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Hello, my name is Steve and I live in the US. I am doing some research on health care in other countries that have universal health care. If this has been posted here before and you are sick of talking about it, I'm sorry, but I am trying to figure things out for myself and this is the only way I know how.

What the Republican party keeps telling us is that Canadians hate their government run health care system. Well, I want to know from you. I have limited capabilities to talk to Canadians so I found this site. I appreciate everyone who helps me with these questions. I'd also like to hear from any Americans who have moved to Canada. Feel free to add any comments to the questions. If you answer the questions, please include the following before the answers:

First Name:
Age:
From the US: (yes/no)
Providence:

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor?
1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room?

2. How long do you have to wait for test results?

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of?

4. Does your health care system work?

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system?

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system?

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes?

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject?

Some of these questions may seem outlandish but these are the things our Repulicans are telling us why it wouldn't work here in the US. Thank you very much for taking the time to answer all the questions. Send me a message if you would like to email me anything or get me on AOL Instant Messenger. Again, thank you so much.

Steve

   

First Name: Scape
Age: 18-65
From the US: No
Providence: Never been to Rhode Island, heard it's nice.

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor?
Don't have one currently. Walk in clinic is down the road.

1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room? Depends on need but I did go in with my wife when she had stomach problems and the wait was about 3 hours.

2. How long do you have to wait for test results? 1 day to two weeks depends on the need.

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of? See above.

4. Does your health care system work? I'm here aren't I?

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system? No, you don't turn an aircraft carrier on a dime and you can't revamp healthcare radically without a lot of things going wrong far worse then they are already. I would suggest some form of triage to get aid to the ones in most need and work from there.

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system? Inadequate cover and doctors in remote areas, no uniform drug coverage and weak coordination between provinces.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes? No, as General motors has cited health care is more cost efficient in Canada so their bottom line is lower. GDP wise our system is cheaper.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject? It's my job.

   

1. I can get in to see my family doctor any day he is in his clinic. I will always get taken ahead of walk in patients but even walk in patients can get to see any doctor in any clnic pretty much anywhere. Most clinics offer walk in services so not having a family doctor isn't a great hurdle in the least unless you seek treatment for serious chronic conditions.

A typical wait is about 40 minutes. My quickest time was pretty much innediately and the worst was about 90 minutes.

ER waits are dependant on the severity of the condition and the severity of the conditions of every person before you and who comes along while you are waiting.

Typical wait for a non-emergency is about the same as a walk-in clinic.

2. In my job we do those test. Our turn around time is 24 hours for 90% of the tests and 48 hours for 99%. The only time consuming factots are the time to collect and transport to the lab and the time it takes the doctor to inform you of the results. That last factor is dependant on the doctor and the nature of the test.

3. Yes, but thats sadly unavoidable. Its not possible to avoid this unless Canadians want to double or triple the amount spent on healthcare and the numbers are not very high.

4. Yes it works. It works quite well judging by quality of life stats we have and our life expectancy.

5. I recommend that Americans do what they feel is best for them. Feel free to learn from us and take what works for us and combine it with what works for you. We will do the same and hopefully both countries will get a better more efficient system. Canada and the USA are not in competition with each other for some childish "my healthcare is better then yours".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_a ... healthcare

http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/canada.asp

6. Need an entire thread for this. Short answer. We need far better secondary care, ie quality of life things such as knee replacements, therapy, etc.

A big thing we need is diagnostic equipment such as MRIs. We need loads more as the lack of these are a rate limiting factor that is a large factor in waiting times.

7. Not one single bit does it bother me that our healthcare is paid for by taxes and that low income workers essentially get healthcare for free. Not one bit.

8. Ask not what your beer can do for you but what you can do for your beer.

   

   

Are you serious about #3? If so I'm sorry.

   

First Name:Matthew R D Bailey
Age: 18
From the US: No
Providence: Province? BC. never been to Rhode Island

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor? Depends on the situation. anywhere from a day to a week for minor issues, immediately if I am having severe troubles.

1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room? I've always gotten to the ER instantly. Waiting for treatment took about 45 minutes for a non-leathal stab wound.

2. How long do you have to wait for test results? 2 hours to a month, depending on test done and what problems they are looking for.

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of? Yes. decay is unavoidable.

4. Does your health care system work? My mother, younger brothers, and I are all here and healthy aren't we?

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system? Over time, with a structured approach, the US could mimic our system.

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system? long line ups for minor issues, poor drug policy, not the best recovery rate.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes? Not at all. Never know when I could be the one needing help someday that I otherwise couldn't afford

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject? I think Canada's health care still has it's problems, but they can and will eventually be solved. I would also think learning lessons from the British model as far as a doctor's commission for recovery rates would certainly be a step up from what we have now, aswell as their release of patient procedures.

