Canadian Health Care vs. US Health Care

[Mike McKinzie]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5h0QC7bditrEb3wYz_6_b-gsGGDxA

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Williams said he went to Miami to have a "minimally invasive" surgery for an ailment first detected nearly a year ago, based on the advice of his doctors.

"This was my heart, my choice and my health," Williams said late Monday from his condominium in Sarasota, Fla.

"I did not sign away my right to get the best possible health care for myself when I entered politics."

[Timothy W.]

Yeah I saw that one. Talk about total DB....

[J Scott]

Makes sense...if I needed a serious surgery, I would find the best surgeon in the world in that specialty and pay for the surgery out of pocket if my insurance didn't cover that doctor and/or hospital.

In a serious situation, I would never let my insurance coverage dictate my treatment.

That's the nice thing about health insurance in Canada and the United States...you have the right to fly across the country (or even the border) to the doctor of your choice and pay for your own health care (assuming you can afford it).

[Timothy W.]

HE DID IT ON TAXPAYERS MONEY WHILE MAKING THEM PAY FOR THE BULLSH__ SOCIALIST HEALTHCARE!

HE IS A TOTAL DOUCHE BAG!

THIS IS THE EXACT KIND OF PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT SOCIALIST HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYONE ELSE BUT WON'T COMMIT THEMSELVES TO LIVE WITHIN IT!

AND YES I'M YELLING!

PEOPLE NEED TO GET THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR BUTTS!

[Timothy W.]

And think about this for a moment. Why would you give up 50 years of preventative care of the best medical care in the world, only to let problems compound in your body under lesser care until you needed to travel to another country for proper medical treatment?

Only an idiot would never have the oil changed properly in their car with the hopes that someday they can get the engine rebuilt in another country by a better mechanic.

[J Scott]

Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:

And think about this for a moment. Why would you give up 50 years of preventative care of the best medical care in the world, only to let problems compound in your body under lesser care until you needed to travel to another country for proper medical treatment?

I wouldn't. I would get preventative care with a fantastic doctor no matter where I lived and no matter what my health insurance did/didn't cover. If that means traveling to another country for that care, I'd be happy to do that as well.

Only an idiot would never have the oil changed properly in their car with the hopes that someday they can get the engine rebuilt in another country by a better mechanic.

Agreed. That's why people should get great preventative health care throughout their lives, not just when they get sick. And again, if that means traveling/paying for it, so be it.

I assume we're in agreement on this point...

[Timothy W.]

We are agreement on those points but where we are not in agreement is "That's the nice thing about health insurance in Canada and the United States"

This is what is wrong with health insurance in Canada and what is right with the US system.....unless of course you're a douchebag politician who uses taxpayer's money to take advantage of a system you've legislated against.

This is exactly why we DO NOT need the Canadian system that liberals keep pointing to as an example to follow operating here in the US.

[J Scott]

Originally posted by Tim Wieneke:

This is what is wrong with health insurance in Canada and what is right with the US system.....unless of course you're a douchebag politician who uses taxpayer's money to take advantage of a system you've legislated against.

I hadn't read the article, but if that's the case, I agree with that...

As long as everyone has access to basic preventative and curative healthcare and as long as everyone has the choice to go to any specific doctor they prefer (assuming they can pay for it themselves), I'm happy.

As I've said before, I don't like the idea of forced public healthcare, but I hate the idea of insurance company monopolies that make it difficult for a large segment of the population to get healthcare even more.

If the Dems would get off their "we can do what we want" high horse and the Republicans would stop fighting healthcare reform "just because we want to bring the issue to a standstill," I have a feeling we could develop some good reform solutions that most people will agree are good for the country...but it may require removing most of the idiots in office (on both sides) first...

I have a feeling we're (at least mostly) in agreement on that as well... :)

[Christopher Davis]

I'll go along with whatever they come up with ,as long as the senators and congressmen include themselves. When they specifically EXCLUDE themselves then I automatically know that it is bad for me and my family.

[Timothy W.]

Originally posted by J Scott:

As long as everyone has access to basic preventative and curative healthcare and as long as everyone has the choice to go to any specific doctor they prefer (assuming they can pay for it themselves), I'm happy.

Something like this?

http://www.freeclinics.us/index.php

There are systems in place to take care of people who truly need it.

What we don't have is the choice for people to go to a specific doctor they prefer without paying for it. As to Insurance company "monopolies" there is no such thing. There are many private insurance companies currently in operation. Frankly I bet we could find the resources amongst Bigger Pockets members to start our own insurance company. It would be just a matter of creating a cash reserve, buying bonds and reinsurance, and putting together the policy and offering for sale (after getting state approval to sell it). All we'd need on staff is underwriters and their support staff. Every other function from actuarial to claims can be outsourced. The barrier to entry is not impossible enough to be a monopoly. Personally I would recommend a life insurance company instead of health. I know for a fact that for every major carrier, it's life insurance that is their big, consistent money maker but that's for another discussion.

You can't blame Republicans for anything for any standstill healthcare has been brought to. It was Constitutionally impossible for them to block healthcare legislation for an entire year. If it was possible, then their ideas of buying across state lines and tort reform would have gotten 5 minutes of attention in Congress. What stopped it was the influence of the people speaking out against it.

Everyone agrees something must be done but the Canadian solution clearly ain't it, eh?

[Timothy W.]

Originally posted by Christopher Davis:

I'll go along with whatever they come up with ,as long as the senators and congressmen include themselves. When they specifically EXCLUDE themselves then I automatically know that it is bad for me and my family.

+1 Voted this up big time.