend it on hockey tickets and beaver pelts.
That guy brings up a point, but it isn't bad everywhere. Like I said, in Manitoba healthcare could be quite bad to deal with, especially hospitals. But here in North Vancouver I feel like I'm waited on most of the time, but North Van is a small city. Blood test, no appointment needed, in and out in 20 minutes, in and out of clinics in 30 minutes, hospitals 2-3 hours. The weak spot in the system is specialty tests and stuff, that can take while, as in months. But usually it doesn't really matter. It is also worth saying the Alberta healthcare system is largely privatized. So, if that's what you're looking for steer clear.
Some people just seek instant gratification, and complain if they have to wait at all. I know a spry fellow in his 80s, who has a brother in the U.S. Several years ago, he was talking to his brother, and his brother told him he should get his triple heart bypass down in the U.S., because it would take forever to get the surgery done in Canada. The octogenarian said, hey - it's already been done!
In the Canadian system, of you have a critical condition or if something is suspected (for example, if you need a brest ultrasound or biopsy) you are fasttracked. My wife had a lump in her breast. Called out family doctor. Appointment within 4 days. X-ray the next week. Results. Ultrasound the next week. Cancer ruled out. That was efficient (and totally free).
I am a proud Canadian and I am also a proud friend of the American people ,I am almost 60 years old and have waited many times in hospital waiting rooms ,1 hr 4hrs 6hrs but when ever ive needed urgent fast care my family and I have always gotten it based on urgency and have always had the finest care that I believe is possible ,Its fantastic but not perfect . I wish you could know the truth as we see it .We never have to worry about losing our house or anything like that ,the cost has never been a worry ,the care is great ,I could go on and on ,just saying
+Rory Mclean So, you like paying higher taxes? That's what I as an American don't want. I also don't want the government to take my earned money and give it to someone else.
+N Plutonium Yeah, paying high taxes sucks. It does, really. But my community is heathly. And thinking that someone paid for my medics and for my IRM makes me feel great because I would do the same and thats what I'm doing everyday. People are selfish AF. It disgust me.
Maude R.-B. Keeping the community healthy actually saves our governments money. That's the crazy part about it. In Australia we are raising the retirement age because people are living healthier and longer.
Fantastic. ! In Canada facts count. This doctor was prepared and didn't let them get away with a thing. Well done.. I've lived under the UK and Canadian health care. Never had a problem. Never had to -re- mortgage a property to have my children's tonsils out. Never had to worry about emergency surgery. Yes, there are waiting times but the system is designed to move people to the front of the line if their condition is life threatening. I once had a fishing mishap in Lake Tahoe . Five stitches cost me nearly three grand. I think I'll stick with Canada
Agreed. I went to the emergency room for a bloody nose and a broken toe. Each time, I had to wait a little while. On the other than, on different times I went in when I had a dizzying migraine which led to blurred vision, ridiculous abdominal pains, and when I had heart palpitations. I didn't even see the wait room in those last 3 situations. I was admitted immediately.
I am from the Netherlands and everything that Dr. Martin described about Australia is true here. We've moved to a privatised system sponsored by a pro-corporate government coalition and costs have risen while quality of treatment has declined. The only way to be serious about national health care is single payer. We used to have that and it was great. Then lobbyism won out and the bottom line to priority over people's health.
+Coletrain for the " hard of understanding " that's not what he said. when the profit motive is allowed into public healthcare fortunes are made, and people die in their thousands. just look at the USA.
I am from Scotland. our national health service is the best in the world. It's not perfect and has its faults but we don't leave people struggling with ill health. How sad. America is so great in other areas but just don't get sick if you cannot afford it. That's pathetic.
+Ronnie Mcmurray I agree completely, I'm from the UK as well and I decided to call a doctor about a persistent stomach pain, and walked out of my local GP surgery with tablets that fixed it 20 minutes after calling without paying a penny (still in full time education so don't even have to pay the small prescription charge) If Americans experienced a single payer system then they would all support it.
Drake B Because almost all the conservatives living today grew up during the cold war. The USSR and Eastern European countries were treating their people like shit and brainwashing them with propaganda and claiming that it was "socialism" so whenever a conservative here's that Bernie Sanders is a "socialist" they automatically believe he's a communist and freak out.
***** Yeah but the US was the main part of the red scare. USSR had nukes pointing directly at us while we did the same. Not only that, but the we have a loooooot of nationalists here who are brainwashed by shit like Fox News who think everything outside the US is bad.
Drake B There is a very large portion of the voting population which honestly can not fathom the idea that another country may be doing something or, oh my, a lot of things better than we are. It is not necessarily their fault, it is just part of the culture and system, socialism, despite us already being a socialist state, is something to be feared and looked upon with scorn. They can not make the connection between public education, infrastructure, SOCIAL SECURITY, the military, the police, and most utilities outside of Texas, they can not make the connection between these things and socialism. Because these things which i just listed are mostly good, and socialism is communism and is evil. So we're left in a situation where clearly healthcare can be done better, but to improve it would require socialist programs, but socialism is evil and therefor should not be done. You can point to examples where other countries do something better than it is done here, like education in Asia or social programs in Europe, and the response from many is not the proper "Well in what way can we attempt to emulate their good example so that we might better ourselves", it is instead something like this "Well if you don't like it here why don't you just move?" As i said, it is not their fault, it is just the expected result of hearing about how awesome America is at everything for your entire existence.
Drake B same. i live in the UK and feel so proud that we have the NHS. in america its like every man for himself, whereas in the UK yeah its a pain in the ass to pay more in taxes but we know that those takes are going towards someones cancer treatment, or catscan, doctors appointment etc. aswell as improving the schools and unfortunately contributing to the £100 BILLION trident programme. when i was 14 i fell off my bike and broke my collar bone. i got the bus to the hospital at 5am, walked in and waited an hour. they gave me painkillers, did an x ray, put me in a sling and said if you have any problems come back and well sort you out. didnt pay a penny. for perseciptions aswell its around £8.50...too bad the tories are selling it bit by bit. the moneys there they just dont want to use it #Bernie2016
"On average, how many Canadian patients on a waiting list die each year? Do you know?" "I don't, sir, but I know there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don't have insurance at all." Ouch.
Neither of those things were true. The Harvard study in 2009 has been debunked. 45,000 people do not die for lack of insurance, they lack insurance because they are more likely to die. Insured or not, Cancer will kill you. If you are more likely to get cancer, you are less likely to get insurance. However, anyone that refuses cancer treatment because they can't afford it is an idiot. In the US, insured or not, hospitals are required to treat patients. The idea that an American hospital would or could deny service to anyone for lack of payment is absurd. For the record, the vast majority of medical bankruptcies are filed by those with insurance.
IamTheSherm Where is the peer-reviewed study that debunked the Harvard study? Where are the sources that supports your claim that "the vast majority of medical bankruptcies are filed by those with insurance."?
Health Care: U.S. vs. Canada Dr. Danielle Martin, a family physician from Toronto, compared health care in her country to the more expensive but less effective system in the United States. She was questioned at a Senate hearing on Tuesday by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the health subcommittee chairman, and Sen. Richard Burr, the ranking Republican. With a hint of sarcasm, Sanders asked the doctor to explain how come the conservative Canadian premier hasn’t gotten rid of the country’s health care system. In another exchange, as the Los Angeles Times put it, Dr. Martin “bats down the myths and misunderstandings about the Canadian system that Burr throws at her.” Burr, for example, asked why former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams had a heart valve operation in Miami, where he owns a condo, instead of in Canada.
I am a Canadian, as Sen. Sanders said. We have a lot of awareness of American politics and media. I have health issues and every time I go to my doctor I say a prayer of thanks for our health care system.
it amuses me when Americans tell me about how bad my healthcare system is here in Canada. Could have fooled me. Meanwhile in US, a $10K hospital stay is a very, very common occurrence.
I broke my left arm three times growing up in Ontario, Canada. Had surgery all three times, probably stayed in the hospital for 8 days total for all three occurrences. Cost me around $0. God I love this Country. Also, a lot of people are under the impression that universal health care will leave a deficit in annual income. While this is true for the short term (if a new universal system is JUST being implemented), allow your universal system to mature. In Canada, we earn more annual income than the average American, and that's WITH the deficit we all pay into our universal system. I laugh at the anger over Obamacare. People can cry all they want, but it's going down in the History books as one of the best decisions an American President has ever made. Just remember that it's in it's infancy, and *will* be a bit rough for a while. I promise you it'll get better though. Eventually life will be normal again. You'll be making the same wage you used to AND don't have to worry about any medical issues. Don't think universal healthcare is a smooth process, but the end result is magnificent.
Let me make this clear to all on this thread. The way this argument was framed even in the Senate chambers was incorrect just plain wrong.There is NO american healthcare system period.There is no central guidance authority or database period. Mental health is absent period. Canada has a central system. What we have here is a heterozygous group of institutions that sometimes work with each other and sometimes not. Insurance has NOTHING to do with health care provision or distribution . AT ALL! It is simply payment.There is no Blue Cross University hospital. To say that we have a system is absurd there is no system. Ants have system we do not. What was not mentioned in this discussion or barely mentioned is how often insurance companies refuse to pay for procedures elective or not. And it is a huge figure. Basically insurance companies sell back to the American public the health care trust for which they already pay for through taxes charity volunteering, One third of all health care provision every where is based on blood and tissue donation. I have given a couple of HUNDRED times myself. Hey fellow Americans why is this the insurance pig's to sell?
The Canadian healthcare system is vastly superior to the American system. This is from personal experience and family experience. I have had emergency surgery, my father has had heart surgery and colon cancer surgery, my aunt just had double hip surgery, etc. That hundreds of thousand of dollars of care -- at no cost (other than through the tax dollars we happily pay). We all received excellent quality medical care by highly skilled doctors/nurses and in a timely manner. Our doctors and hospitals didn't check our credit ratings or ask for our credit cards before treating us. We are Canadian citizens and, like all Canadian citizens, it's understood that we have the right to medical care, no matter what our financial situation.
I wish I had a healthcare system closer to Canada's... I had a surgery that took place in one day, no overnight stay, and it cost me $13,000. My insurance covered... $1,300. SO pitiful.
It's true, Canadians are some of the sweetest people on earth! And strangely, American Minnesotans remind me a lot of Canadians, who are also very sweet people...calm, patient, genuine. I wish more people were like Canadians here in America :(
It is time it is time for a president to make a law to make our crap in our country everything our toys are phones everything R Motors everything every part in our cars and in our TVs is made in America not manufactured in China and Japan we need to stop corporate for making tons of money shipping it overseas and then bringing the rest of the parts that's why your cars break down and that's why your toys breakdown cuz the manufacture and some of the toys the parts are not really good
I want a president. Big corporate in Japan and China stop doing business with China and Japan with parts that means cars phones TVs I will tell you something I've had tons of PlayStation they have broke down made in China we've had I've had Xbox broke down but another one still broke down I got a brand new TV I just bought and it broke down cuz it's made in China and Japan it is time to put American people to work by doing that bring all our stuff to our phones and our computers and everything made in America lost make America great again by putting American people to work set of overseas
Sure she's an MD and intelligent and he's obviously a complete doofus, but my God! How embarrassing for the good people of NC to have their own two term US Senator taken to school like this! That was priceless!
I come from a family of right wing conservatives and I often have political conversations with them.(I consider myself neutral in politics) I brought up the idea of Senator Bernie Sanders running for the democratic nomination in the upcoming election and it concerned and upset me about how quickly they brushed him off as an illegitimate option for presidency. Half of my family I spoke with had no idea who he was, and the half that did labeled him as "that one socialist" referring to "socialist" in a very derogatory manor. From what I've seen of this man, he seems like one of, if not the best, candidate we have so far and I fear that this country is going to let a brilliant potential candidate slip away. I fear for the future of a man like this when running for president because too many people will either, a) not know who this guy is or b) label him as some sort of socialist villain. Even though this will be my first election, I feel like too many people go to the polls uneducated on the candidates and vote right or left because they were told to do so.
Avery Byerly Oh I know how that feels. I'm an Australian and every member of my family, except myself, votes for the Liberal-National Party (which is an extremely deceiving name. They're basically the GOP of Australia.) The LNP are climate-deniers, anti-gay marriage, hand out huge subsidies to fossil fuels and can't run an economy. However, the have almost complete control of the media here due to the support of their political donors (Gina Rinehart and Rupert Murdoch). As such, they rub the name of the Greens Party (perhaps the only semi-decent party remaining in Australia) in the dirt before every election, running about 9 negative reports for every positive report. I feel as if my family just doesn't know any better, and it's hard to blame them sometimes. We get lied to 24/7 on the 2 most popular news channels in australia, and it works. Tony Abbott has managed to convince australia that a carbon tax is the worst thing in the world for the middle class when it's the exact opposite, plus he's made the majority of australians absolutely hate/fear asylum seekers. The only thing I fear is the power of misinformation.
Aquila You are not alone, it's the same in the UK, god knows what it's like in the gud ol' US of A, cook em down and hang the high yeeha; keep to you ideals - you are not wrong.
As a Canadian who pays more attention to USA politics I've notice Americans use socialist quite unsparingly. I feel a lot of Americans don't realize the police, fire departments, libraries and army are all socialized systems
+mopground Americans cry about socialism so much its pathetic. The problem isnt socialism, the problem is they dont know what socialism is. they have been brainwashed to thinking its this horrible thing and that it would make them a communist country. You can be a socialist country and still have capitalism. The socialist part just keeps the capitalists from selling out the country for their own profit. A social/capitalist society is the perfect balance really. Canada, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway etc, they all provide more social protection but have a healthy private sector. Theres no jobs being killed there. Unemployment is low, wages are way higher, benefits are better, more secure full time jobs, less national debt. All the scary stories the right wingers tell about socialism are not true.
ziggy4242 well i dont know if sweden is the best example of a society to strive for but i agree with your overall point that a mix is best. That being said lots of left wingers try to say capitalism is evil by pointing to the current system when its actually crony capitalism(corporations bribing, colluding, bullying, lobbying etc). No one said capitalism wasnt a corruptible system but, once we reach a stage as we have, people will call for the opposite end of the extreme spectrum unknowingly. Then, the game just starts repeating itself.
In 2016 my husband had an emergency triple bypass on his heart. He received superb care and follow up and is doing great. Our cost? ZERO dollars. I'm so grateful for our Canadian healthcare.
These people cry about possibly having to wait 6 months to a year. Are you kidding? Cry me a river! I waited for SEVEN YEARS to get my problems looked at due to bad doctors who didn't like my insurance and then NO insurance at all. Things that could have been taken care of YEARS ago are now permanent disabilities and I will now qualify for SSA/SSI because of it! I'm just counting my lucky stars because had my issue been deadly, I wouldn't be here. And I wouldn't be here because of a LACK of insurance, not a wait time. People ask me "well, how would you feel if you'd had to wait a year to get that taken care of" indignantly, and I smirk and say "OH MAN I WOULD HAVE LOVED THAT!" -_-
La Nausée THANK YOU. :D And freedom of choice? I don't know where people are getting that from.. I don't have a choice. I have to let the insurance company tell me what doctors I can see and if or if not I'm approved to see them. The only people that have "choice" are rich and can pay for medical expenses out of pocket. As for the 4-6 month wait, I'm serious, I would LOVE to have had that. It makes me cry to know that had I gotten attention that fast my arms might not have permanent joint damage (and I'm an artist, this sucks), that I might not be in danger of losing my ability to walk because this would have been treated sooner (sooner than 7 freaking years, at least and by far). People here are basically selfish and whiny. They wonder why THEY should have to help anyone else or pay for anyone else and are too dense to realize that if they go to any hospital or doctor, their high fees are a result of people who can't pay their bills. It's absolutely beyond ridiculous.