   

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor? same day
1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room? I have never waited long at all, but I have never gone in for anything but an emergency

2. How long do you have to wait for test results? depending on the test...1-5 days...I get alot of tests (degenerative Kidney disease)

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of? That is part of life it happens in the US as well.

4. Does your health care system work? Works for me...I wasnt sposed to live past the age of 5...that was 30years ago

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system? What do Americans want?

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system? We need more doctors in rural areas and more nurses

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes? I dont mind at all.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject? Keep yer stick on the ice

   

I do mean Province. Sorry.

   

First Name: Brandon
Age: 18
From the US: No
Province: Ontario

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor?
Not too long. Usually the day after I call for an apointment.

1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room?
My shortest was immediately. My longest was 3 hours. I usually don't have to wait more than an hour.

2. How long do you have to wait for test results?
Not sure.

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of?
Yes.

4. Does your health care system work?
Works for me.

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system?
Yes.

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system?
Waiting and doctor shortages.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes?
No not at all. Health care should be available to everyone.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject?
I've been making regular hospital visits and surgeries for the past four years for the same problem and I don't really have any complaints (besides the fact that I won't heal right).

   

First Name:Wade
Age:58
From the US: (yes/no)No
Province:Nova Scotia

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor?
Maybe an hour If he's in otherwise tomorrow.

1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room?
A few times immediately and once or twice anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. It all depends on severity.

2. How long do you have to wait for test results?
Anywhere from immediately to a day or two.

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of?
Here care is based on severity and immediate need.

4. Does your health care system work?
The short answer is YES. It has it's problems but they are generally small in comparison to the benefits and it's constantly evolving for the better.

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system? Not sure. But as long as the administration keeps denying the poor good health care it's not going to happen.

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system?
We need more hospital staff, especially in the more rural areas.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes? Absolutely never. I've never seen anyone no matter how ill lose their homes and their pride because they could not affoerd health care.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject? I have a long list of the best reasons our system has been good to me over the years not even counting family and friends.

   

First Name: c
Age: 44
From the US: no
Province: BC

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor? GPs are at a premium in central BC. For emergencies, they'll do their best to fit you in immediately. For regular check ups, I usually have to book a week or two ahead of time. This clinic has a lot of interns so if you insist on seeing one of the doctors whose names are on the door, you're probably going to have a longer wait. The city still has fewer GPs then it needs for the population, so newcomers can't always find a regular doctor. There are a couple of walk-in clinics. The wait there can be minutes or hours depending on your complaint and how many other people are there. Weekends are the worst because all the doctors' offices are closed.
1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room? I've had to wait anywhere from 1 to 6 hours. However, I've only gone to emergency when it was after hours for the doctor and the walk-in clinic. The night of the longest wait I was behind heart attacks, suspected strokes, stabbings, car accidents, a rape and a suicide attempt so I think they did okay getting to my nephew when they did.

2. How long do you have to wait for test results? Depending on the test it's been a couple days to over a week. My tests have always been pretty standard and routine. My parents need their blood tested on a regular basis and they usually get the results the next day (they are both on medications that can need frequent adjusting).

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of? So I have heard. I do know of a few co-workers whose children had long delays re tonsil surgery but our city didn't have an ENT specialist for a couple of years and the guy(s) in Quesnel could only see so many bodies in a week.

4. Does your health care system work? For the most part, I would say so. Unfortunately we're dealing with human beings so our system isn't going to be perfect. However, I've never heard of anyone being transferred to another hospital because they had no insurance and dying before they got there.

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system? From what I hear, I think the US system needs to be changed. However, I think trying to put our system in place would cause all kinds of chaos. From what I've read on misc American websites, I could almost believe adopting our system would cause a revolt. Anything "socialistic" is taboo, it would seem.

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system? In my region of BC-long waiting times of for some procedures, shortage of doctors (GPs and various specialists), shortage of nurses (especially specialists), need to travel long distances to receive specialized procedures (ie, we are told there are not enough of us up here to warrant a cancer clinic). They've expanded the medical program at UNBC and do a lot of recruiting so hopefully someday the shortages will be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the shortage of nurses, at least, seems to be global so currently our gain is someone else's loss and vice versa.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes? No, I don't mind. Sharing the burden lightens the load.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject?

   

First Name: Freakin
Age: old
From the US: (yes/no) no
Providence: maybe you meant province, eh? BC

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor?

