Quote:

I know it is anecdotal, but my treatment (and a subsequent one for a tumor on my carotid artery years later) was top fucking notch.



The main derision toward the Canadian health care system is how long you have to wait. I've read a few Canadian cities actually do lotteries to see who wins a doctor's appointment? And, waiting for some medical conditions, like chronic pain, is excruciating.

Quote:

It is easy to jump on a story when the daughter of a billionaire (Sheilagh Stronach) goes to the US for treatment, but I think it kind of drives the point home that the wealthy have the advantage.



What got a little bit of hoopla here in states is when the guy who was in charge of the commission in Canada that created your current health care system said it was in "crisis". The main issue being the waiting periods.

Click


Quote:

And noone has ever put up a stat about Americans that go abroad for cheaper surgeries.



This isn't that common yet, but is growing in popularity quite a bit. If nothing is done, 10 years from now, you'll see it a lot. I think the main reason it isn't popular yet is just Americans are so used to having it easy and going to a foreign country is a pain in the ass. It'll just take time to change the habits.

Quote:

I would be curious what the consensus is on the quality of the care you receive and what should be done.



It's excellent, best medical care money can buy. But, you have to have money to buy it, or at least, what is more common, insurance.

You get Diabetes and lose your job, you also lose your health insurance. Then, nobody will insure you unless you get another job. And, keep working these jobs until you turn 65 at which point you qualify for government Medicare insurance. Most companies provide group health insurance that you can't be turned down for. But, if you're an individual looking for coverage, you don't get that protection.

My father has Diabetes and is retired but not 65. His insurance premiums come to about $10K/year. And, the only reason he has insurance is because he's stayed with the same insurance company 20 years. If he stopped using that company, everyone else would turn him down. He looked at starting a business just for tax/insurance purposes. Doing that, he would have been able to get a group policy where they can't turn you down for pre-existing conditions, even though he'd have been the only one in the group. That would have cost him $23K/year.

There are other common scenarios where you lose your insurance, like if you don't have a job good enough where they supply health insurance and you just can't afford it on your own. I talked to a 50 year old lady who was doing contract work who was having trouble affording the $300/month premiums she was being charged.