Canadians: Tell us how you feel about your health care.

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by poscstudent

But you think if someone wants to use that they should permanently sign off from the Canadian healthcare system?

No i said in a previous post you should have the option of signing off from the Canada healthcare plan if you dont like it or feel it doesnt meet your needs, but by doing that i think its unfair to the people who are paying taxes for the system that those who opt out cant just pop back into the system when its convenient, you are either in or out at this point. You want to pay for all your healthcare?i'd love for you to have that option but at this point you'll have to go south of the border if you dont like the Canadian system..

[lostinthesky]

Originally Posted by sunshineleith

The best system in the world (France) doesn't allow one to opt out of national healthcare

So a flat 5.25% on earnings goes to the national health service. On top of that, you have to pay a "deductible" of sorts, $1000 out of pocket, up front, for which you are reimbursed about 75%. I think a lot of Canadians would find that a struggle. Heck, even a $5 user fee to go to emergency in Canada meets with resistance!


Basically, you don't get anything for free in this world - certainly not healthcare, as France's figures demonstrate. Somewhere in all of this there is a balance between expenditure, taxes and the quality of heathcare offered. Finding it is the challenge!

I agree that having fees would help the system. The more someone uses the system, the more he should be contributing into. "But he pays his taxes, so he should not be paying fees" is an argument that I can't buy anymore. I'd be ok to pay a fee for every visit to the clinic. I would also be fine with exceptions such as families below poverty line or diseases that need constant care wouldn't pay these fees.

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by poscstudent

What's wrong with having private clinics where you can pay to get such things as an x ray done?

There are private for-profit clinics in Canada. Just do an internet search on it. You'll find there's been a lot of problems with them violating the Canada Health Act. Jeopardizing equality and fairness of the health care system, charging unlawful user fees and billing patients much more for health services already covered by Medicare.

Here's an article from last year about the violations that have been occuring. http://www.ofcmhap.on.ca/node/410 There are more such news releases if you go looking for information about private for-profit clinics, none of them are very positive.

I'm quite happy with our universal health care system that we have and there's no way I'm going to rock the boat.

I think some misinformed people pay too much attention to American corporate health insurance propagandists decrying Canada's health care systems.

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[weltschmerz]

I'm a nurse and I lived and worked in both countries. When I moved to the US from Quebec, I was horrified with the healthcare system. The outrageous insurance rates, the copays, the ability of the insurance companies to eliminate your coverage at the drop of a hat was appalling.
I'm back in Canada now and I'm very satisfied with our healthcare. Is it perfect? Of course not. Sure, you can wait if your case is non-urgent and not life-threatening, but if it's serious, I find the care prompt and excellent. I don't know a single person who would be willing to go back half a century to the US system.
Any hint of dismantling it would result in riots that would make the storming of the Bastille look like a yoga class.

[Stoke]

Originally Posted by weltschmerz

I'm a nurse and I lived and worked in both countries. When I moved to the US from Quebec, I was horrified with the healthcare system. The outrageous insurance rates, the copays, the ability of the insurance companies to eliminate your coverage at the drop of a hat was appalling.
I'm back in Canada now and I'm very satisfied with our healthcare. Is it perfect? Of course not. Sure, you can wait if your case is non-urgent and not life-threatening, but if it's serious, I find the care prompt and excellent. I don't know a single person who would be willing to go back half a century to the US system.
Any hint of dismantling it would result in riots that would make the storming of the Bastille look like a yoga class.

Haha Brilliant.