About a week because he works at two clinics in town and I don't want to bother going downtown just to see him.

1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room?

Max a couple of hours. And one time about 20 minutes

2. How long do you have to wait for test results?

Depends on the test. Most of the time about a week because of the doctor's bookings.

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of?

Of course. There will always be people who slip through the cracks but at least the system is trying to stop this from happening. So hopefully there will be alot less in the future

4. Does your health care system work?

Yes, not perfectly, but yes, universal health care has kept a couple of generations of Canadians alive that had it been the 40's or the 50's we wouldn't need this discussion, since some of the people here, wouldn't be.

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system?

No. I think there are better models out there, like Britain, that work better than the Canadian system which is in to much flux right now.

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system?

Long wait times for alot of non life threatening surgeries, shortage of doctors and nurses in some areas and a failure by previous governments to see that the population was aging, which has sorely taxed our system. Abuse of the system by people who seem to think it's "free" and go to a doctor for some very very minor complaints, that used to be handled by people like "doctor mom" in the past.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes?

No. This is probably the only tax that I don't mind paying. Anyway i'm starting to get on in years so I'll likely be collecting on alot of my premiums in the near future. Besides......nobody should be denied health care based on income.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject?
I don't believe I'm going to say this but.................... THANK YOU TOMMY DOUGLAS

   

First Name: Andrew
Age: 26
From the US: No
Province: Alberta

Questions

1a. How long do you have to wait to see your family doctor? Depends on the severity of the concern. If it's just to book a checkup, a week or two. If it's really serious, then probably same-day

1b. How long do you have to wait to get into the Emergency room? Again, depends on the severity of the problem, though I've never been to the "ER" per se. There are medi centres scattered around that do a lot of simple stuff. If it's my baby, we get bumped to the head of the line , and then it's about 30-45 minutes. Otherwise usually an hour to an hour and a half to see the doc, though one time I gave up after three hours. It also depends on how many others are there and which medi-center you go to. You learn pretty quick which ones are slow. =]

2. How long do you have to wait for test results? Donno. Never had them come back bad, and the docs don't usually tell you when the test is good. It's a little annoying. I expect within a week.

3. Do some people die/get worse waiting for the health care they are in need of? Occasionally, yes. It sucks. But delayed care is better than no care.

4. Does your health care system work? Yes.

5. Would you recommend the US adopting this Health Care system? Yes

6. What are some of the known issues with your Health Care system? Waiting lists for one. There isn't enough supply to give everyone what they need right away, so it's rationed by waiting lists. Also some provinces charge health-care premiums - where everyone pays the same flat fee for coverage. It's not much, but it would be better if health care came out of general revenue.

7. Do you mind that your taxes pay for everyones Health Care even if they do not pay taxes? Not at all.

8. Anything else you would like to say about the subject? That one relative of mine developed acute hemolytic anemia and was hospitalized for months for treatment. Everything was taken care of promptly, and this person lived. After an estimated $200000 in treatment, they still have the same premiums, no worries about lapses in coverage, and weren't out of pocket a penny so no need to re-mortgage the house. Canadian health care ROCKS.

   

"Universal health care" is a matter of debate. Canadians frequently travel to the USA for treatment of critical care issues, several types of cancer, and etc. that are not treated in Canada nor paid for by Health Canada.



And the Republicans are just telling you what we read in Canadian newpapers that aren't the Globe and Mail.



I suppose this could be a failure of the US health care system. Exactly what is your physical or psychological condition that specifically precludes you from being able to converse with Canadians?



Actually, the direction Canada is moving on healthcare these days is not too bad. They allow private healthcare and a number of Canadians along the border are now allowed to purchase US health insurance in order for them to more readily access US clinics, doctors, and hospitals. This takes the strain off of the public system and the freedom of choice ends up making a lot of people happy.

What us Republicans will fight you tooth and nail on is a gigantic national healthcare bureacracy, just as Hillary Clinton proposed, in which healthcare decisions will be made by actuarial tables and not by doctors and their patients. We also take intellectual exception to the concept of a health care law that has more comments about criminal offences, jail sentences, and punishments than the same year's principle crime legislation.

Proposing that if I pay my doctor out of my own pocket for a personal appointment should be a criminal offence pisses me off in the extreme, and yes, that was in the Clinton plan.

As I said, you folks come up with a decent plan that allows people like myself to opt out of it and to not pay for it while I seek my care elsewhere and I'm good with it.

I have the right to opt out of Social Security and then to stop paying Social Security taxes if I wish so it isn't like the desire to opt out of your health care plan is all so unprecedented or radical.

My 2 cents.

   

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