View Full Version : Canadian Healthcare System
attrell
June 1st, 2009, 3:17 pm
I live in Saskatchewan Canada, but was raised in Texas. The healthcare systems are like night and day.
In Canada, our system is like mass transit. It will take you to where you want to go, but very slowly and only when the bus decides when.
The American system is like a Lincoln Town Car.
Anyway, I'll keep updating this thread with some things to consider about the single payer system Obama desires. It will make even most democrats re-consider this.
attrell
June 1st, 2009, 3:20 pm
Generous donors save laser surgery machine at Rockyview Hospital
http://www.am770chqr.com/News/Local/Story.aspx?ID=1098461
Planned removal of the only laser tool for prostate surgery in Calgary has been averted by a couple of generous donations.
The surgical laser was supposed to be removed from the Rockyview Hospital on Friday.
But Mark Kastner with Alberta Health Services says it will remain in operation for at least another year.
Calgary is a city of a million people and the healthcare system serves about 1.5 million people. Can you imagine Denver losing it's only laser surgery machine due to government cut backs?
p.s. any town with 15,000 people in the USA probably has this machine.
attrell
June 1st, 2009, 3:23 pm
Other issues no one talks about with the Canadian system
1 - Liberal ridings get better hospitals. Our town of 2000 has a crappy old hospital with few services. 50 miles away, an artistic town with writers and antique stores, coffee shops etc, but only 600 people, they have a modern facility with almost all services.
2 - Many provinces have started charging a monthly fee ($88 or less) for free healthcare. It is predicted, the govt will end up charging 3 times that wthin a decade to keep up with costs.
In other words, free healthcare will soon cost as much as basic insurance in the states does.
DRS
June 1st, 2009, 3:46 pm
So being responsible with health care dollars is a bad thing?
What does one get for basic insurance?
And what two towns are you referring to?
DRS
June 1st, 2009, 3:51 pm
Funny how your complaining mimics that of the Liberals in Alberta
Liberal Leader David Swann said Health Minister Ron Liepert and premier Ed Stelmach "lack a real understanding" of health care when their government wouldn't fund a machine that could save millions of dollars in long-term health cost.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Calgary+keep+prostate+laser/1649566/story.html
Persoanlly I think a mix of private and public funds is good
attrell
June 1st, 2009, 3:55 pm
There is no basic insurance. Everyone has the same basic insurance. If you get sent to the hospital, you share rooms with others and might ahve to wait 6 weeks for anything to be done.
ha! If you think that is being responsible for healthcare dollars, that they have to give crappy service and charge more, then why even bother.
Who is better at making healthcare choices for you? You or me?
DRS
June 1st, 2009, 4:02 pm
Well lets see I have been treated for two forms of cancer and epilipsy and continue to recieve excellent follow up care including MRIs bloodtests xrays and cat scans all at not cost to me
When they ran out of beds in the ward rooms the province paid for me to have semi private coverage
See it is not all about you and me there are millions of people that the decision has to be made for
czzzaar
June 1st, 2009, 4:06 pm
The American system is like a Lincoln Town Car.
Nice, if you can afford it?
DRS
June 1st, 2009, 4:08 pm
Didn't the guys who make those just go bankrupt?
jimjames418
June 1st, 2009, 4:16 pm
Didn't the guys who make those just go bankrupt?
NO. The Town Car is made by Ford. :))
DRS
June 1st, 2009, 4:19 pm
NO. The Town Car is made by Ford. :))
Oh ok around the Ford and Gm dealer are side by side so I am using to seeing Lincoln and Gm all the time
gdoane
June 2nd, 2009, 3:02 am
Well lets see I have been treated for two forms of cancer and epilipsy and continue to recieve excellent follow up care including MRIs bloodtests xrays and cat scans all at not cost to me
When they ran out of beds in the ward rooms the province paid for me to have semi private coverage
See it is not all about you and me there are millions of people that the decision has to be made for
No cost to me???
That's the problem right there. Government isn't a no-cost item. Government makes health care look cheap. My government is far and away my most expensive bill. More than my house. More than my car. More than anything I own.
No cost? Government is EXPENSIVE!! Outrageously expensive, like $3,000 per month and it's not worth the money at all.
If we're going to cut costs to free people from shackles of expensive things, cutting government is the obvious first place to go.
DRS
June 2nd, 2009, 4:11 pm
No cost to me???
That's the problem right there. Government isn't a no-cost item. Government makes health care look cheap. My government is far and away my most expensive bill. More than my house. More than my car. More than anything I own.
No cost? Government is EXPENSIVE!! Outrageously expensive, like $3,000 per month and it's not worth the money at all.
If we're going to cut costs to free people from shackles of expensive things, cutting government is the obvious first place to go.
No out of pocket cost beyond what I pay in taxes, but for that I get garbage pick up health care police and fire services, snow clearing plus the education I got