Yeah, freedom of choice, my ass. This year alone, my insurance company sent me at least 8 letters stating that {insert whatever doctor or hospital I was using} was no longer accepting my insurance. The friggin' COUNTY hospital wouldn't even accept it, and they accept everyone! I ended up having to change insurance companies just to keep the one doctor who actually helps me. I have to pay more for the insurance, and for every doctor visit, but it's worth it because it took me so long to find a good pain management specialist. I guess you could say that I had the freedom to change my insurance, which is true, but I didn't really have a choice in which other insurance I picked. In my area, there are only three companies offering Medicare Advantage plans. So my choice was either stay with what I had and try to find new doctors in the dwindling pool of doctors in my area; choose one that allowed me to stay with my doctor, but no other added benefits; or choose the one that allowed me to stay with my doctor and have vision benefits, allowing me to get a free pair of glasses, which I desperately need. Most Americans also don't have the freedom to change their insurance plans more that once a year, and only during a two-month "open enrollment" period. But because I get Social Security Disability, Medicare, and what's called "Extra Help" (to help pay for my prescriptions), I can change it whenever. I guess that gives me freedoms that other Americans don't have, and I really don't understand the logic behind it. Seussi Bright, even the rich don't pay out-of-pocket. They get the best insurance! Or concierge doctors who only charge a one-time fee and take care of damn near everything. Also, the fees are so high because of malpractice insurance and other insurances the doctors and hospitals have to carry. Not to mention, they charge for every cotton ball and every doctor that even glanced at you can add their charge to the bill. It's ridiculous. Given the chance, I'd become a Canadian citizen in a heartbeat to get the care they get. I remember one time one of my doctors had to list a slew of reasons, some didn't even apply to me, in order to get an MRI approved by my insurance company. We essentially had to LIE in order to get it approved. That took about 6 months, so I think I'd be perfectly okay with waiting that long for an MRI I don't have to jump through hoops to get. :\
Yeah and six months is also exaggerated. Depending what the problem is you can get a specialist in a few weeks usually 2. for cancer specialists, because they are busier and can take up to 3 months depending where you are. My mother in law had stage 3 lung cancer and she is ok today. The wait is painful when you are worried no matter where you are.
France Filiault lol That's another deception people here like to shriek about.. that our wait times are shorter than any place with Universal Healthcare.. but you're saying 2 weeks. I had to wait about a year or two (after 5 years of the run around and neglect from not having insurance) just to be approved and covered by insurance, then another 3 months to get doc appointments with the specialists that I need to see, THEN another 2 months to start being treated because I had to be run through a ton of tests that had to be scheduled WEEKS in advance. Oh and this is AFTER the stupid pre-existing condition bs was finally banned. Before that I actually had to pay some crap insurance company for a year and then they would refuse to pay my bills after that year anyway. The US healthcare system is a crock. People who think it's actually working have either been incredibly lucky or are well off.
It probably depends on where you live in Canada, here in Windsor things are quick, but I do have a specialist appointment in November that I am forgetting about. Oops. Lol
Ads for MRIs in magazines in Canada? No. That's just straight up bull. Ms. Pipes can keep her prejudiced crap to herself. "Oh all Canadians are more patient and nice so they don't want to speak up" just because a stereotype is nice does not mean it isn't a stereotype, and to use that as an actual point of defense in a debate like this is just ridiculous. I don't know how you do this job without laughing in their faces. It's an absolute travesty what American politics has descended into, thank you for continuing to be sensible, live in reality, and speak truth. Every time someone asks me for an example of a good US politician, I say Bernie Sanders.
"Why do the Canadians not come to the American healthcare system"? -"Well Canadians are very nice people." Thanks sweetheart. We are. But reallllyyyy? Could you possibly have made a less intelligent comment?
Do you know why your cars are breaking down do you want to know you don't want to know why your cars are break down cuz they're made in China Japan you why your TV breaks down it's made in China Japan I have a jacket my grandfather gave me it's made in America and its last me a long time stuff in China doesn't last for long if you buy American stuff is going to last longer all the parts made in America everything to put America's people to work women children
@@codybsiley7546 Which is why GM recalled 30 million cars because of a faulty ignition switch? I'm not saying China and Japan have cornered the market on quality control, but we've definitely slipped up. Also, dude, punctuation is your friend. And, we actually have laws against child labor. In fact, we've had them for decades.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS. The Canadian single payer system while far from perfect is pretty damned AMAZING and we never have to worry about whether or not we have enough money to literally survive (ie. recieve medical attention). That sort of stress or anxiety freaks us the fuck out. Who would want to worry about whether or not they can afford to fix their broken arm or get a necessary surgery????? It's unfathomable for us Canadians!
eternalfire1244 Harper and company know that if they touch our healthcare system it's a one-way ticket to political suicide. But, I'm curious. What have they done to make you say that?
numuves The conservative party in Canada has done everything to slowly pick away at healthcare funding, and has slowly worked at disintegrating the healthcare structure. This is with the sole intention of being able to, one day, have a platform in which they can step back, point to the healthcare system and say "see? It's obviously not working. We NEED a second option!". Their hopes, of course, is that over time, the Canadian people will chalk the years of problems up to a faulty system, and not a system that was intentionally sabotaged.
Canadians know the US system through and through and want nothing to do with it. And the reasons have nothing to with being "nice" people. Thanks for being a leader in this fight, Senator. I hope you win.
Sen Burr.... "Fertile ground" Profiting from healthcare is just wrong as it's not a luxury to have it but a necessity for ALL the population in the US. I'm sure glad to have it in Canada.
+Vincent Jones America the greatest Nation on earth? Must be why they rank #1 in education, happiness, freedom and prosperity.... oh wait they don't in any case. American pride is really a blinding force to some people.
I have family in Toronto. My uncle has a head tumor that required him to have multiple visits to the hospital and several biopsies. He did not have to wait any longer than he would have had to wait to make an appt here in America. The only difference is that he's not going BROKE keeping up with all of the visits to the hospital. In comparison, while working in the Cancer Center/General Hospital here in the US, I would say 1/3 of patients do not have insurance and that number would be even HIGHER if people didn't have Medicare/Medicaid. I've talked to many patients who can't afford 40,000 treatments and medications that cost $300-1,000s+ of dollars/monthly.
I have lived under both systems. I still live less than an hour from Canada. Believe me, the single payer system is by far a better, more equitable system. If more Americans traveled and learned about how other countries do things, more Americans would clamor for better things in many areas; healthcare, childcare, education, work/life balance.
I live in Canada and yes the system isn't perfect and yes I once waited 5 hours in an emergency room. The reason I waited 5 hours is because it was February, it was for sinus issues and there were a lot of people who needed help more than I did (more serious issues). The incredibly long wait time comments I hear a lot often come from Americans who just hear that from someone else, assume it to be true and start making comments about it. All I know is I needed surgery, it was scheduled a reasonable time out and I was covered 100%. When I see my doctor, it's covered 100%. So, do I feel Canada's healthcare system is perfect, of course not, but it works better than what is really no system at all
ThatGirlKelly Tell me about it! I sat in the Adult ER with my older brother and I kid you not...we were there for roughly 7 or 8 hours (also didn't help that it was super busy!).
As a healthcare worker in Canada, we do have wait times. We triage based on the diagnosis. Everyone is treated with the same high quality of care. We are not always waiting though.
In New Brunswick a young girl with mental health issues waited 12 hours in emergency. Leaving the hospital with no help she then took her own life. Firstly the mental health unit should have been equipped with the appropriate trained professionals 24/7. She should have been directed to this unit not waiting in emergency. The system will not be fixed if we bury our heads in the sand. I would never trade social medicine for a market system but this system, in most places, does not meet the intended standard of Dr. Tommy Douglas. It must be fixed and shiny new buildings are no replacement for doctors, nurses, psychologists and technicians.
Sen. Burr's smug little smile @ 2:08 really urks me. She just told him that the surgery was pioneered in Toronto and they have the best outcomes but it costs more in Florida. He responds with people "judge quality and innovation". What quality if they have better outcomes and what innovation if the surgery was pioneered in Canada? Its like he isn't even paying attention and just wants to get his talking point in.
It's the myth of American exceptionalism. Many Americans believe that the US is better than every place else in the world in every respect. Even though their health care system is a joke and actually produces worse results overall for more money per capita compared to Canada's (including worse infant mortality rates and life expectancy). But there's no reasoning with these people. Anyone who presents facts like Dr. Martin did which do not agree with the idea that the US is always the best at everything will simply be dismissed as biased and anti-American or simply outright ignored.
Ms Pipes...."impatient American", if you can pay for your care sure. If you can't your being impatient may mean nothing to the giant, greedy private insurers in the USA.
IMHO, if you can afford private insurance or it's paid by your employer, you have a very different view of healthcare in the US. Even with Obamacare, which is merely a taxpayer gift to insurers, many are left with no healthcare at all. Let's not forget, wait times are for ELECTIVE surgery only. If someone is impatient, and can afford $30,000 for a knee replacement, then go for it. In the meantime, the system is reorganizing to reduce wait times and improve the efficiency of the system. I had a life threatening heart attack a few years ago, and thanks to timely and extremely competent service from our system, I was on the road to recovery the same day, and lead a perfectly normal life.
$30,000 dollars for a knee replacement? You liberals make numbers up I just had a knee replacement in FL it was $5,000 after insurance & I'm on a payment plan of $40 a month! If you can't afford that then you must be a lazy piece of shit!
Blazingg Llama It's those lazy pieces of shit that spend time shooting up heroine or snorting coke in the allies that don't bother to drag their asses to a hospital or fill out paperwork that liberals use as examples for " 450000 Americans bring denied healthcare."
I think we have the best system in the world and the fact that we have the option to pay out of pocket in the US makes our rich happy too. Please keep your favorable to the rich healthcare system Americans. So I, as a relatively poor Canadian as well as the rich Canadians have the options they want and or need. We are the luckiest country in the world. Thank god for Intelligence in Canada and stupidity in the US!
It's a fair bet Canadians know far more about the US health care system than Ms. Pipes knows about Canadians or the Canadian health care system. She's a paid shill for the vested interests supporting the current US health care system and, as such, she's not paid to be objective or accurate.
If America doesn't want Bernie as their President we in Australia will have him. Keep up your good work, people all around the world see you and it really makes us think better of America knowing there are still people like you running some of the country.
Come on now! Yes, we will! It's in our DNA. We may give her a "kick" in the ass on her way across the border and say behind her back "good riddance to bad trash" but we will be nice! LOL!
I love that woman! I actually clapped when she said that. I wonder how many people have lost their homes in the USA because they couldn't afford sick care?
Why does the US generally have such a superiority complex? 2:05 What the hell? Did he not just hear Dr. Martin say that Toronto, Canada is the home of pioneers for heart valve replacement surgery and has world class standards and expertise in that specialty? 5:50 It's the other way around. The US is generally ignorant about Canadian politics, culture, public services and policies; where Canadians are well versed in both countries. Sen. Sanders made a good point there. Dr. Martin was bang on and made very intelligent points. Canada wins.
kathy kelly That's not the only reason why. The section referenced was a piece where Dr. Martin just finished saying that we do specialize in that specific thing. Then Sen. Burr immediately said the opposite, contradicting a well established fact. My declaration of Canada winning in healthcare was based on the whole video, and the fact that it is better.
kathy kelly Your not allowed to use our health care system. But, we have the "Herbie" fund which provides free procedures to the disadvantaged of the world....sad to say but, more and more of them come from America.
Ditto. Lived in Canada all my life, and the American system is revolting to me. I couldn't imagine a system where people have to pay out of pocket for life-saving care.
"I don't [know how many Canadians on waiting lists die], sir, but I know that there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don't have insurance at all." Ouch!
before my son was born,,, the highly advanced hospital known as Macmaster in Hamilton Ontario diagnosed him with a heart condition known as co-arctation of the aorta ,,,the day his mother was to give birth we took her to Mac where within an hour she was put in an ambulance and driven to Toronto where she gave birth,, a heart operation was performed and he lived for 2 weeks in the hospital at Sick Kids,, we were put up in a hotel for all this time paid for by Ronald Macdonald house ,,,, I imagine all of this would have cost us over a hundred thousand in the US if not more,,, I have yet to receive a bill for this or any of the yearly heart check ups and ultrasound exams he has since had ,,he is now turning 7 ad in perfect health,,,, I made 51,000 dollars last year and paid about 9500 in income tax,,,, just a case study for those thinking our system is wrong........ I believe that the problem with Obama-care is all the hidden parts of the legislation that have caused rates to double ad triple and even more for some americans ,,this bill was written by the insurance companies and I think that is where the problem start
Here in Australia we have single payer with the option to have private which most don't opt for the private option due to the cost as the federal government covers the cost and we love and are amazed when we see a country like America a super power cant not provide a single payer option due to the many special interest group cashing in to keep the system in place they have
Notice how Senator Burr completely ignores her factual answers and instead counters with his own opinions. And the condescending smirk is a rather annoying...
CSX Productions Thailand is also the only country in the world that provides healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants. That's how they monitored the HIV carrying population and ultimately put an end to HIV transmission from mother to child.
I live in The US for 10 yrs before i moved to canada. In the US I had a snowboarding accident, and was rushed to the hospital. Afterwards I was given a 10,000 dollar medical bill to pay. That's my experience with the US medical system. On the other hand, here In Canada, I walked into the ER with pain in my chest and numbness on my arm. I was immediately hooked to a machine to checked if my heart was ok. The same day I had 2 ex rays and a CAT scan. I also spend 2 days in the hospital under care to make sure nothing was wrong. I never paid anything for my medical experience. It was fast and efficient, and I would never trade it for anything in the world!
Dr. Martin might be the only person who knows more about comparative healthcare policy than I do. Martin provides specific studies and statistics while "Ms. Pipes" just offers hearsay about some people seeing advertisements in a paper. The U.S. profit-based healthcare model ranks 37th in the world in cost, access, and outcomes. The U.S. has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the advanced world due to the cost of pre- and post-natal care; the U.S. also has an average of 500,000 bankruptcies caused solely by medical debt. America also has an average of 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year due to individuals waiting until it's too late to seek healthcare due to cost (they say 45,000 here, but it depends on the study). Americans pay four times more on average for prescription medications and prescription drug prices are the number 1 driver of healthcare costs increasing at three times the rate of wages eating up all modest wage gains. Americans are so cruel and unthinking that they would rather keep a system with no positives and that costs taxpayers half a trillion more than a universal system simply to prevent someone from getting healthcare they feel "does not deserve it." No other country in the world wants our model and even those countries that still have private insurance regulate costs of all medications, devices, and procedures.
