Socialized Medicine - Canadian Style

Hey Guys,

I noticed on the news recently where Hillary Clinton introduced her new health care plan to the American public – something similar to what we have up here in Canada.  I also saw that Michael Moore was raving about the Canadian health care system in his latest movie Sicko.  As a friend and someone who lives with the Canadian health care plan, I thought I would give you some additional information about the Canadian health care system:

• Contrary to popular opinion, the health care plan in Canada is not free.  My wife and I pay a premium every month of $96 to be covered.  What they don't tell you is how much we pay in taxes to keep the health care system afloat. I am in the 55% tax bracket - yes I said 55% of my earnings go to taxes.  In the states, I believe the highest tax bracket is 35%.  If you embrace the Canadian system, get ready for your tax rates to go through the roof… but at least your health care will be "FREE"!

• I would not classify what we have as health care plan… it’s more like a health diagnosis system.  It’s easy enough to get in to see a doctor and receive a diagnosis.  The challenge comes when they find an ailment that needs treatment or an operation to fix a problem.  The stories you’ve heard about Canadians traveling to the States for treatment are not only true, they are routine.  Otherwise, get ready to wait.

• Rather than cure what is ailing you, the general treatment in Canada is to prescribe drugs.  Have a pain? Try this pill!  It is far more important to move patients thru the system as quickly as possible (to maximize government reimbursement) than to waste valuable time trying to cure the ailment.

• Shirley's dad recently cut his hand on a power saw and it required that his hand be put in a splint.  To our surprise we had to pay $125 for this service. In addition to this, we have to pay $60 for check up visits.  I think that is similar to what you’d pay in the States right now, but without the enormous tax burden to cover the "FREE" health care system.

• Shirley's cousin was diagnosed with a heart blockage.  Like everyone in Canada, she was given a number and put on a waiting list for treatment.  Like some in Canada, she died before her number was called.

• The Canadian government allots only so many operations each year.  When that allotment is used up, no more operations.  The Canadian Prayer: “Dear God, please bless my family, friends and all those less fortunate.  Oh, and if you’re planning on giving me a tumor or something, please allow it to be diagnosed early in the year.  Amen."

• The Government takes great pride in telling us how much more they are increasing the funding for health care.  Government continues to throw money at the problem but the situation doesn’t improve.  Of course it’s government, so that’s to be expected.  What confounds many of us north of the boarder is that you’re seriously considering following our lead in the States.  To those of us who live with this disaster, that is nothing short of stunning.

• My mother needs an operation for a blockage in her leg, but because she is a smoker they will not do it (despite the fact that she paid into the health care system all these years).  There is now discussion that we should not treat obese people either because they are a drain on the health care system. We’re basically shooting for a health care system that treats only healthy people.  I guess that’s one way to reduce our health care costs.

• Second opinion??? They don’t exist.  Hope your government doctor is good – we should probably add that to the Canadian Prayer.

• In dire straits?  Need an operation quickly?  Too bad, wait your turn or head to the States.  Unless of course you’re a hockey player – move to the front of the line.

• Oh, did I mention that immigrants are covered automatically at tax payer expense even if they have never contributed a dime to the system?  If you have a problem with that, I’m required to inform you that you’re a bigot.  But you probably already knew that didn’t you?  Bigot.

• And lastly, we now give free needles to drug users in an effort to keep some of our best and brightest healthy.  However, people with diabetes (who actually pay into the "FREE" health care system) have to pay for their needles because they are not covered by the system.

I hope this adds some clarity to the decision you’re facing.  If you’ve been left with nothing else, please remember this:  CANADA HAS NEITHER FREE OR QUALITY HEALTH CARE.  If you make a decision to emulate our system, you have not done your homework as a nation. 

I leave you with this.  I don’t know a single, self respecting Canadian who wouldn’t trade our health care system for the U.S. system in a heartbeat.

Good Luck,

John

Comments

[Mark]

Here's a question that all Christian (or at least those that claim to be Christians) Conservatives need to be asked - How could any Christian be against Universal Health Care?

Didn't Jesus heal the sick? Did he charge for it? Didn't he say "Love thy neighbor as thyself"?

I don't know, maybe I'm incorrect in assuming that a real Christian would be for UHC. But other than the issues of abortion and gay marriage, Right Wing Conservatives don't stand up as Christians. C.S. Lewis said it best when he wrote that a Christian would be a little bit Left.

[DK]

I am a Christian and believe it would be great for everyone to have health care. Unfortunately it's not that simple and no one has come up with a viable plan as to how to do it. Earlier this week I met with a gentlemen who was newly appointed to develop new medical facilities in Canada for a successful medical hospital group headquartered in a northern U.S. city. His comments were that the Canadian Health Care system is significantly flawed - that it pays for minor things such as office visits but all the major hospital procedures are almost completely paid for out-of-pocket by the patient. Which begs the question: Are the politicians such as Hillary Clinton not doing her homework when she trumpets Canada's sytem or does she know this and choose to ignore?

[Mark]

Politicians of both stripes are blowhards when it comes to details. How are we paying for the trillion dollar a year war in Iraq? Somehow it keeps getting funded. There are no easy solutions. Rural health care is a joke in America. I read an article recently about a group of doctors, who normally go to 3rd world countries, setting up shop after rodeos (or something similar, I forget the exact details) and having a demand they couldn't meet. Again, these rural Americans (who are mostly likely conservative Christian Republicans) are needing to rely on doctors who go to developing countries. That's sickening in a country this rich.