Do you really want a Canadian healthcare system? (health care, Canada, insurance)

[1grin_g0]

I've heard a lot of talk lately about single payer and how great the Canadian healthcare system supposedly is.

Interesting article:

The Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think tank, estimates that 52,513 Canadians received non-emergency medical treatment in the U.S. and other countries in 2014, a 25 percent jump from the roughly 41,838 who sought medical care abroad the previous year.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-cou...or-health-care


If the Canadian system is so much better than ours, then why are Canadians increasingly coming to the US for care?

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Those are wealthy Canadians who generally come for non emergency care. I have friends back in NY who have dual citizenship, and despite being well off, they go TO Canada for their medical care.

[lifeexplorer]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Those are wealthy Canadians who generally come for non emergency care. I have friends back in NY who have dual citizenship, and despite being well off, they go TO Canada for their medical care.

How? Unless they are a Canadian resident, how can they get help? Canadian citizenship <> residency. Health care in Canada is residency based - you have to live in a province for 90 days to establish residency before you can get health care.

I have dual citizenship. Am I missing something?

[1grin_g0]

Originally Posted by FirebirdCamaro1220

Those are wealthy Canadians who generally come for non emergency care. I have friends back in NY who have dual citizenship, and despite being well off, they go TO Canada for their medical care.

So wealthy Canadians that can afford our system, actually prefer it over their's. Interesting.

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by lifeexplorer

How? Unless they are a Canadian resident, how can they get help? Canadian citizenship <> residency. Health care in Canada is residency based - you have to live in a province for 90 days to establish residency before you can get health care.

I have dual citizenship. Am I missing something?

The mother was born and raised in St Catherine's, Ontario, and did not give up her Canadian citizenship when moving to the US, so her kids are dual citizens as well. And they make the drive to St Catherine's for doctor, dentist, optometrist etc

[KRAMERCAT]

Beats the hell out of being bankrupted by the greedy American healthcare executives.

[t206]

All I want is a system where providers, insurance companies, and the government dont add to the problem of a non-transparent pricing system that allows them to over charge and manipulate prices. Consumers need more information and the ability to make smart decisions, that alone will probably solve a huge part of this mess.

[Leo58]

I note the last comment in the article:

"So we're better than The United States," he wrote, referring to the rankings. "But should we really aim so low?"

Pretty sad commentary on US healthcare

[FirebirdCamaro1220]

Originally Posted by 1grin_g0

So wealthy Canadians that can afford our system, actually prefer it over their's. Interesting.

You cherry picked my post. The "waiting list" is for non emergency care. For emergency care, there is no waiting list

[AnywhereElse]

The wealthy have it made in the US too. Those on Medicaid and Medicare have a hard time finding providers, and the VA doesn't provide sufficient care either and many wait or get no care at all.

I once heard someone from Canada talking about having to wait for 2 months for something, none emergency, but at least in 2 months, they would get the services.

Yes, I would like to see us have a Canadian healthcare system.