On behalf of myself and all other reality-based North Carolinians, I apologize for Burr's disgraceful performance. If I were Dr. Martin, I'd be straining to keep my composure.
We're Canadian; while we appreciate the apology, it's not needed. We understand that adopting a new system has it's detractors, and some are less informed and more vocal about it than others. We're happy to share with you what we've learned from our experiences :)
David Reilley Burr is laughable, but he's no hayseed. He's among the breed of clever but incredibly craven and corrupt politicians who knowingly spew lies in order to please the dictates of his corporate overlords. We can laugh at him, but he's also laughing all the way to the bank!
He's a self professed socialist and only one of two independent Senator from Vermont (though he almost always joins the Democrats for votes). Very much a man who tries to push for the most moral and logical laws corporations, ignorance and intolerance be damned.
As a Canadian, I never experienced any waits for health care and I knew no one who ever considered going to the US for treatment for anything. Maybe some people decide that whatever wait there is, they feel they want to get something done straight away and the doctors in their area aren't as good as what they can "afford" to pay if they go to the US. Bernie is right about this. Canada has good doctors, good hospitals and everybody gets treated for free. We look at the US as a train crash and we hear the horror stories and it scares us.
Women are Donald Trump fans you know women are Donald Trump fans you know what little TV you already said he said pick up the pussy and run who says that
Bernie, as a Canadian that understands that our political systems depend on each other (Canadian from British Columbia)... I have to say I have been behind you since this video surfaced and continue to think you are by FAR the best presidential candidate in America of the last... 40 years? I pray to god (and I'm an atheist) that you win the election for the sake of the world and its people. Thank you for being such a fantastic human being.
Wow, pick the shill! Ms Pipes, most of the developed world know how shitty the U.S. healthcare system is. To claim that many Canadians are too remote and don't know _aboot_ the U.S. system is bullshit, plain and simple. Cheers, from Australia.
Yep. Dr. Martin might be the only person who knows more about comparative healthcare policy than I do. Martin provides specific studies and statistics while "Ms. Pipes" just offers hearsay about some people seeing advertisements in a paper. The U.S. profit-based healthcare model ranks 37th in the world in cost, access, and outcomes. The U.S. has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the advanced world due to the cost of pre- and post-natal care; the U.S. also has an average of 500,000 bankruptcies caused solely by medical debt. America also has an average of 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year due to individuals waiting until it's too late to seek healthcare due to cost (they say 45,000 here, but it depends on the study). Americans pay four times more on average for prescription medications and prescription drug prices are the number 1 driver of healthcare costs increasing at three times the rate of wages eating up all modest wage gains. Americans are so cruel and unthinking that they would rather keep a system with no positives and that costs taxpayers half a trillion more than a universal system simply to prevent someone from getting healthcare they feel "does not deserve it." No other country in the world wants our model and even those countries that still have private insurance regulate costs of all medications, devices, and procedures.
In America if you can't afford health care and you have a life threatening illness you die, there was a guy who cut off 2 of his fingers and to get both back it would of cost to much so he had to only choose 1. In Canada at least your guranteed that insurance! America can keep there 2 tier health system and gun laws, we are Canadian and it has nothing to do with us being "nice" Its just common sense over here.
***** I know! That was just pathetic! I love our health care system how it is and this country, besides I could see the being more problems with a 2 tier health care system; then there are the problems we can't anticipate and that will spring up. Its not worth it, life is good how it is! :)
***** Are you kidding me!!! Canadian health care is guaranteed for all Canadians as in America if you can't pay you are screwed! Other than the difference in wait times to see a doctor thats the only difference in the "quality" of health care. Funny thing t I is thousands of Americans die cause they can't afford the medical service they need, and others rack up thousands on hundreds of dollers in dept! Your statement shows your idiotic "America is better" Idealogy. Guess what dude, it isnt. There is no American dream! Lol Shut the fuck up.
***** We get better care huh? Is that so? Mind explaining then why I've been waiting for 8 months for a neurological appointment while my right arm is near useless and causing me constant pain? Believe me, it isn't because I haven't tried, I have fought to try to get the care I need to regain full use of my arm, I had to deal with clinics who's only treatment was telling me "It'll get better" and shoving me out the door with a narcotic prescription, I have had to bust a few heads just to get the damned appointment I have now. Four months fighting to get it, right months waiting in pain for the appointment to finally come. That is a year unable to use my right arm, unable to properly feel it, except for the pain, that pain comes through loud and clear. Yeah, we get better care alright, if we can afford it. When my arm went so did the business I was building, though I still fight to run my business, making jewelry, even with this messed up are but this last year has made a massive dent in my productivity. I couldn't afford the care because this arm meant I suddenly couldn't bring in what was needed to pay for that care. And even now, with that appointment coming up, I don't know how many more stumbling blocks are going to be thrown in my path or how many more assholes I'm going to have to deal with trying to brush me aside. Yeah, some great healthcare we have the the United States, isn't it? Fuck the "best health care in the world" propaganda, it, like so many other things in the USA, is just a pretty lie made to cover up an ugly truth.
You can get MRIs/Ultrasounds/Xrays/etc at clinics in Canada with no wait you simply need a referral from a GP and you must pay a few hundred dollars...if there really are Canadians that go to the USA for MRIs they're ignorant of local services
Oh great pay a few hundred dollars after my taxes were suppose to pay for the care. I guess you have a lot of ignorant ppl in Canada because your own data shows you guys have much longer waiting times for everything.
Last time i had my Xrays in 2 hours. The one time i needed an MRI it took 2 month and it was a false alarm. I'm pretty happy because it could have been a problem with my optic nerve. Free, without any drama. 2 month is pretty short time considering i had the effect (lost of vision) about 4-5 time per years. So anyone who say the canadian system have problem don't know what real problems are. Ho... they also cover sex change ... YAYYY ! :)
kathy kelly Kathy you pay almost half of what American pay for helathcare right now. Are you complaining about that? Really or are you saying you want to pay several thousands dollars more each and every year so you can save a few hundred dollars to get an MRIs a few days faster? Your position makes no logical financial sense. But hey if you want to pay more to get almost the same and think that's a good deal, fine. And I can clearly see you're not Canadian because of all the misinformation you're shoveling. Come to Toronto and I'll gladly show you first hand the system we have here. Hopefully the propaganda veil will fall from your eyes.
6:22 Thanks very much! Glad to know we Canadians are relevant in your debates! (Also loved that guy in the back, he just beamed when she said "Canadians are nice people")
Employment should not be a prerequisite to health and well-being. I'll choose access over long-wait times. I'm a DUAL-CITIZEN of Canada and the U.S. who returned to Canada after breaking an arm while unemployed. I had surgery on my arm in Canada while the U.S. doctor refused treatment without paying $16,000. All while owing college student loans in a recession
Here guys check this out. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_health_expenditure_(PPP)_per_capita We pay around $8000 per capita for healthcare Canada pays $4000 per capita in healthcare. 'Nuff said
***** Oh yeah we're ranked behind in Canada in quality of care too so all that waitime nonsense about them makes no sense since that quality of care also includes how many people die waiting and stuff.
Hey I'm Canadian and guess what. We hate our healthcare. There isn't a Person here that works and sees almost half their money go to government and thinks they get a good deal. Our healthcare costs are lower for two major reasons. #1 They don't help us for weeks for things like MRI's. Months for things like surgeries. We have problems with things like sanitation. And because of this we get to #2 Many of us that need the help stop waiting and go to, guess where, the United States of America. The greatest country for healthcare in the world.
Daniel Bibeau Um dude we're not the best in healthcare quality. We're like 37th or so. We're behind Canada. The upside I guess for us is just wait times. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization_ranking_of_health_systems_in_2000 check this out. You guys are 30th. I doubt you're an actual Canadian. Most Canadians love their system for a reason.
Ok ... i'm Canadian. The reason why 42000 people goes to US to get faster treatment is because it's faster and the $ won't change anything for them. We have a great system, we are well taken care off. We also have private sector, the difference is that our Doctor CANT work only in a private clinic. He need to give most of his time to public hospital or service (they are paid as entrepreneur, and manage their clinic). Off course we prefer our system, it's free and you will never be refused anywhere. We have great medical quality, you just have to show your card (it's a free card also ...). Yeah you have to wait, but a nurse will see you after 20-30 minutes to see what are your symptom and if it's urgent you will get ahead and everyone will see a doctor, once you are with specialist, everything work with schedule, sure sometime it's long, but we treath everyone, you will have a hearth transplant if possible, chimio is free, who can complain ... ? We also have smaller clinic, long time recovery places, we take care of people who can't do it for themself. What will you do when you wont have a job anymore, you might be homeless and get sick ? That's when you need the most help, not when money is flowing ... Even Obamacare is reaaaally conservative, as i see it ... he only highly regulated private health insurances ... Hospital are just like Police and Fire Station, they are there for the greater good of your society. There's no communism idea there at all !!
My Father in law had stage four kidney Cancer that had spread to his Liver and Lungs. They first felt a mass on his kidney and within 3-ish weeks less than a month he had surgery to remove the kidney. Once recovered from that they began doing tests/monitoring him more closely. Once they confirmed it was cancer they immediately got him on treatment that wasn't chemotherapy. He continued to get MRI/CT scans. He had 3-4 hospital stays before he finally never left and passed in the hospital. Didn't cost our family a penny and all of that happened within 8-9 months. Canadian wait times are real, but American politicians lie to scare people as if our system is horrible and no one gets care. I've also been denied a hospital bed because hospitals were full, but it turns out I didn't need to go to a hospital anyways and my Doctor just needed to change my medication dosage. A medicine that costs $40,000 a year, but I also pay...nothing. Literally nothing.
Health care here in Canada isn't free. A good portion of our taxes are used towards providing "free" health care to ALL Canadians. Unlike Canada, this same proportion of taxes in the US is spent fighting wars in other countries. I'm happy to contribute to our health care system if it means to save my life or my neighbour's.
There seems to be some confusion about wait times in Canada. I saw a doctor in a walk in clinic , got sent to a hospital , and got an MRI that afternoon. It was just a fever/flu. I paid $12 for parking though. Yep this medical system must suck.
Why do people continue to out right LIE about us Canadians heading to the US for care. We do it almost exclusively for ELECTIVE surgery or testing. We do TRIAGE here, if you are in dire need of an MRI you will get one within 24 hours! Same with surgeries. We have a small population so sometimes (rarely) we will send people to the US (which is not paid out of pocket) for a surgery only because we had a month or two of an unusual amount of people needing the same treatment. Americans also come here for treatment for the same reason. Sometimes a nation has an influx of people needing a certain treatment and sometimes a country has specialists without enough patients, the countries reciprocate. All first world countries do this.
I received a package from the USPS today. It was originally shipped by FedX. It turns out that FedX doesn't do home delivery very well, so they often get stuff close to it's destination and turn it over to USPS. If the truth were told, there are probably many times when US doctors should be referring patients to specialists in Canada. Without the motivation of extreme profit they would more often, I'm sure.
is this Pipes ***** for real? Senator Sanders is absolutely right by the way, we are fairly well versed in your politics and health care. In fact if I'm not mistaken, one of the reasons we chose single payer is because we saw the horrors of your own system and said "Nope, screw that mess, we can at least make basic healthcare "free" for everyone". It's not literally free of course, we pay higher taxes to support it but the overall cost to the system is much less because of that. Single payer is really only a small step anyway, the bigger issues - for both our Countries - are obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and stress. Basically we're all working ourselves to death, not eating right and living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle all of which racks up the costs exponentially. Preventative care is much cheaper and effective. Unfortunately there's way more money to be made in "miracle drugs" and other fixes for problems, rather than preventing said problems in the first place. As for why some of us choose to go to the U.S. for care - if you have the money, it's far more expedient. We have a very serious staff & equipment shortage (I don't know why it's not in the news more as it really should be) and it's the biggest culprit in the wait times. It has little or nothing to do with Single Payer and everything to do with resources, contrary to Dr. Martin's point. Our GDP was only 1.82 trillion in 2012, whereas the U.S. has been hovering around 14~16 for some time despite the recession. It's an absolute crime and moral dilemma that Americans don't have better access to Health Care.
Even the fact that you pay more is not true. If you look at per capita public expenditures for health care in the US we are at about 4000 USD while Canada is at 3000 USD. So our Medicaid, Medicare, and VA healthcare pays more per capita than your whole system that covers everybody. I think our Medicare is a joke. It's a tax that I have to pay and I don't even get the benefit of it. I wouldn't mind, like with Social Security, except the over 65 crowd (the ones that get the benefit) are the most expensive age bracket to insure. I doubt it would cost that much more to add everyone else into the system.
I said we pay higher taxes, not that we pay more for our healthcare. We actually spend roughly half of what the US does and with far better results. As for Medicare and Medicaid, those are basically single payer systems and of course, ironically enough, most of the rightwing nuts who cry foul about socialism love it. "Get your government hands of my medicaire" or something like that was yelled at a town hall meeting way back.@__@ The argument that it's too expensive is ludicrous and misleading. For one thing, it's much cheaper than the alternatives and secondly, medicare is primarily (at the moment) for seniors - the most expensive demographic to care for. So of course the system is going to run up a large cost. It's still better than having everyone 65 and older shopping for rates between insurance companies as the premiums would be astronomical.
Malacite I'm saying that your higher taxes doesn't necessarily mean our taxes would be higher to move to a single payer system. In reality if we moved to a single payer system there's a possibility that taxes could remain the same if the government could negotiate rates. We would still be paying more than everyone, but the government could control costs better.
Rathelm MC Even if they did, so what? Like I said your annual GDP dwarfs ours by nearly 8~9x. There's no shortage of money in the U.S., just a lot of tax dodgers (corporations and the super rich folk) and arguably poor allocation of said tax dollars.
Malacite Oh I agree with you there. I don't mind increases in taxes when it goes to help all the citizens. The issue is Republicans use the tax increase point as a red herring to get people to not want to vote people in that will make these changes. I just think the Progressive Dems should point this out saying that we pay so much for healthcare that reigning in industry through single payer system would save money and if done right can be done without raising the average person's taxes.
