Posted by IsoM on January 1, 2002, at 15:57:26
In reply to Re: communist? » OldSchool, posted by Cam W. on January 1, 2002, at 14:18:40
Cam, I'm so sorry - that's horrible about your daughter. To add insult & worry about money at such a time as you went through is even worse.
I'm Canadian too & honestly, I know of few people here who don't like the Canadian medical system. It's not without its faults but hey? how can something as massive a plan as this satisfy everything? I have a couple of ex-American friends who became Canadian & they prefer this system. I've also known some American friends (I live next to the border) who have continued to pay for years for the birth of their children - something we take so much for granted here in Canada.
> Oldschool - Being one of those Canadians, I can tell you I'd rather have our system of medicine than yours. I too have seen both in action. As to the increased taxes, what do you think your $1000/mo. medical insurance premiums are? Our medical coverage stays at the same rate (approx, $100/mo.) no matter how many heart attacks one has had. We do have subsidized prescription, disability, and dental coverage, but usually 1/2 of that is paid by our employers. I have considered adding to Canada's "brain drain" and heading south, but my wife (a public health nurse") refuses to work in a system that requires here to count, and charge for, the number of tissues she uses on a patient.
>
> Another example, my daughter was struck and killed in a crosswalk in Florida while on holiday and the bill for the ambulance came to almost $400 US (it was said tha they worked extensively on her at roadside, but to me, a transected aorta is fairly obvious) and the hospital stay (until the coroner could get in cand send her to the morgue) $600+ US. In Canada, that would have cost $50 CDN.
>
> I think I'll keep this portion of communism, thanks. The big debate up here is whether to allow a two-tiered health system. The one we have now, plus one for thos that can afford to pay extra (ie. able to go to a private MRI clinic rather than waiting in queue, or having elective surgery in a private hospital. The big beef is, is that the poor would get worse care. In the big picture, I doubt that would happen.
>
> - Cam
poster:IsoM
thread:88146
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/88462.html