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Canadian, thank you so much for your informative posts. In another forum, they're always up in arms afraid we'll be like you. I hope we will. What I'd like to ask is whether you guys have any problems with medical lawsuits, are they allowed? That's one reason I hear our medical costs are so high, so I'm curious. Thanks in advance.
Canadian, thank you so much for your informative posts. In another forum, they're always up in arms afraid we'll be like you. I hope we will. What I'd like to ask is whether you guys have any problems with medical lawsuits, are they allowed? That's one reason I hear our medical costs are so high, so I'm curious. Thanks in advance.
On one of the other threads in this forum I've posted information, including links, that shows lawsuits AND premiums account for less than two percent of all the medical costs in the U.S.. That story keeps going around just like the "Canadians get terrible healthcare and there are long waiting lines." For elective surgery and procedures I'm sure that's true--but when there are limited health resources as there are here, that's the way it should be.
In the U. S. We don't have long lines because we ration with cost of service, with pre-authorization requirements, and by delaying payment to providers--all marking an inefficient system.
I'm with Palin, if Canada would give me health care, I'd go there in a minute. As a nation they are far more compassionate with their own citizens than we are with ours. When it comes to health care, just about all the developed nations of the world defeat us with compassion and results. The only advantage we ever display to the world is our efficiency at killing those standing in the way of our political goals. Go USA!!!
Yeah, I'm a Vietnam Vet, but still smart enough to see that in many ways we've never advanced beyond the Revolutionary War.
Palin is basically a professional whiner, a total non-patriot and hypocrite that she would prefer to leave her own country to avail herself of another countries universal health care while she never stops bashing her own countries attempts to get affordable and universal healthcare for all, instead of her usual running away from problems why doesnt she instead work to improve the healthcare system in her own country.
At this point Palins party will repeal every aspect of the Affordable Healthcare Act if elected,remember that when going to the polls.
I have used the Canadian system in Alberta and the US system in Texas. Both have their good points.
Canadian- you will be covered for everything, you will have to wait longer for treatment, you will get better preventive care, you may have difficulty getting a doctor in a high demand area, you will only be able to see your doctor about one ailment at a time, the level of care is as good if you get a great doctor....but there aren't enough doctors in places like Calgary, harder to find a specialist, you pay so much more in taxes in general but it does fund the medical stuff, people do NOT sue for malpractice so doctor's insurance is less
American- you have to get insurance to get great medical care, free clinics available with comparable care to clinics in Canada ( I have used both and they are nearly identical), you will get treatment very very quickly in most cases, you get cutting edge medical care in places like Houston...especially cancer, you can go into debt easily if you don't have insurance
The American health care system is expensive, and that's the way the drug companies and medical equipment companies like it. We pay so much and make it profitable for them to develop new drugs and machines. I wonder what will happen with R&D for both now?
How does a Canadian get medical care in Maine ? Wouldn't their "pre existing condition " preclude treatment in your country ?? I smell a rat. Please explain how this could happen ? I would love to hear about this ?
Jim B.
Toronto.
If you have the $$$, anybody can get medical treatment in the US. Having a "pre existing condition" only precludes people from getting health insurance not treatment, and supposedly that's not going to be allowed.
I seriously doubt that a significant number of Canadians come to the US for medical care unless they are millionaires or have some kind of wonderful health insurance that covers them going to other countries specifically for medical treatment.
Many people who live on the border cross back and forth frequently. Heck, when I lived in Buffalo back in the 1980s, we'd go over to Ft Erie for dinner on a Friday night. Canadians come to Buffalo all the time to go to Bills and Sabres games, and Buffalonians drive up to Toronto for Jays games. The Bills even play a regular season game and sometimes a preseason game in the Rogers Centre every year.
How does a Canadian get medical care in Maine ? Wouldn't their "pre existing condition " preclude treatment in your country ?? I smell a rat. Please explain how this could happen ? I would love to hear about this ?
Jim B.
Toronto.
All ERs are required to treat if you have a life threatening condition.
In some circumstances the American hospital is closer than a Canadian hospital so in an emergency a patient may be transported across the border, usually the Canadian healthcare will reimburse the patient for any charges incurred while in the USA.To a point.
As for Canadians going to the USA for treatment? its a rare occurrence reserved for the very rich as any and all procedures would have to be paid cash in the USA, in my 40yrs in Canada i've never met anyone who went to the USA for a medical malady.
Some one asked about medical malpractice law suits , in Canada.
It does happen........But in our civil law system, you had better have a VERY well documented case, because here in Canada, if you sue somebody and lose, you not only pay YOUR lawyer, you ALSO pay the other side's lawyer, as well. That keeps the silly stuff down to a minimum, for sure. And the level of compensation here is low, compared to the sky high settlements that are common in the USA.
Here in the Province of Ontario, where I live, the Provincial Government has a malpractice insurance plan, that covers ALL of the Medical Doctors in the Province. The yearly premiums are minimal, compared to the costs in any US state. This is one more reason why our health care costs are so much lower here.
Living close to the US border, we get all the US TV stations, from Buffalo, on our cable service. Every night we see many commercials from American law firms, urging people to sue others, for just about any reason that you can pick. On the Canadian TV stations, you don`t see that kind of advertising, at all. Up until a few years ago, Canadian lawyers were not even allowed to advertise, except in the yellow pages, telephone directory. It was not allowed, by their own Law Society`s regulations. We are a much less litigious society, than our neighbours, next door.
You stated that these soon to die Canadians were living in Maine, and that you met them at the local Veteran`s club . And they had been diagnosed in Canada, but they left to live in the US.......
That doesn`t make any sense, to me. Why would a Canadian move to the USA, where they have to pay through the nose, for any medical care that they need.... when they can be treated in Canada, near their home and family. It they are Canadian ex military ( as I am ) they are more than welcome to be treated under our Veterans Affairs programs. At no cost.
As for your reply that a ER in the USA, HAS to treat people....... Yes, but if I was in the later stages of cancer, I would not rely on that as my sole treatment method, for sure. No ER does radiation or chemotherapy treatments, to my knowledge.
Sorry, but I find your argument hard to swallow, at the very least.
All ERs are required to treat if you have a life threatening condition.
Yes, but you get the bill.
And Canadian Citizen. You can get treatment for things like chemo in County Hospitals. But it is not a 100% given. If their funds sink low enough they can close the clinic or cut back patients.
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In another forum, they're always up in arms afraid we'll be like you. 
I hope we will. What I'd like to ask is whether you guys have any problems with medical lawsuits, are they allowed? That's one reason I hear our medical costs are so high, so I'm curious. Thanks in advance.
Lawsuits are overblown by opponents f real reform