I am grateful to have my health care system in Canada. Thanks for Dr. Martin doing such a great service to support our health care system! Yes, we need to reorganize the system to better serve our needs...but at least we don't pay for hospital time, drugs while in the hospital, and doctors visits. We also have employer based plans or even personal drug and health plans that we can purchase ourselves to help with costs if needed. I know someone who has gone to the US and has spent thousands and thousands of dollars...luckily she can do that. My experience is that most so called ' normal people / families ' like me and my husband cannot. Here is my experience with our system. My husband has aggressive multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and it was found only because he had some serious back pain during a week in July. I took him to the hospital emergency at 9 am in the morning, he had tests right away as he was loosing feeling in his left leg. He went that evening to a specialized teaching hospital that has a fabulous neuro-spinal department in Toronto and was on the operating table by 2 am . He spent a month in the hospital recouping from his surgery (he had tumours removed from around his spine). He then started cancer treatment immediately afterwards, within two weeks, at one of the top 5 Cancer Hospitals in the world located here in Toronto and they are soon going to do one of possible two stem cell transplants. Granted, there was no wait time here because of the urgency of the situation. I think that the " urgency of need " for the persons going to the states should be considered. I do not believe it to be appropriately fair to say that their main reason is all due to long wait times within our healthcare system alone. People who can afford to spend the money for private care can go to the US and they will. For the 45000 that do, what are the reasons? (Foot, back, migraines, etc or other type problems? How many are cancer or heart concerns? ) and ,out of how many millions of people in Canada as a nation stay put? And it is NOT that we are really nice that we stay and don't say anything! If you truly compare to the whole picture, I think 45000 people could be considered an insignificant number to even headline that ' Canadians are leaving their health care system to go /get better in the US"!! You critics are only doing so to try and make your case. Trust me, as Senator Sanders has said, we Canadians know that the US Healthcare system is nothing comparable to what we have in Canada. Yes, we pay for it in our taxes, and our health care needs to have some tweaking to make it better because as times change it needs to be brought up to par too. Having said that, I am a VERY grateful Canadian to have it, even as it is, because if we had to pay for my husband's hospital bills, medications, test, and followups, his transplants etc.....we would NOT have a house to live in, no car to drive, we would be financially ruined !! I have watched programs on TV showing where communities have had to organize fund raising events because the child or relative or even a friend, of a neighbour has cancer and the costs are over 500,000 dollars a year to have treatment etc. So, for those Senators and other persons who wish speak out against our system, we are still ahead, in my opinion, because having a program available for ALL to access and use is absolutely BETTER than NOT having anything at all . If someone chooses to spend the money outside our border then that is the right of any Canadian. At least they have a choice and will always have our system for additional back up or full use if needed !
Had a thought (and yes it may have hurt!). I've been reading these comments and like all Canadians that I see anyway, am too defending our healthcare system. Why? We (Canada) were invited to the their (USA) country to speak on this panel. We were treated with disrespect as a guest in their country so why oh why are we defending ourselves??? They should be apologizing to us for their rude, obnoxious behaviour! Also, we're content with our system just the way it is; they sought us out as it's their system that's in shambles!!! Shame, shame on them for goading us and shame, shame on us for falling for it!
Very Very well said... I now live in America.. I miss my old home in Ontario and my old job with the Canadian Forces and on this debate I often find myself, outnumbered and frustrated. Your point is a good one, I was once told " I have not lived in Canada for years so I do not know what it is like now" This from someone, an in-law, who as far as I know has never even been. But as I am often told, I am from a country with little freedom, Taxed to death and we die waiting to see a doctor... Cathy you are so right. I do intend once my time in America is over to return home... I should just wait and not let it get to me, I do think Americans are good people and could be even better, I feel for the Americans who suffer with this health system, that I am forced to live with. I fear for my wife and kids, I pay over $500 a month for health care that of coerce is not accepted everywhere in America. I recently had a mass removed and have $6000.00 in copay that insurance does not cover. I am told this is the price for quality as Canada is a mess and I should thank god I am in America. You and I know the truth. This by the way is not the first time I have been in a difficult medical financial position... As I do plan to come home, why fight it?I know the truth and that is all that needs to be said.... Thank you for a well placed point and setting me straight. I uwill be coming home with an American wife and hope both my kids "who are 18 and 20" will come with me. Then I will sleep sound at night.
David Hay David, thank you Sir. And I do mean Sir. I have read your comments and you are a gentlemen and you do both Canada and the USA proud. I have nothing but respect for our men and women, both past and present, who wear the uniform and defend our countries so we may be afforded the freedom to have this "debate" in the first place. Canada will be only to lucky to have you back. May God Bless you and your family and keep you safe!
"On average, how many Canadian patients on a waiting list die each year? Do you know?" "I don't sir, but I know that there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don't have insurance at all." BOOM
Apply cold to burn
TheAnimaAnimal Is the burn unit in a Canadian hospital?
+MJ Guy lol No not true. Btw, we can afford more expensive house because we make more than Americans.
***** That not what I meant...our middle class makes more. Lol
+MJ Guy Lol What? the population has nothing to do with middle class income. Your country makes a shit load of money compared to Canada, but what your middle class makes is lower...think about that for a minute. Where does all your money go? Answer: the companies and corporations pocket. That's why they pay politicians to keep minimum wage low, to ship jobs away, encourage privatization of things that should NEVER be capitalized like health care, so that companies don't decide to only insure the healthy or make unaffordable like it does.
Look into how much America made last year, and how much of it went to the rich and to the middle class. You work your ass off while the people you work for keeps 99% of your hard work, and your 1% is devided by all the workers. You don't get payed vacation to spend with your family, or sick days, health care untill Obama care came along. Wake up, you being taken advantage of. Happy employees makes better workers, healthy workers cost less. America should be treating their people better, not just the billionaires. I enjoy many social programs like health care, child care subsidy, child tax benefits. I pay my taxes and I benefit from them.
Canadian Doctor here. I can tell you for a fact that our system is superior. My patients never worry about losing their life savings. I never have to deal with insurance companies and Canadian doctors are also not leaving the country.
darkenergylambda it's not s good healthcare system if giant corporations can't profit from sickness and death...
@broomsterm 2019 person here currently the American Health Care system is ranked at 29 which is below Mexico. And Canada Is ranked 25.
@broomsterm Already live in Canada so am good. Besides why would you wanna die in debt still working and an 80 year old with 20 jobs, when you could die retired old and satisfied with life.
darkenergylambda
Canadian healthcare sucks
www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/sallypipes/2018/01/08/democrats-idolize-canadas-health-system-as-it-recovers-from-worst-year-ever/amp/
Who cares about life savings if you can’t see a specialist on average for 5 months not including a medical test after that another 4 weeks for a CT or MRI for 11 weeks. That’s a total of 7-8 months on average to get a diagnosis. By the time one starts on a treatment plan.... your.... dead.
@@GabrielGonzalez-kb5by Hi Gabriel, there's a few things worth mentioning to your argument. For starters, you stated the article talks about "averages" when the word average/averages isn't even discussed in the article. It talks about median values. There is a huge difference between them and I'm going to provide you with a source to and a direct quoted example on this difference.
"The median is defined as the "middle term" in a set. In the set {0, 3, 5}, the median is 3. If the set has an even number of terms, the median is the average of the middle two terms. For example, in the set {10, 12, 15, 20}, the median is the average of 12 and 15: 13.5."
www.gmathacks.com/quant-topics/when-the-mean-is-the-median.html
Secondly, for example, in Canada they have policies that will reduce their wait time if there's justification. A lot, of those people who wait longer times are for non-life risking reasons, whereas people who are given the shorter times are the peoples who are at severe risk.
Lastly, everyone should care about losing their life savings. Said person will more than likely have a spouse or children that depend on them. Their lives could be gravely impacted. Your example is a bit of a selfish take, no offense.
Please keep an open mind and continue to educate yourself on the issues.
No Canadian, no Brit, no European, or any person who lives in a country with single-payer wants an American healthcare system. But more and more Americans want a universal single-payer healthcare system. Think about it. 🤔
Well probably never get one..
Dr. Martin might be the only person who knows more about comparative healthcare policy than I do. Martin provides specific studies and statistics while "Ms. Pipes" just offers hearsay about some people seeing advertisements in a paper. The U.S. profit-based healthcare model ranks 37th in the world in cost, access, and outcomes. The U.S. has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the advanced world due to the cost of pre- and post-natal care; the U.S. also has an average of 500,000 bankruptcies caused solely by medical debt. America also has an average of 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year due to individuals waiting until it's too late to seek healthcare due to cost (they say 45,000 here, but it depends on the study). Americans pay four times more on average for prescription medications and prescription drug prices are the number 1 driver of healthcare costs increasing at three times the rate of wages eating up all modest wage gains. Americans are so cruel and unthinking that they would rather keep a system with no positives and that costs taxpayers half a trillion more than a universal system simply to prevent someone from getting healthcare they feel "does not deserve it." No other country in the world wants our model and even those countries that still have private insurance regulate costs of all medications, devices, and procedures.
most europeans don't live in a single payer system. Brits have the option private insurance for essential care. So do Germans, Scandinavians, Dutch, etc. Canada is an outlier in this regard in banning private insurance for essential care.
Vermont is one lucky state to have someone as intelligent and conscientious as Bernie Sanders representing them.
Nothing like a total hypocrite telling you what to do with your money...
@@clampetron5556 Fuck off asshole!
🤣 you're joking right?
@@clampetron5556 in what way?
@@thealmightymexi he was just going to bring up the "Bernie's a millionaire" shtick.
Watching that woman completely crush that Republican was priceless.
You only see what you want to see. I saw her avoid questions and spout long-debunked studies.
IamTheSherm I dunno, I figure i'd take her word over things happening in her own country rather than some study conducted by American interests. Just seems smart.
IamTheSherm What study was long-debunked? What's your source?
Sal D'Souza He doesn't have any, just believes blindly through party affiliation.
wow crushing republicans is more important than solving problems.. (this is the problem with our politics , who cares what party they are we need solutions )
Dr Danielle Martin is a Canadian hero.
+MJ Guy what like what she was saying wasnt true? last i looked everyone in Canada doesnt enjoy the US system at all, especially when it comes to politics
*****
why trade with the guy at the end of the street that you barely met when you can trade with the guy next-door which you have known for a long time?
+Joe Smith Women's College is an awesome facility - right in the heart (no pun) of so much medical research - and, well, TIFF.
+MJ Guy Sheep mentality, fucking lmao. Have you seen the states?
***** So you should know better, I've lived in Europe and north America as well ... The people who vote for the GOP are the definition of sheep mentality. + Dr Martin seems very educated so I dont know wtf you're talking about.
People's health is not a profit issue. It's a human rights issue. Anyone arguing for keeping a system that works on profeting on sick people and manipulating prices should re-evalue their moral ground.
So farmers and grocery stores should also give out free food?
CSX Productions Nothing is free. Free healthcare does not mean you don't pay for it. The system works by collecting tax money and putting it in healthcare. I live in Norway wich has free healthcare. Our country saves money from this system. You can't go bankrupt if you become sick. This has proven to benefit society in many ways. Most of all, keeps people healthy and able to work. Your system fucks people over wich in the long run weakens your workforce. If you lived in a country wich has free healthcare you would begin to understand the benefits of this system. Food can never be free, because alot of people eat to much. There isn't enough food to go around. Medicines however we have enough of. Nobody needs to make money of it. It is not neccesary and it only weakens the society.
Kent Olaf Steinhaug
"The system works by collecting tax money and putting it in healthcare."
Meaning it is not free.
"I live in Norway wich has free healthcare"
It isn't free.
"Our country saves money from this system"
Compared to the US, no one lives in Norway. More government programs cost more money.
"Your system fucks people over wich in the long run weakens your workforce."
The people not working are the ones sucking the Medicare system dry. The person receiving the healthcare is not the one paying for it. Medicare and Medicaid are having too much money pumped into them which driving up private costs.
"If you lived in a country wich has free healthcare you would begin to understand the benefits of this system."
Healthcare is not free.
"Medicines however we have enough of."
You don't have any many blood-sucking minorities or as much poverty as the US does, which is driving up the demand. You also likely obtain your drugs from the US.
"Nobody needs to make money of it. It is not neccesary and it only weakens the society."
Drugs are not free. Money and investments are needed to fund their production and research.
CSX Productions Actually it is free and not free. You only pay for medicines, wich are cheap. The word free in this sense means if you don't work and don't pay taxes,you still get help. It's all paid for anyway by the state. How many people live here is irrelevant. UK and France have the same system. Yes a poor country would have trouble funding such a system. I guess USA is poor then? How come every country that implement this system see their economy boost? I've seen how it works for you. 30 million people can't get help. I don't see that number going down anytime soon. Your only option is the same system most of Europe use. It's a fact.
" I guess USA is poor then?"
Not a poor country, but the media loves to embellish the poor to try and push their agenda for socialized medicine, like that will solve the problem. Then again, a lot of these "poor" people have smartphones, and pay for alcohol and cigarettes with their food stamps.
Just sitting here in Canada wondering why tf healthcare isn't a basic human right right over the border
It is. Please explain to me how a Federal prisoner in Canada can receive private healthcare and not a private citizen?
IKR
+CSX Productions There, it's Mr. Ignorant again. Canada has private delivery, but public payer. Please get that through your head.
bzy bee Canada has government delivery, which is stripped down and has waiting lists, drug shortages, and Canadians coming to the US.
CSX Productions My apologies if I wasn't clear enough. Canada has public payer, and there are several private deliverers in addition to public delivery.
Do you even know anything about Canada? It seems all you've seen are right-wing commercials and websites who want to keep Americans ignorant and in the current awful medical system that the US has. How sad.
Canada does not have a "stripped down" delivery. In fact, my city recently opened a swanky new hospital that's like a seven-star hotel! It would put US hospitals to shame.
There are no drug shortages. In fact, several drugs are stocked in an excessive surplus to make sure if production of some drugs is temporarily halted, there's more than enough to last until replacements are arranged.
There are NO waiting lists for URGENT care. For ELECTIVE procedures ( ELECTIVE means NON-URGENT), you wait your turn. And there have been tremendous improvement in reduction of wait times across several areas.
While some (negligible portion) -entitled- Canadians do go to the US, Americans go to other countries for care as well. So what's your point?
Ms. Pipes, as a Canadian I can tell you that as nice as we are, we are no more patient than Americans when it comes to our health.
Amen
+Angela Chan I suppose it really does depend on what kind of issue we have. If it's an issue as tragic as a sudden heart attack or a stroke, then of course those sort of emergencies become prioritized.
Angela Chan When my husband had a stroke he was cared for right away. No wait time at all. When it comes to emergencies the Canadian system is extremely fast.
Dawn E she didn’t want to say the answer to his question about how many people die on waiting lists because it’s more than 45000 people.
More than 42 000 people leave Canada to get faster care every year.
Also if you need an mri/cat scan/ organ you will be waiting.
Canadian health care is drained and abused.
The statement that was made was that there are waiting times for "elective surgeries". I am 60 and have never met another Canadian who has traveled to the US for tests or surgeries. Our health care is far from drained and abused.
There are things I hate about our healthcare system such as wait times and unspoken better care for those with power, money and influence but I would NEVER want to introduce insurance companies into our system here.
***** I feel bad for you. Honestly it must suck knowing that if you break your leg, or are unfortunate enough to get cancer, you're going to go broke getting the care you need. :S
***** In that case, could you throw some money up my way? :P
+hebber1961 When comparing the two systems, I think it is important to note that the Canadian universal plan does cover a vast majority of health care services and procedures, it does not cover them all.
Much like many Canadians, I pay private health insurance for items not covered by the government programs: prescriptions, physio, dental work, eye examinations, prescription glasses, ambulances, semi-private hospital rooms, etc - items that are not covered by, in my case, OHIP.
While I agree with your overall comment, we should point out that we do have private health insurance in Canada that covers off areas where the government does not pay.
+mr7wi We do, but it barely costs us 30$ a month for a single person. Families a bit more. Unlike the US where its 100$+ a month. It's alot easier in the Canadian system because if you work a full time, your employer has no other choice than provide health benefits. They pay a percentage and we pay the rest. The US, they fork the 100%.
