More about Canadian vs. U.S. Health Care

[velvetpage]

The end result is that the vast majority of Canadians get the vast majority of what they need the vast majority of the time.

Comments

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

The premiums differ from province to province. Some provinces have none at all, most have a few hundred a year.

I've never had a problem with the care I've received, and I've never known anyone personally who got a poor quality of care. I've known a woman who put off having routine medical exams until she couldn't function anymore, and then went to her GP. He had her in for tests the next day and she was in for massive surgery to remove a tumour in less than a week. I've also seen people wait three or four months for joint replacements. It's a complex issue that involves the availability of trained staff (especially technicians for tests) the availability of the machinery needed, the availability of doctors and hospital beds and operating theatres, etc, etc. The only thing I'm sure of is that it's unfair to compare provincial coverage based on your personal experience or any other anecdotal evidence.

That, and you couldn't pay me to live in a place without some form of single-payor medical coverage.