+JustAnotherGamingGurl Good point - thanks. And as +hebber1961 points out, the private insurance co's don't appear to have a huge lobby in Ottawa.
Impatient Americans?! Yeah, I would agree too. I mean I'm getting impatient of these stupid reasons not to have universal healthcare.
Do us a favor and move to Canada!
There is no such thing as "universal healthcare."
People of Vermont are very lucky to have Sen. Bernie Sanders to represent them.
Scotty Boy
The people of Vermont were just forced to abandon their socialized healthcare system after it collapsed.
STDrepository The system they never enacted? Riiiight.
STDrepository The taxes that needed to be raised for the state was deemed too much, but it will work nationwide.
*****
Ha.. i'm not paying more taxes.. this country is overtaxed already. You are going to ask poor struggling American workers to pay taxes for that?
They would respond by electing an even stronger Republican majority in congress than there already is.
STDrepository Republicans have blocked almost everything from increased social security, tax hikes for the rich, vet benefits etc, they do nothing but prevent this country to compete with countries that have already done all that.
As a Canadian, I thank you Sen. Bernie for having the ability to comprehend the Canadian healthcare system in a way that is, unlike a lot of other examples, accurate. When I hear American pundits or politicians talking like we are victims of our healthcare system, it doesn't make any sense to the average Canadian. There are problems, as there are within every system of doing anything. But I have had to deal with our healthcare system quite a bit, and it does differ from province to province, because it is under provincial jurisdiction, but overall my experience with it has been overwhelmingly positive.
*****
I have had to go to a clinic for stuff like that a number of times. I just go into a clinic, either my family doctor or walk in, show them my provincial BC care card. Wait times can be bad sometimes, but I generally wait 15-20 minutes before I see my doctor.
Sadly I think prescriptions are more like it is down there. It depends on the province you're in, because healthcare is under their jurisdiction. In Manitoba on their plan, I had to pay a deductible at the beginning of each year, that was around $200, then I didn't pay for the rest of the year.
Here in BC it's weird, some of my meds are covered, some aren't
Yeah I'm quite happy with it. The system has its issues. But I think it depends more on the individual hospitals and the size of the area they service than on the system itself.
I remember waiting in the ER in Winnipeg, sitting there for something like 7 hours, and then waiting even longer once I got set up in a room. But here in Vancouver I've been in and out of an ER in 2 or 3 hours.
The biggest problem at the moment is there aren't even family doctors, so a lot of people end up going to walk-ins when they have a problem. But personally I haven't had any trouble finding a family doctor, so I'm not entirely sure what the problem is.
But once you get your provincial health care card, you can go to any hospital, any clinic, or go to any testing place and not have to worry about paying or dealing with insurance.
There are some specialty clinics that aren't covered by the public system if you go to them directly. But if you are referred by a doctor in the public system to that clinic you will usually be covered by the province.
***** .... typical american. You can't just get free healthcare by renting/buying property. If you own property here, you don't get free healthcare. Citizens and PERMANENT residents only. You can't get the best of both worlds.
Yeah I'm not sure how it works. But to be honest, I don't really mind my tax dollars going to Americans in a situation of need. Otherwise I'd probably just spend it on hockey tickets and beaver pelts.
That guy brings up a point, but it isn't bad everywhere. Like I said, in Manitoba healthcare could be quite bad to deal with, especially hospitals. But here in North Vancouver I feel like I'm waited on most of the time, but North Van is a small city. Blood test, no appointment needed, in and out in 20 minutes, in and out of clinics in 30 minutes, hospitals 2-3 hours.
The weak spot in the system is specialty tests and stuff, that can take while, as in months. But usually it doesn't really matter.
It is also worth saying the Alberta healthcare system is largely privatized. So, if that's what you're looking for steer clear.
Hmmm, a waiting period, or death/bankruptcy? Yeah, that's a really hard decision...
Some people just seek instant gratification, and complain if they have to wait at all. I know a spry fellow in his 80s, who has a brother in the U.S.
Several years ago, he was talking to his brother, and his brother told him he should get his triple heart bypass down in the U.S., because it would take forever to get the surgery done in Canada.
The octogenarian said, hey - it's already been done!
Death will come in Canada.
Death occurs during those waiting periods.
In the Canadian system, of you have a critical condition or if something is suspected (for example, if you need a brest ultrasound or biopsy) you are fasttracked. My wife had a lump in her breast. Called out family doctor. Appointment within 4 days. X-ray the next week. Results. Ultrasound the next week. Cancer ruled out. That was efficient (and totally free).
@@hdufort
If citizens are forced to pay for it, it isn't "free." What happens if there are too many life-threatening cases?
I am a proud Canadian and I am also a proud friend of the American people ,I am almost 60 years old
and have waited many times in hospital waiting rooms ,1 hr 4hrs 6hrs but when ever ive needed urgent fast care my family and I have always gotten it based on urgency and have always had the finest care that I believe is
possible ,Its fantastic but not perfect . I wish you could know the truth as we see it .We never have to worry about losing our house or anything like that ,the cost has never been a worry ,the care is great ,I could go on and on ,just saying
+Rory Mclean Coming from Australia I know exactly what it's like to have top quality free health care.
Andro345 something to be said about the commonwealth ,great to hear you enjoy the same benifits ,Bravo
+Rory Mclean So, you like paying higher taxes? That's what I as an American don't want. I also don't want the government to take my earned money and give it to someone else.
+N Plutonium Yeah, paying high taxes sucks. It does, really. But my community is heathly. And thinking that someone paid for my medics and for my IRM makes me feel great because I would do the same and thats what I'm doing everyday. People are selfish AF. It disgust me.
Maude R.-B.
Keeping the community healthy actually saves our governments money.
That's the crazy part about it.
In Australia we are raising the retirement age because people are living healthier and longer.
I really appreciate all the hard work you do Sen. Sanders. I really do. This can't be easy day in and day out.
Exactly! Keep up the fight, Senator Sanders! Don't let the bastards wear you down.
Well said!
Fantastic. ! In Canada facts count. This doctor was prepared and didn't let them get away with a thing. Well done.. I've lived under the UK and Canadian health care. Never had a problem. Never had to -re- mortgage a property to have my children's tonsils out. Never had to worry about emergency surgery. Yes, there are waiting times but the system is designed to move people to the front of the line if their condition is life threatening. I once had a fishing mishap in Lake Tahoe . Five stitches cost me nearly three grand. I think I'll stick with Canada
Agreed. I went to the emergency room for a bloody nose and a broken toe. Each time, I had to wait a little while. On the other than, on different times I went in when I had a dizzying migraine which led to blurred vision, ridiculous abdominal pains, and when I had heart palpitations. I didn't even see the wait room in those last 3 situations. I was admitted immediately.
I am from the Netherlands and everything that Dr. Martin described about Australia is true here. We've moved to a privatised system sponsored by a pro-corporate government coalition and costs have risen while quality of treatment has declined. The only way to be serious about national health care is single payer. We used to have that and it was great. Then lobbyism won out and the bottom line to priority over people's health.
+Tim Arthur "Pro-corporate government coalition...." So not really privatised then?
+Coletrain
for the " hard of understanding "
that's not what he said.
when the profit motive is allowed into public healthcare fortunes are made, and people die in their thousands.
just look at the USA.
I am from Scotland. our national health service is the best in the world. It's not perfect and has its faults but we don't leave people struggling with ill health. How sad. America is so great in other areas but just don't get sick if you cannot afford it. That's pathetic.
+Tim Arthur Is there any movement to go back to single payer in Australia? Just curious. Thanks.
+Ronnie Mcmurray I agree completely, I'm from the UK as well and I decided to call a doctor about a persistent stomach pain, and walked out of my local GP surgery with tablets that fixed it 20 minutes after calling without paying a penny (still in full time education so don't even have to pay the small prescription charge) If Americans experienced a single payer system then they would all support it.
Why are American's afraid of socialism. I have never paid for doctor, we all share the cost together
Drake B Because almost all the conservatives living today grew up during the cold war. The USSR and Eastern European countries were treating their people like shit and brainwashing them with propaganda and claiming that it was "socialism" so whenever a conservative here's that Bernie Sanders is a "socialist" they automatically believe he's a communist and freak out.
***** Yeah but the US was the main part of the red scare. USSR had nukes pointing directly at us while we did the same. Not only that, but the we have a loooooot of nationalists here who are brainwashed by shit like Fox News who think everything outside the US is bad.
Drake B There is a very large portion of the voting population which honestly can not fathom the idea that another country may be doing something or, oh my, a lot of things better than we are. It is not necessarily their fault, it is just part of the culture and system, socialism, despite us already being a socialist state, is something to be feared and looked upon with scorn.
They can not make the connection between public education, infrastructure, SOCIAL SECURITY, the military, the police, and most utilities outside of Texas, they can not make the connection between these things and socialism. Because these things which i just listed are mostly good, and socialism is communism and is evil. So we're left in a situation where clearly healthcare can be done better, but to improve it would require socialist programs, but socialism is evil and therefor should not be done.
You can point to examples where other countries do something better than it is done here, like education in Asia or social programs in Europe, and the response from many is not the proper "Well in what way can we attempt to emulate their good example so that we might better ourselves", it is instead something like this "Well if you don't like it here why don't you just move?" As i said, it is not their fault, it is just the expected result of hearing about how awesome America is at everything for your entire existence.
Drake B same. i live in the UK and feel so proud that we have the NHS. in america
its like every man for himself, whereas in the UK yeah its a pain in
the ass to pay more in taxes but we know that those takes are going
towards someones cancer treatment, or catscan, doctors appointment etc.
aswell as improving the schools and unfortunately contributing to the
£100 BILLION trident programme. when i was 14 i fell off my bike and
broke my collar bone. i got the bus to the hospital at 5am, walked in
and waited an hour. they gave me painkillers, did an x ray, put me in a
sling and said if you have any problems come back and well sort you out.
didnt pay a penny. for perseciptions aswell its around £8.50...too bad
the tories are selling it bit by bit. the moneys there they just dont
want to use it #Bernie2016
troy onan
bernies not gona raise taxes on americans though, only the 1% and the high high earners.
"On average, how many Canadian patients on a waiting list die each year? Do you know?"
"I don't, sir, but I know there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don't have insurance at all."
Ouch.
Neither of those things were true. The Harvard study in 2009 has been debunked. 45,000 people do not die for lack of insurance, they lack insurance because they are more likely to die. Insured or not, Cancer will kill you. If you are more likely to get cancer, you are less likely to get insurance. However, anyone that refuses cancer treatment because they can't afford it is an idiot. In the US, insured or not, hospitals are required to treat patients. The idea that an American hospital would or could deny service to anyone for lack of payment is absurd.
For the record, the vast majority of medical bankruptcies are filed by those with insurance.
IamTheSherm
Where is the peer-reviewed study that debunked the Harvard study? Where are the sources that supports your claim that "the vast majority of medical bankruptcies are filed by those with insurance."?
IamTheSherm Debunked by who?
Americans are not denied healthcare. That is a myth. Ask the illegals that hop across the border and flood the clinics.
@@JFRAMEUSA that is such a stupid, racist remark that you just bared your intelligence quotient writing it.
Bernie, I just spent an hour of time watching an interview of you and if I were American, I would vote for you :)
Opinionman2 me too .. as an Australian .. I wish we had a Bernie here!
John Howley Bernie should just relocate from country to country, creating a socialist dictatorship everywhere he goes until the world is fixed. :P
+14Schofield yea
Health Care: U.S. vs. Canada
Dr. Danielle Martin, a family physician from Toronto, compared health care in her country to the more expensive but less effective system in the United States. She was questioned at a Senate hearing on Tuesday by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the health subcommittee chairman, and Sen. Richard Burr, the ranking Republican. With a hint of sarcasm, Sanders asked the doctor to explain how come the conservative Canadian premier hasn’t gotten rid of the country’s health care system. In another exchange, as the Los Angeles Times put it, Dr. Martin “bats down the myths and misunderstandings about the Canadian system that Burr throws at her.” Burr, for example, asked why former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams had a heart valve operation in Miami, where he owns a condo, instead of in Canada.
But of course the surgeons in the US are the best anywhere in the world.
Slam-Dunk Mr. Sanders... Way to go!
Terry Lazar just the best paid in the world.
Al Kirkwood
They may be the best paid in the world, but they must be the best surgeons in the world or they wouldn't be paid..
That was pretty sweet.
3:58 LOL that backfired real quick!
Hahaha Sen. Burr is full of shit.
mrfundamental247 SHIIIIITTTTTTTTTT oOOOHHHHHHH
Brian Garcia Says the 45,000 people that die each year because they don't have health insurance.
DAMN
+mrfundamental247 Get the Senator to the burn unit, STAT!
I am a Canadian, as Sen. Sanders said. We have a lot of awareness of American politics and media. I have health issues and every time I go to my doctor I say a prayer of thanks for our health care system.
it amuses me when Americans tell me about how bad my healthcare system is here in Canada. Could have fooled me. Meanwhile in US, a $10K hospital stay is a very, very common occurrence.
I broke my left arm three times growing up in Ontario, Canada. Had surgery all three times, probably stayed in the hospital for 8 days total for all three occurrences.
Cost me around $0. God I love this Country.
Also, a lot of people are under the impression that universal health care will leave a deficit in annual income. While this is true for the short term (if a new universal system is JUST being implemented), allow your universal system to mature.
In Canada, we earn more annual income than the average American, and that's WITH the deficit we all pay into our universal system.
I laugh at the anger over Obamacare. People can cry all they want, but it's going down in the History books as one of the best decisions an American President has ever made. Just remember that it's in it's infancy, and *will* be a bit rough for a while. I promise you it'll get better though. Eventually life will be normal again. You'll be making the same wage you used to AND don't have to worry about any medical issues.
Don't think universal healthcare is a smooth process, but the end result is magnificent.
Let me make this clear to all on this thread. The way this argument was framed even in the Senate chambers was incorrect just plain wrong.There is NO american healthcare system period.There is no central guidance authority or database period. Mental health is absent period. Canada has a central system. What we have here is a heterozygous group of institutions that sometimes work with each other and sometimes not. Insurance has NOTHING to do with health care provision or distribution . AT ALL! It is simply payment.There is no Blue Cross University hospital. To say that we have a system is absurd there is no system. Ants have system we do not. What was not mentioned in this discussion or barely mentioned is how often insurance companies refuse to pay for procedures elective or not. And it is a huge figure. Basically insurance companies sell back to the American public the health care trust for which they already pay for through taxes charity volunteering, One third of all health care provision every where is based on blood and tissue donation. I have given a couple of HUNDRED times myself. Hey fellow Americans why is this the insurance pig's to sell?
The Canadian healthcare system is vastly superior to the American system. This is from personal experience and family experience. I have had emergency surgery, my father has had heart surgery and colon cancer surgery, my aunt just had double hip surgery, etc. That hundreds of thousand of dollars of care -- at no cost (other than through the tax dollars we happily pay). We all received excellent quality medical care by highly skilled doctors/nurses and in a timely manner. Our doctors and hospitals didn't check our credit ratings or ask for our credit cards before treating us. We are Canadian citizens and, like all Canadian citizens, it's understood that we have the right to medical care, no matter what our financial situation.
I wish I had a healthcare system closer to Canada's... I had a surgery that took place in one day, no overnight stay, and it cost me $13,000. My insurance covered... $1,300. SO pitiful.
Tell them you won't pay it and they will negotiate with you. Stretch out the payments over10-20 years or so.
It's true, Canadians are some of the sweetest people on earth! And strangely, American Minnesotans remind me a lot of Canadians, who are also very sweet people...calm, patient, genuine. I wish more people were like Canadians here in America :(
We're nice because we have health care
@Grande1124 :D
It is time it is time for a president to make a law to make our crap in our country everything our toys are phones everything R Motors everything every part in our cars and in our TVs is made in America not manufactured in China and Japan we need to stop corporate for making tons of money shipping it overseas and then bringing the rest of the parts that's why your cars break down and that's why your toys breakdown cuz the manufacture and some of the toys the parts are not really good
I want a president. Big corporate in Japan and China stop doing business with China and Japan with parts that means cars phones TVs I will tell you something I've had tons of PlayStation they have broke down made in China we've had I've had Xbox broke down but another one still broke down I got a brand new TV I just bought and it broke down cuz it's made in China and Japan it is time to put American people to work by doing that bring all our stuff to our phones and our computers and everything made in America lost make America great again by putting American people to work set of overseas
Run, Bernie, run.
And Americans stop blindly saying you'll vote for Hillary just because you know the name or that she's female.
Sage Mantis I'm definitely supporting Bernie Sanders but if Hillary wins the primary, I will support/vote for her in the general election.
CultOfMoMo I would just leave the country, not vote.
where would you go?
CultOfMoMo Pretty much anywhere in Europe.
Sage Mantis Not Canada? Awwwww.... ;-;
Sure she's an MD and intelligent and he's obviously a complete doofus, but my God! How embarrassing for the good people of NC to have their own two term US Senator taken to school like this! That was priceless!
Hey! They voted for him.
I come from a family of right wing conservatives and I often have political conversations with them.(I consider myself neutral in politics) I brought up the idea of Senator Bernie Sanders running for the democratic nomination in the upcoming election and it concerned and upset me about how quickly they brushed him off as an illegitimate option for presidency. Half of my family I spoke with had no idea who he was, and the half that did labeled him as "that one socialist" referring to "socialist" in a very derogatory manor. From what I've seen of this man, he seems like one of, if not the best, candidate we have so far and I fear that this country is going to let a brilliant potential candidate slip away. I fear for the future of a man like this when running for president because too many people will either, a) not know who this guy is or b) label him as some sort of socialist villain. Even though this will be my first election, I feel like too many people go to the polls uneducated on the candidates and vote right or left because they were told to do so.
Avery Byerly Oh I know how that feels. I'm an Australian and every member of my family, except myself, votes for the Liberal-National Party (which is an extremely deceiving name. They're basically the GOP of Australia.) The LNP are climate-deniers, anti-gay marriage, hand out huge subsidies to fossil fuels and can't run an economy. However, the have almost complete control of the media here due to the support of their political donors (Gina Rinehart and Rupert Murdoch). As such, they rub the name of the Greens Party (perhaps the only semi-decent party remaining in Australia) in the dirt before every election, running about 9 negative reports for every positive report. I feel as if my family just doesn't know any better, and it's hard to blame them sometimes. We get lied to 24/7 on the 2 most popular news channels in australia, and it works. Tony Abbott has managed to convince australia that a carbon tax is the worst thing in the world for the middle class when it's the exact opposite, plus he's made the majority of australians absolutely hate/fear asylum seekers. The only thing I fear is the power of misinformation.
Aquila You are not alone, it's the same in the UK, god knows what it's like in the gud ol' US of A, cook em down and hang the high yeeha; keep to you ideals - you are not wrong.
As a Canadian who pays more attention to USA politics I've notice Americans use socialist quite unsparingly. I feel a lot of Americans don't realize the police, fire departments, libraries and army are all socialized systems
+mopground Americans cry about socialism so much its pathetic. The problem isnt socialism, the problem is they dont know what socialism is. they have been brainwashed to thinking its this horrible thing and that it would make them a communist country. You can be a socialist country and still have capitalism. The socialist part just keeps the capitalists from selling out the country for their own profit. A social/capitalist society is the perfect balance really. Canada, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Norway etc, they all provide more social protection but have a healthy private sector. Theres no jobs being killed there. Unemployment is low, wages are way higher, benefits are better, more secure full time jobs, less national debt. All the scary stories the right wingers tell about socialism are not true.
ziggy4242
well i dont know if sweden is the best example of a society to strive for but i agree with your overall point that a mix is best. That being said lots of left wingers try to say capitalism is evil by pointing to the current system when its actually crony capitalism(corporations bribing, colluding, bullying, lobbying etc). No one said capitalism wasnt a corruptible system but, once we reach a stage as we have, people will call for the opposite end of the extreme spectrum unknowingly. Then, the game just starts repeating itself.
In 2016 my husband had an emergency triple bypass on his heart. He received superb care and follow up and is doing great. Our cost? ZERO dollars. I'm so grateful for our Canadian healthcare.
I have had a hernia repair, and it cost me $20. - the cost of the taxi to the hospital.
These people cry about possibly having to wait 6 months to a year. Are you kidding? Cry me a river! I waited for SEVEN YEARS to get my problems looked at due to bad doctors who didn't like my insurance and then NO insurance at all. Things that could have been taken care of YEARS ago are now permanent disabilities and I will now qualify for SSA/SSI because of it! I'm just counting my lucky stars because had my issue been deadly, I wouldn't be here. And I wouldn't be here because of a LACK of insurance, not a wait time. People ask me "well, how would you feel if you'd had to wait a year to get that taken care of" indignantly, and I smirk and say "OH MAN I WOULD HAVE LOVED THAT!" -_-
La Nausée THANK YOU. :D
And freedom of choice? I don't know where people are getting that from.. I don't have a choice. I have to let the insurance company tell me what doctors I can see and if or if not I'm approved to see them. The only people that have "choice" are rich and can pay for medical expenses out of pocket.
As for the 4-6 month wait, I'm serious, I would LOVE to have had that. It makes me cry to know that had I gotten attention that fast my arms might not have permanent joint damage (and I'm an artist, this sucks), that I might not be in danger of losing my ability to walk because this would have been treated sooner (sooner than 7 freaking years, at least and by far).
People here are basically selfish and whiny. They wonder why THEY should have to help anyone else or pay for anyone else and are too dense to realize that if they go to any hospital or doctor, their high fees are a result of people who can't pay their bills. It's absolutely beyond ridiculous.
Yeah, freedom of choice, my ass. This year alone, my insurance company sent me at least 8 letters stating that {insert whatever doctor or hospital I was using} was no longer accepting my insurance. The friggin' COUNTY hospital wouldn't even accept it, and they accept everyone! I ended up having to change insurance companies just to keep the one doctor who actually helps me. I have to pay more for the insurance, and for every doctor visit, but it's worth it because it took me so long to find a good pain management specialist. I guess you could say that I had the freedom to change my insurance, which is true, but I didn't really have a choice in which other insurance I picked. In my area, there are only three companies offering Medicare Advantage plans. So my choice was either stay with what I had and try to find new doctors in the dwindling pool of doctors in my area; choose one that allowed me to stay with my doctor, but no other added benefits; or choose the one that allowed me to stay with my doctor and have vision benefits, allowing me to get a free pair of glasses, which I desperately need. Most Americans also don't have the freedom to change their insurance plans more that once a year, and only during a two-month "open enrollment" period. But because I get Social Security Disability, Medicare, and what's called "Extra Help" (to help pay for my prescriptions), I can change it whenever. I guess that gives me freedoms that other Americans don't have, and I really don't understand the logic behind it. Seussi Bright, even the rich don't pay out-of-pocket. They get the best insurance! Or concierge doctors who only charge a one-time fee and take care of damn near everything. Also, the fees are so high because of malpractice insurance and other insurances the doctors and hospitals have to carry. Not to mention, they charge for every cotton ball and every doctor that even glanced at you can add their charge to the bill. It's ridiculous. Given the chance, I'd become a Canadian citizen in a heartbeat to get the care they get. I remember one time one of my doctors had to list a slew of reasons, some didn't even apply to me, in order to get an MRI approved by my insurance company. We essentially had to LIE in order to get it approved. That took about 6 months, so I think I'd be perfectly okay with waiting that long for an MRI I don't have to jump through hoops to get. :\
Yeah and six months is also exaggerated. Depending what the problem is you can get a specialist in a few weeks usually 2. for cancer specialists, because they are busier and can take up to 3 months depending where you are. My mother in law had stage 3 lung cancer and she is ok today. The wait is painful when you are worried no matter where you are.
France Filiault lol That's another deception people here like to shriek about.. that our wait times are shorter than any place with Universal Healthcare.. but you're saying 2 weeks.
I had to wait about a year or two (after 5 years of the run around and neglect from not having insurance) just to be approved and covered by insurance, then another 3 months to get doc appointments with the specialists that I need to see, THEN another 2 months to start being treated because I had to be run through a ton of tests that had to be scheduled WEEKS in advance. Oh and this is AFTER the stupid pre-existing condition bs was finally banned. Before that I actually had to pay some crap insurance company for a year and then they would refuse to pay my bills after that year anyway.
The US healthcare system is a crock. People who think it's actually working have either been incredibly lucky or are well off.
It probably depends on where you live in Canada, here in Windsor things are quick, but I do have a specialist appointment in November that I am forgetting about. Oops. Lol
Ads for MRIs in magazines in Canada? No. That's just straight up bull. Ms. Pipes can keep her prejudiced crap to herself. "Oh all Canadians are more patient and nice so they don't want to speak up" just because a stereotype is nice does not mean it isn't a stereotype, and to use that as an actual point of defense in a debate like this is just ridiculous.
I don't know how you do this job without laughing in their faces. It's an absolute travesty what American politics has descended into, thank you for continuing to be sensible, live in reality, and speak truth. Every time someone asks me for an example of a good US politician, I say Bernie Sanders.
"Why do the Canadians not come to the American healthcare system"?
-"Well Canadians are very nice people."
Thanks sweetheart. We are. But reallllyyyy? Could you possibly have made a less intelligent comment?
Do you know why your cars are breaking down do you want to know you don't want to know why your cars are break down cuz they're made in China Japan you why your TV breaks down it's made in China Japan I have a jacket my grandfather gave me it's made in America and its last me a long time stuff in China doesn't last for long if you buy American stuff is going to last longer all the parts made in America everything to put America's people to work women children
@@codybsiley7546 Which is why GM recalled 30 million cars because of a faulty ignition switch? I'm not saying China and Japan have cornered the market on quality control, but we've definitely slipped up. Also, dude, punctuation is your friend. And, we actually have laws against child labor. In fact, we've had them for decades.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS. The Canadian single payer system while far from perfect is pretty damned AMAZING and we never have to worry about whether or not we have enough money to literally survive (ie. recieve medical attention). That sort of stress or anxiety freaks us the fuck out. Who would want to worry about whether or not they can afford to fix their broken arm or get a necessary surgery????? It's unfathomable for us Canadians!
too bad that Harper and the Conservatives in Canada are working to destroy our healthcare and create a two tier system.
eternalfire1244 Harper and company know that if they touch our healthcare system it's a one-way ticket to political suicide. But, I'm curious. What have they done to make you say that?
numuves The conservative party in Canada has done everything to slowly pick away at healthcare funding, and has slowly worked at disintegrating the healthcare structure. This is with the sole intention of being able to, one day, have a platform in which they can step back, point to the healthcare system and say "see? It's obviously not working. We NEED a second option!". Their hopes, of course, is that over time, the Canadian people will chalk the years of problems up to a faulty system, and not a system that was intentionally sabotaged.
Canadians know the US system through and through and want nothing to do with it. And the reasons have nothing to with being "nice" people. Thanks for being a leader in this fight, Senator. I hope you win.
Sen Burr.... "Fertile ground" Profiting from healthcare is just wrong as it's not a luxury to have it but a necessity for ALL the population in the US. I'm sure glad to have it in Canada.
***** Your comment just screams ignorance.... and really doesn't deserve a proper reply. Have a nice day.
+Vincent Jones You hear that? That's the sound of someone chopping at their own feet.
*****
Those who did the most amount of work in building that great nation would agree with us.
+Vincent Jones America the greatest Nation on earth? Must be why they rank #1 in education, happiness, freedom and prosperity.... oh wait they don't in any case. American pride is really a blinding force to some people.
***** What to you makes a great nation? Good feelings and repeating that you're the best over and over?
I love Britain and our NHS, I would hate to have to pay crazy amounts of money for medical care.
I'm not sure I know anyone who likes our system.
I have family in Toronto. My uncle has a head tumor that required him to have multiple visits to the hospital and several biopsies. He did not have to wait any longer than he would have had to wait to make an appt here in America. The only difference is that he's not going BROKE keeping up with all of the visits to the hospital. In comparison, while working in the Cancer Center/General Hospital here in the US, I would say 1/3 of patients do not have insurance and that number would be even HIGHER if people didn't have Medicare/Medicaid. I've talked to many patients who can't afford 40,000 treatments and medications that cost $300-1,000s+ of dollars/monthly.
That is because other Canadians are forced to pay for it, and the government decided to give some funds to save his life.
@@JFRAMEUSA we take care of each other and I may need the service on day too. It’s the Canadian way.
I have lived under both systems. I still live less than an hour from Canada. Believe me, the single payer system is by far a better, more equitable system. If more Americans traveled and learned about how other countries do things, more Americans would clamor for better things in many areas; healthcare, childcare, education, work/life balance.
I live in Canada and yes the system isn't perfect and yes I once waited 5 hours in an emergency room. The reason I waited 5 hours is because it was February, it was for sinus issues and there were a lot of people who needed help more than I did (more serious issues). The incredibly long wait time comments I hear a lot often come from Americans who just hear that from someone else, assume it to be true and start making comments about it. All I know is I needed surgery, it was scheduled a reasonable time out and I was covered 100%. When I see my doctor, it's covered 100%. So, do I feel Canada's healthcare system is perfect, of course not, but it works better than what is really no system at all
Wait times in the US are just as bad and sometimes worse for emergency rooms
ThatGirlKelly
Tell me about it! I sat in the Adult ER with my older brother and I kid you not...we were there for roughly 7 or 8 hours (also didn't help that it was super busy!).
As a healthcare worker in Canada, we do have wait times. We triage based on the diagnosis. Everyone is treated with the same high quality of care. We are not always waiting though.
In New Brunswick a young girl with mental health issues waited 12 hours in emergency. Leaving the hospital with no help she then took her own life. Firstly the mental health unit should have been equipped with the appropriate trained professionals 24/7. She should have been directed to this unit not waiting in emergency. The system will not be fixed if we bury our heads in the sand. I would never trade social medicine for a market system but this system, in most places, does not meet the intended standard of Dr. Tommy Douglas. It must be fixed and shiny new buildings are no replacement for doctors, nurses, psychologists and technicians.
Question at 3:51 - answered at 3:59 - This woman is sharp and quick witted...awesome.
Erase 65+ from medicare & give Americans universal single payer healthcare.
It's unfortunate that we didn't see a camera on Sen Burr the whole time so we could see that smug look on his face slowly disappear.
Oh god I wanted to slap that smirk off his face.
Sen. Burr's smug little smile @ 2:08 really urks me. She just told him that the surgery was pioneered in Toronto and they have the best outcomes but it costs more in Florida. He responds with people "judge quality and innovation". What quality if they have better outcomes and what innovation if the surgery was pioneered in Canada? Its like he isn't even paying attention and just wants to get his talking point in.
Yes, he clearly has no clue what he's talking about. But maybe that just him being a bigoted American.
It's the myth of American exceptionalism. Many Americans believe that the US is better than every place else in the world in every respect. Even though their health care system is a joke and actually produces worse results overall for more money per capita compared to Canada's (including worse infant mortality rates and life expectancy). But there's no reasoning with these people. Anyone who presents facts like Dr. Martin did which do not agree with the idea that the US is always the best at everything will simply be dismissed as biased and anti-American or simply outright ignored.
Ms Pipes...."impatient American", if you can pay for your care sure. If you can't your being impatient may mean nothing to the giant, greedy private insurers in the USA.
IMHO, if you can afford private insurance or it's paid by your employer, you have a very different view of healthcare in the US. Even with Obamacare, which is merely a taxpayer gift to insurers, many are left with no healthcare at all. Let's not forget, wait times are for ELECTIVE surgery only. If someone is impatient, and can afford $30,000 for a knee replacement, then go for it. In the meantime, the system is reorganizing to reduce wait times and improve the efficiency of the system.
I had a life threatening heart attack a few years ago, and thanks to timely and extremely competent service from our system, I was on the road to recovery the same day, and lead a perfectly normal life.
$30,000 dollars for a knee replacement? You liberals make numbers up I just had a knee replacement in FL it was $5,000 after insurance & I'm on a payment plan of $40 a month! If you can't afford that then you must be a lazy piece of shit!
I had a robotic radical prostatectomy on the NHS. My total out of pocket? Less than £100. And most of that was parking and transport.
Blazingg Llama
It's those lazy pieces of shit that spend time shooting up heroine or snorting coke in the allies that don't bother to drag their asses to a hospital or fill out paperwork that liberals use as examples for " 450000 Americans bring denied healthcare."
not those working hard for near minimum wage?
I think we have the best system in the world and the fact that we have the option to pay out of pocket in the US makes our rich happy too.
Please keep your favorable to the rich healthcare system Americans. So I, as a relatively poor Canadian as well as the rich Canadians have the options they want and or need. We are the luckiest country in the world. Thank god for Intelligence in Canada and stupidity in the US!
Ms Pipes response that we aren't aware of his the US health care works, really made me laugh out loud! :-D
It's a fair bet Canadians know far more about the US health care system than Ms. Pipes knows about Canadians or the Canadian health care system. She's a paid shill for the vested interests supporting the current US health care system and, as such, she's not paid to be objective or accurate.
that's ok - we're really nice people : )
Americans can take their broken down system and shove it as far as they can
That senator never had a chance, everyone knows the U.S. healthcare system is exceptionally horrendous.
If America doesn't want Bernie as their President we in Australia will have him.
Keep up your good work, people all around the world see you and it really makes us think better of America knowing there are still people like you running some of the country.
Dear pipes ...
don't ever come to Canada ...we will NOT be nice to you..
Sincerely, CANADA.
Come on now! Yes, we will! It's in our DNA. We may give her a "kick" in the ass on her way across the border and say behind her back "good riddance to bad trash" but we will be nice! LOL!
.....to a certain extent ..yes..
We will replace her Timmys with Nabob lol
as a canadian I'm absolutely thrilled for you guys to have Bernie Sanders as a prez. Hope he wins!
But Canadians are nice... WHAT A GREAT ARGUMENT. I def can't counter it.
Burr has no business being a senator. He's better suited to something that doesn't affect my life, thank you very much.
MastaNinja Perhaps you should pay a visit to France. No, not UK.
Hello Sen. Sanders,, you'd have my vote if i was a US citizen.
I love that woman! I actually clapped when she said that.
I wonder how many people have lost their homes in the USA because they couldn't afford sick care?
The number 1 cause of bankruptcy in the USA is medical debt. FACT.
Why does the US generally have such a superiority complex?
2:05 What the hell? Did he not just hear Dr. Martin say that Toronto, Canada is the home of pioneers for heart valve replacement surgery and has world class standards and expertise in that specialty?
5:50 It's the other way around. The US is generally ignorant about Canadian politics, culture, public services and policies; where Canadians are well versed in both countries. Sen. Sanders made a good point there.
Dr. Martin was bang on and made very intelligent points. Canada wins.
So Toronto has mastered one specialty, therefore there system is better.
kathy kelly That's not the only reason why. The section referenced was a piece where Dr. Martin just finished saying that we do specialize in that specific thing. Then Sen. Burr immediately said the opposite, contradicting a well established fact.
My declaration of Canada winning in healthcare was based on the whole video, and the fact that it is better.
kathy kelly Your not allowed to use our health care system. But, we have the "Herbie" fund which provides free procedures to the disadvantaged of the world....sad to say but, more and more of them come from America.
Condescension
sisbrawny How, with longer waiting lines and worst survival rates for serious disease?
Oh please let Sen. Sanders be president ...we need to keep someone sane in that office.
Dr. Martin won huge points when she mentioned that 45,000 Americans died each year because they can't afford health care.
Live in Canada, love our system. Not perfect, but far and away better than the American system.
Ditto. Lived in Canada all my life, and the American system is revolting to me. I couldn't imagine a system where people have to pay out of pocket for life-saving care.
You are paying for it one way or another. The doctors and nurses don't work for free.
Ms Pipes got wreaked
where did ms. pipes get her info? canadian health care system started in 1966 not 1974.
"I don't [know how many Canadians on waiting lists die], sir, but I know that there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don't have insurance at all." Ouch!
before my son was born,,, the highly advanced hospital known as Macmaster in Hamilton Ontario diagnosed him with a heart condition known as co-arctation of the aorta ,,,the day his mother was to give birth we took her to Mac where within an hour she was put in an ambulance and driven to Toronto where she gave birth,, a heart operation was performed and he lived for 2 weeks in the hospital at Sick Kids,, we were put up in a hotel for all this time paid for by Ronald Macdonald house ,,,, I imagine all of this would have cost us over a hundred thousand in the US if not more,,, I have yet to receive a bill for this or any of the yearly heart check ups and ultrasound exams he has since had ,,he is now turning 7 ad in perfect health,,,, I made 51,000 dollars last year and paid about 9500 in income tax,,,, just a case study for those thinking our system is wrong........ I believe that the problem with Obama-care is all the hidden parts of the legislation that have caused rates to double ad triple and even more for some americans ,,this bill was written by the insurance companies and I think that is where the problem start
Bernie 2016!!!!
Here in Australia we have single payer with the option to have private which most don't opt for the private option due to the cost as the federal government covers the cost and we love and are amazed when we see a country like America a super power cant not provide a single payer option due to the many special interest group cashing in to keep the system in place they have
Of course ppl are going to opt for the single payer, because they are already paying for it in taxes. Who likes to pay twice for one service?
kathy kelly damn why it's always your comment that make no sense. They will pay because they will pass ahead in a private clinic.
Notice how Senator Burr completely ignores her factual answers and instead counters with his own opinions. And the condescending smirk is a rather annoying...
Forget Canada. I come from Thailand and even our country has universal health coverage for all, since 2002.
thucydides Neo That still means Canada had it before Thailand you realize.
Thailand is a 3rd world nation.
CSX Productions Thailand is the first country in Asia to eliminate HIV transmission from mother to child. Thanks to its robust healthcare system.
Thailand is a 3rd world country.
CSX Productions Thailand is also the only country in the world that provides healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants. That's how they monitored the HIV carrying population and ultimately put an end to HIV transmission from mother to child.
I live in The US for 10 yrs before i moved to canada. In the US I had a snowboarding accident, and was rushed to the hospital. Afterwards I was given a 10,000 dollar medical bill to pay. That's my experience with the US medical system. On the other hand, here In Canada, I walked into the ER with pain in my chest and numbness on my arm. I was immediately hooked to a machine to checked if my heart was ok. The same day I had 2 ex rays and a CAT scan. I also spend 2 days in the hospital under care to make sure nothing was wrong. I never paid anything for my medical experience. It was fast and efficient, and I would never trade it for anything in the world!
Dr. Martin might be the only person who knows more about comparative healthcare policy than I do. Martin provides specific studies and statistics while "Ms. Pipes" just offers hearsay about some people seeing advertisements in a paper. The U.S. profit-based healthcare model ranks 37th in the world in cost, access, and outcomes. The U.S. has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the advanced world due to the cost of pre- and post-natal care; the U.S. also has an average of 500,000 bankruptcies caused solely by medical debt. America also has an average of 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year due to individuals waiting until it's too late to seek healthcare due to cost (they say 45,000 here, but it depends on the study). Americans pay four times more on average for prescription medications and prescription drug prices are the number 1 driver of healthcare costs increasing at three times the rate of wages eating up all modest wage gains. Americans are so cruel and unthinking that they would rather keep a system with no positives and that costs taxpayers half a trillion more than a universal system simply to prevent someone from getting healthcare they feel "does not deserve it." No other country in the world wants our model and even those countries that still have private insurance regulate costs of all medications, devices, and procedures.
On behalf of myself and all other reality-based North Carolinians, I apologize for Burr's disgraceful performance. If I were Dr. Martin, I'd be straining to keep my composure.
We're Canadian; while we appreciate the apology, it's not needed. We understand that adopting a new system has it's detractors, and some are less informed and more vocal about it than others. We're happy to share with you what we've learned from our experiences :)
I'm sure she laughed all the way back to Toronto at the honourable hayseed from North Carolina.
David Reilley Burr is laughable, but he's no hayseed. He's among the breed of clever but incredibly craven and corrupt politicians who knowingly spew lies in order to please the dictates of his corporate overlords. We can laugh at him, but he's also laughing all the way to the bank!
No apology necessary, Mr. Lucus (but thank you anyway!).
Dr. Martin DOES look like she's trying to suppress laughter at a couple of points.
Jesus Christ, that Republican senator was so rude! He kept interrupting them and acting all holier-than-thou... Yuck.
Mr. Sanders I don't know you or your politics, but it was nice to see a politician LISTENING to REASON.
He's a self professed socialist and only one of two independent Senator from Vermont (though he almost always joins the Democrats for votes). Very much a man who tries to push for the most moral and logical laws corporations, ignorance and intolerance be damned.
Meda oone a moral socialist, is that possible? Can I be a meat eating vegan? How is using a monopoly of violence to steal, moral?
I have so much respect for Sen. Sanders,
yes and the virgina veterans are really thankful for america merdicine!!!
As a Canadian, I never experienced any waits for health care and I knew no one who ever considered going to the US for treatment for anything. Maybe some people decide that whatever wait there is, they feel they want to get something done straight away and the doctors in their area aren't as good as what they can "afford" to pay if they go to the US. Bernie is right about this. Canada has good doctors, good hospitals and everybody gets treated for free. We look at the US as a train crash and we hear the horror stories and it scares us.
Women are Donald Trump fans you know women are Donald Trump fans you know what little TV you already said he said pick up the pussy and run who says that
Leave Canadians alone
I'm Canadian and I feel proud and safer having Dr. Danielle Martin represent our country.
Bernie, as a Canadian that understands that our political systems depend on each other (Canadian from British Columbia)... I have to say I have been behind you since this video surfaced and continue to think you are by FAR the best presidential candidate in America of the last... 40 years? I pray to god (and I'm an atheist) that you win the election for the sake of the world and its people. Thank you for being such a fantastic human being.
Wow, pick the shill!
Ms Pipes, most of the developed world know how shitty the U.S. healthcare system is. To claim that many Canadians are too remote and don't know _aboot_ the U.S. system is bullshit, plain and simple.
Cheers, from Australia.
Yep. Dr. Martin might be the only person who knows more about comparative healthcare policy than I do. Martin provides specific studies and statistics while "Ms. Pipes" just offers hearsay about some people seeing advertisements in a paper. The U.S. profit-based healthcare model ranks 37th in the world in cost, access, and outcomes. The U.S. has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the advanced world due to the cost of pre- and post-natal care; the U.S. also has an average of 500,000 bankruptcies caused solely by medical debt. America also has an average of 50,000 to 70,000 deaths per year due to individuals waiting until it's too late to seek healthcare due to cost (they say 45,000 here, but it depends on the study). Americans pay four times more on average for prescription medications and prescription drug prices are the number 1 driver of healthcare costs increasing at three times the rate of wages eating up all modest wage gains. Americans are so cruel and unthinking that they would rather keep a system with no positives and that costs taxpayers half a trillion more than a universal system simply to prevent someone from getting healthcare they feel "does not deserve it." No other country in the world wants our model and even those countries that still have private insurance regulate costs of all medications, devices, and procedures.
In America if you can't afford health care and you have a life threatening illness you die, there was a guy who cut off 2 of his fingers and to get both back it would of cost to much so he had to only choose 1. In Canada at least your guranteed that insurance! America can keep there 2 tier health system and gun laws, we are Canadian and it has nothing to do with us being "nice" Its just common sense over here.
***** I know! That was just pathetic! I love our health care system how it is and this country, besides I could see the being more problems with a 2 tier health care system; then there are the problems we can't anticipate and that will spring up. Its not worth it, life is good how it is! :)
***** Weak or not but it makes sense.
***** Are you kidding me!!! Canadian health care is guaranteed for all Canadians as in America if you can't pay you are screwed! Other than the difference in wait times to see a doctor thats the only difference in the "quality" of health care. Funny thing t I is thousands of Americans die cause they can't afford the medical service they need, and others rack up thousands on hundreds of dollers in dept! Your statement shows your idiotic "America is better" Idealogy. Guess what dude, it isnt. There is no American dream! Lol Shut the fuck up.
***** We get better care huh? Is that so? Mind explaining then why I've been waiting for 8 months for a neurological appointment while my right arm is near useless and causing me constant pain? Believe me, it isn't because I haven't tried, I have fought to try to get the care I need to regain full use of my arm, I had to deal with clinics who's only treatment was telling me "It'll get better" and shoving me out the door with a narcotic prescription, I have had to bust a few heads just to get the damned appointment I have now. Four months fighting to get it, right months waiting in pain for the appointment to finally come. That is a year unable to use my right arm, unable to properly feel it, except for the pain, that pain comes through loud and clear.
Yeah, we get better care alright, if we can afford it. When my arm went so did the business I was building, though I still fight to run my business, making jewelry, even with this messed up are but this last year has made a massive dent in my productivity. I couldn't afford the care because this arm meant I suddenly couldn't bring in what was needed to pay for that care. And even now, with that appointment coming up, I don't know how many more stumbling blocks are going to be thrown in my path or how many more assholes I'm going to have to deal with trying to brush me aside.
Yeah, some great healthcare we have the the United States, isn't it? Fuck the "best health care in the world" propaganda, it, like so many other things in the USA, is just a pretty lie made to cover up an ugly truth.
***** But then we wouldn't of had Breaking Bad.
Bernie I have the up most respect for you, please don't give up on trying to make the world a better place. #feelthebern
You can get MRIs/Ultrasounds/Xrays/etc at clinics in Canada with no wait you simply need a referral from a GP and you must pay a few hundred dollars...if there really are Canadians that go to the USA for MRIs they're ignorant of local services
100% accurate.
Oh great pay a few hundred dollars after my taxes were suppose to pay for the care. I guess you have a lot of ignorant ppl in Canada because your own data shows you guys have much longer waiting times for everything.
Last time i had my Xrays in 2 hours.
The one time i needed an MRI it took 2 month and it was a false alarm. I'm pretty happy because it could have been a problem with my optic nerve. Free, without any drama. 2 month is pretty short time considering i had the effect (lost of vision) about 4-5 time per years.
So anyone who say the canadian system have problem don't know what real problems are. Ho... they also cover sex change ... YAYYY ! :)
Maude Potvin You wouldn't have waited 2 months for an MRI in most cases in the U.S. Its not really free, there is this thing called taxes.
kathy kelly
Kathy you pay almost half of what American pay for helathcare right now. Are you complaining about that? Really or are you saying you want to pay several thousands dollars more each and every year so you can save a few hundred dollars to get an MRIs a few days faster? Your position makes no logical financial sense. But hey if you want to pay more to get almost the same and think that's a good deal, fine.
And I can clearly see you're not Canadian because of all the misinformation you're shoveling. Come to Toronto and I'll gladly show you first hand the system we have here. Hopefully the propaganda veil will fall from your eyes.
6:22 Thanks very much! Glad to know we Canadians are relevant in your debates! (Also loved that guy in the back, he just beamed when she said "Canadians are nice people")
sorry Ms. Pipes, we are very aware of the alternative healthcare system, and we do not want any part of it.
Employment should not be a prerequisite to health and well-being. I'll choose access over long-wait times. I'm a DUAL-CITIZEN of Canada and the U.S. who returned to Canada after breaking an arm while unemployed. I had surgery on my arm in Canada while the U.S. doctor refused treatment without paying $16,000. All while owing college student loans in a recession
The senator's level of overflowing confidence and condescension is over 9000.
talking about burr of course
GoldenSausage He's trying too hard to look confident.
Here guys check this out. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_total_health_expenditure_(PPP)_per_capita
We pay around $8000 per capita for healthcare
Canada pays $4000 per capita in healthcare.
'Nuff said
***** Oh yeah we're ranked behind in Canada in quality of care too so all that waitime nonsense about them makes no sense since that quality of care also includes how many people die waiting and stuff.
Hey I'm Canadian and guess what. We hate our healthcare. There isn't a Person here that works and sees almost half their money go to government and thinks they get a good deal. Our healthcare costs are lower for two major reasons. #1 They don't help us for weeks for things like MRI's. Months for things like surgeries. We have problems with things like sanitation. And because of this we get to #2 Many of us that need the help stop waiting and go to, guess where, the United States of America. The greatest country for healthcare in the world.
Daniel Bibeau Um dude we're not the best in healthcare quality. We're like 37th or so. We're behind Canada. The upside I guess for us is just wait times.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization_ranking_of_health_systems_in_2000 check this out. You guys are 30th. I doubt you're an actual Canadian. Most Canadians love their system for a reason.
Sunjith Achanta The devil is in the details. We are 15th in performance, but because of the cost, we got brought down to 37th.
Daniel Macias Source please for 15th in performance?
I wouldn't say he contrasted the systems he clearly attacked the Canadian system.
Hell yeah! Dr. Martin!
I'm a Canadian who loves the United States dearly. Unquestionably I prefer our own system to the United States.
Bernie Sanders for Canadian PM i love this guy
Ok ... i'm Canadian. The reason why 42000 people goes to US to get faster treatment is because it's faster and the $ won't change anything for them.
We have a great system, we are well taken care off. We also have private sector, the difference is that our Doctor CANT work only in a private clinic. He need to give most of his time to public hospital or service (they are paid as entrepreneur, and manage their clinic).
Off course we prefer our system, it's free and you will never be refused anywhere. We have great medical quality, you just have to show your card (it's a free card also ...). Yeah you have to wait, but a nurse will see you after 20-30 minutes to see what are your symptom and if it's urgent you will get ahead and everyone will see a doctor, once you are with specialist, everything work with schedule, sure sometime it's long, but we treath everyone, you will have a hearth transplant if possible, chimio is free, who can complain ... ? We also have smaller clinic, long time recovery places, we take care of people who can't do it for themself.
What will you do when you wont have a job anymore, you might be homeless and get sick ? That's when you need the most help, not when money is flowing ...
Even Obamacare is reaaaally conservative, as i see it ... he only highly regulated private health insurances ... Hospital are just like Police and Fire Station, they are there for the greater good of your society. There's no communism idea there at all !!
My Father in law had stage four kidney Cancer that had spread to his Liver and Lungs.
They first felt a mass on his kidney and within 3-ish weeks less than a month he had surgery to remove the kidney. Once recovered from that they began doing tests/monitoring him more closely. Once they confirmed it was cancer they immediately got him on treatment that wasn't chemotherapy. He continued to get MRI/CT scans. He had 3-4 hospital stays before he finally never left and passed in the hospital.
Didn't cost our family a penny and all of that happened within 8-9 months. Canadian wait times are real, but American politicians lie to scare people as if our system is horrible and no one gets care.
I've also been denied a hospital bed because hospitals were full, but it turns out I didn't need to go to a hospital anyways and my Doctor just needed to change my medication dosage. A medicine that costs $40,000 a year, but I also pay...nothing. Literally nothing.
Bernie Sanders was really good at getting the Canadian Doctor to state the information herself, rather than look like he was feeding her lines.
Health care here in Canada isn't free. A good portion of our taxes are used towards providing "free" health care to ALL Canadians. Unlike Canada, this same proportion of taxes in the US is spent fighting wars in other countries.
I'm happy to contribute to our health care system if it means to save my life or my neighbour's.
This didn't age well at all for Senator Fraudster Burr.
Canada For The Win!
We need a single payer system. Period.
Kudos for most succinct and accurate comment I have come across.
There seems to be some confusion about wait times in Canada.
I saw a doctor in a walk in clinic , got sent to a hospital , and got an MRI that afternoon. It was just a fever/flu.
I paid $12 for parking though.
Yep this medical system must suck.
Why do people continue to out right LIE about us Canadians heading to the US for care. We do it almost exclusively for ELECTIVE surgery or testing. We do TRIAGE here, if you are in dire need of an MRI you will get one within 24 hours! Same with surgeries. We have a small population so sometimes (rarely) we will send people to the US (which is not paid out of pocket) for a surgery only because we had a month or two of an unusual amount of people needing the same treatment. Americans also come here for treatment for the same reason. Sometimes a nation has an influx of people needing a certain treatment and sometimes a country has specialists without enough patients, the countries reciprocate. All first world countries do this.
I received a package from the USPS today. It was originally shipped by FedX. It turns out that FedX doesn't do home delivery very well, so they often get stuff close to it's destination and turn it over to USPS. If the truth were told, there are probably many times when US doctors should be referring patients to specialists in Canada. Without the motivation of extreme profit they would more often, I'm sure.
is this Pipes ***** for real?
Senator Sanders is absolutely right by the way, we are fairly well versed in your politics and health care. In fact if I'm not mistaken, one of the reasons we chose single payer is because we saw the horrors of your own system and said "Nope, screw that mess, we can at least make basic healthcare "free" for everyone".
It's not literally free of course, we pay higher taxes to support it but the overall cost to the system is much less because of that. Single payer is really only a small step anyway, the bigger issues - for both our Countries - are obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and stress. Basically we're all working ourselves to death, not eating right and living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle all of which racks up the costs exponentially. Preventative care is much cheaper and effective.
Unfortunately there's way more money to be made in "miracle drugs" and other fixes for problems, rather than preventing said problems in the first place.
As for why some of us choose to go to the U.S. for care - if you have the money, it's far more expedient. We have a very serious staff & equipment shortage (I don't know why it's not in the news more as it really should be) and it's the biggest culprit in the wait times. It has little or nothing to do with Single Payer and everything to do with resources, contrary to Dr. Martin's point. Our GDP was only 1.82 trillion in 2012, whereas the U.S. has been hovering around 14~16 for some time despite the recession.
It's an absolute crime and moral dilemma that Americans don't have better access to Health Care.
Even the fact that you pay more is not true. If you look at per capita public expenditures for health care in the US we are at about 4000 USD while Canada is at 3000 USD. So our Medicaid, Medicare, and VA healthcare pays more per capita than your whole system that covers everybody.
I think our Medicare is a joke. It's a tax that I have to pay and I don't even get the benefit of it. I wouldn't mind, like with Social Security, except the over 65 crowd (the ones that get the benefit) are the most expensive age bracket to insure. I doubt it would cost that much more to add everyone else into the system.
I said we pay higher taxes, not that we pay more for our healthcare. We actually spend roughly half of what the US does and with far better results.
As for Medicare and Medicaid, those are basically single payer systems and of course, ironically enough, most of the rightwing nuts who cry foul about socialism love it. "Get your government hands of my medicaire" or something like that was yelled at a town hall meeting way back.@__@
The argument that it's too expensive is ludicrous and misleading. For one thing, it's much cheaper than the alternatives and secondly, medicare is primarily (at the moment) for seniors - the most expensive demographic to care for. So of course the system is going to run up a large cost.
It's still better than having everyone 65 and older shopping for rates between insurance companies as the premiums would be astronomical.
Malacite I'm saying that your higher taxes doesn't necessarily mean our taxes would be higher to move to a single payer system. In reality if we moved to a single payer system there's a possibility that taxes could remain the same if the government could negotiate rates. We would still be paying more than everyone, but the government could control costs better.
Rathelm MC Even if they did, so what? Like I said your annual GDP dwarfs ours by nearly 8~9x. There's no shortage of money in the U.S., just a lot of tax dodgers (corporations and the super rich folk) and arguably poor allocation of said tax dollars.
Malacite Oh I agree with you there. I don't mind increases in taxes when it goes to help all the citizens. The issue is Republicans use the tax increase point as a red herring to get people to not want to vote people in that will make these changes. I just think the Progressive Dems should point this out saying that we pay so much for healthcare that reigning in industry through single payer system would save money and if done right can be done without raising the average person's taxes.
I am grateful to have my health care system in Canada. Thanks for Dr. Martin doing such a great service to support our health care system! Yes, we need to reorganize the system to better serve our needs...but at least we don't pay for hospital time, drugs while in the hospital, and doctors visits. We also have employer based plans or even personal drug and health plans that we can purchase ourselves to help with costs if needed. I know someone who has gone to the US and has spent thousands and thousands of dollars...luckily she can do that. My experience is that most so called ' normal people / families ' like me and my husband cannot.
Here is my experience with our system. My husband has aggressive multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and it was found only because he had some serious back pain during a week in July. I took him to the hospital emergency at 9 am in the morning, he had tests right away as he was loosing feeling in his left leg. He went that evening to a specialized teaching hospital that has a fabulous neuro-spinal department in Toronto and was on the operating table by 2 am . He spent a month in the hospital recouping from his surgery (he had tumours removed from around his spine). He then started cancer treatment immediately afterwards, within two weeks, at one of the top 5 Cancer Hospitals in the world located here in Toronto and they are soon going to do one of possible two stem cell transplants.
Granted, there was no wait time here because of the urgency of the situation. I think that the " urgency of need " for the persons going to the states should be considered. I do not believe it to be appropriately fair to say that their main reason is all due to long wait times within our healthcare system alone. People who can afford to spend the money for private care can go to the US and they will. For the 45000 that do, what are the reasons? (Foot, back, migraines, etc or other type problems? How many are cancer or heart concerns? ) and ,out of how many millions of people in Canada as a nation stay put? And it is NOT that we are really nice that we stay and don't say anything! If you truly compare to the whole picture, I think 45000 people could be considered an insignificant number to even headline that ' Canadians are leaving their health care system to go /get better in the US"!! You critics are only doing so to try and make your case. Trust me, as Senator Sanders has said, we Canadians know that the US Healthcare system is nothing comparable to what we have in Canada. Yes, we pay for it in our taxes, and our health care needs to have some tweaking to make it better because as times change it needs to be brought up to par too. Having said that, I am a VERY grateful Canadian to have it, even as it is, because if we had to pay for my husband's hospital bills, medications, test, and followups, his transplants etc.....we would NOT have a house to live in, no car to drive, we would be financially ruined !! I have watched programs on TV showing where communities have had to organize fund raising events because the child or relative or even a friend, of a neighbour has cancer and the costs are over 500,000 dollars a year to have treatment etc. So, for those Senators and other persons who wish speak out against our system, we are still ahead, in my opinion, because having a program available for ALL to access and use is absolutely BETTER than NOT having anything at all .
If someone chooses to spend the money outside our border then that is the right of any Canadian. At least they have a choice and will always have our system for additional back up or full use if needed !
Had a thought (and yes it may have hurt!). I've been reading these comments and like all Canadians that I see anyway, am too defending our healthcare system. Why? We (Canada) were invited to the their (USA) country to speak on this panel. We were treated with disrespect as a guest in their country so why oh why are we defending ourselves??? They should be apologizing to us for their rude, obnoxious behaviour! Also, we're content with our system just the way it is; they sought us out as it's their system that's in shambles!!! Shame, shame on them for goading us and shame, shame on us for falling for it!
Very Very well said... I now live in America.. I miss my old home in Ontario and my old job with the Canadian Forces and on this debate I often find myself, outnumbered and frustrated. Your point is a good one, I was once told " I have not lived in Canada for years so I do not know what it is like now" This from someone, an in-law, who as far as I know has never even been. But as I am often told, I am from a country with little freedom, Taxed to death and we die waiting to see a doctor... Cathy you are so right. I do intend once my time in America is over to return home... I should just wait and not let it get to me, I do think Americans are good people and could be even better, I feel for the Americans who suffer with this health system, that I am forced to live with. I fear for my wife and kids, I pay over $500 a month for health care that of coerce is not accepted everywhere in America. I recently had a mass removed and have $6000.00 in copay that insurance does not cover. I am told this is the price for quality as Canada is a mess and I should thank god I am in America. You and I know the truth. This by the way is not the first time I have been in a difficult medical financial position... As I do plan to come home, why fight it?I know the truth and that is all that needs to be said.... Thank you for a well placed point and setting me straight. I uwill be coming home with an American wife and hope both my kids "who are 18 and 20" will come with me. Then I will sleep sound at night.
David Hay David, thank you Sir. And I do mean Sir. I have read your comments and you are a gentlemen and you do both Canada and the USA proud. I have nothing but respect for our men and women, both past and present, who wear the uniform and defend our countries so we may be afforded the freedom to have this "debate" in the first place. Canada will be only to lucky to have you back. May God Bless you and your family and keep you safe!