Canadians and their free healthcare?

[Anonymous]

I'm American. I was born with a chronic health condition that wasn't my fault. I have no health insurance and can't afford it. I'm in pain a lot of the time. I get green with envy knowing I'll have to suffer my whole life while if I was Canadian I wouldn't have to.

[kheserthorpe]

We don't have 'free' health care. We pay for it, through taxes. Everything gets paid for by the middle class one way or another.

We do have 'universal' health care ... sort of ... for the most part. We do not have universal drug coverage. We do not have universal dental coverage. Wait times in Canada can be appalling in some situations.

There are some things that are better about the u.s. system, but generally, I think the single payer - universal coverage model works well. Canada spends a fraction of what the u.s. does on _administration_ of health care benefits, a cost that is _massive_ in the u.s.

People fall through the cracks, unfortunately, in both countries.

[Camilus]

No, you aren't wrong. Americans get nothing in return for their tax dollars compared to the rest of the industrialized nations. At this point our taxes go to paying the interest on the government's debt and very little else - but f*** you and your health condition, your congressman would rather spend that money on popcorn machines and personalized calendars (#21 link

[Camilus]

link

[Anonymous]

I know of Canadians who come to the US to get health care because the waiting lists are so long for treatments so it is not all it is cracked up to be if you can have it free but it will take a year or more for them to get to you. One guy needed a colonoscopy to check for cancer but they could not knock other people off the list just so he could be checked more quickly and sure enough he had cancer if he had waited until they got to him for the test he could have died instead of having it treated while it was still manageable.

[Asker]

explain AliceMcKay's comment then?

[Opinion Owner]

I am just saying I have actually treated those patients myself in a hospital. Once someone is diagnosed then they get the care they need but he could not even get the test for it. I know you want to believe it is all perfect but there are downsides to that type of care.

[Asker]

i didn't say it was ever perfect. But I believe its better than the American system since they insure everybody. Canadian waiting times are little comfort to people like me who can't afford insurance and get care NEVER. Would you rather wait a little while for something and then get it or never get it at all?

[Opinion Owner]

I guess it is hard for me to put myself in that postion since I have always been able to afford my own health insurance if my job did not provide it. I would never consider not having it. I would not have to rely on the goverment to tell me when I can have test done. But if it is your only option then it is better then nothing.

[FierceMegan]

I am jealous of them too. =(

[Asker]

are you uninsured too?

[FierceMegan]

I have crappy insurance. I feel like no one accepts it, and I have to drive hours away for certain doctors, or I am on a waiting list for months because everyone has this cheap insurance. =(

[Asker]

Hey at least you have insurance. You still get care don't you?

[FierceMegan]

Yes, I can. Do you need health insurance? If you do some states have free health insurance. If you have a condition someone has to help you.

[Asker]

you mean free as in like government aid?

[FierceMegan]

Yep! In New York, they have Health First.

[Asker]

il have to look into that. Is that the cheapo plan your on or no?

[FierceMegan]

No, I was on that in college, but now I have a job, and it is cheap insurance because the company is new.

[Distant]

One of the many perks of being American, right? Americans always run their mouths and put Canada down but truthfully, there's a reason why we're cleaner, skinnier, healthier, safer and more economically stable than Americans. You have every right to be jealous.

[moloz]

Horrible shopping skills, off topic. At least it looks good in your avatar. :D

[Distant]

I'm not sure if this is a compliment or not, lol.

[moloz]

Both.

[Levin]

In fairness the gap between Americans and Canadians isn't that great. A lot of Canadian women are fat in my experience.

[moloz]

A lot of women in the world are fat. Your point?

[Distant]

Due to American influence, Canada is also lagging. You're right.

[moloz]

American influence? America is a global parasite, all it did was take important people from all over the world (mostly Europe), get supported by Europe and now it leeches off its own people to support a decaying system. It's pretty good now, but it's going down slowly.

[Levin]

They're not really fat all over the world. I'm making this comparison from my experience as an Englishman. Sure we have fat people here, a lot, but usually lower class and older people. You don't really get fat middle class women, women who go to university and are educared. Obesity seems to afflict the whole spectrum in Canada.

[Levin]

Not that it matters. They're still people, I guess.

[Ugliness]

Yeah be jealous. Be very very jealous. Here in Canada we have some things we can envy Americans about. Fortunately health care isn't one of them.

Then again nobody wants to hire a person with a disability it seems so I can't find work anyhow. I get a government disability income and that also pays for my medications, eyeglasses and the dentist. But heck, I'd rather have a job and if you have that - I'm still jealous of YOU.

[Camilus]

What makes you think that Americans with disabilities automatically get jobs, especially with the official bullsh*t government unemployment number at 9.1%?

[Ugliness]

I didn't say that Americans with disabilities automatically get jobs. I said that many people DO have jobs and I'd rather have that than healthcare coverage. I guess we have different priorities.

[Asker]

Jobs don't do much good if you get sick or injured and can't work ugliness. You'd seriously give up your healthcare for that?

[Ugliness]

If I made enough money, yeah. If you have a job you make more than me.

[martyfellow]

We're th eonly developed country that treats their citizaens this way. Even Mexcio has a limited national health insurance,e ven China is moving that way.

US rulers spend all our money on wars and occupations of countries that have oil, leaving children hungry and people like you without basic health care.

[ognioenirekjnvie]

it's OK bro. I'm American and I'm jealous of mexico. I'm jealous that they have real women who are traditional and not just when it benefits them. we have shetty health care, economy, and women. America has seen better times lol

[AliceMcKay]

Why would that ever be wrong?

I am so grateful for our healthcare system, my Dad was sick a lot and I know that if we didn't have free healthcare we would be completely broke or he wouldn't have gotten the care he needed.

[goflipaburger]

I just love Canada. I genuinely wish we'd take a step in their direction :/

[Warren]

Judging by your grammar, I'd think you'd be more interested in their education system. But no, it's not wrong that you're jealous of them. I wish I lived in Finland or Sweden when I was in school.

[moloz]

link ?

[Anonymous]

you can't go on your parents' insurance? or free clinics?

[Asker]

free clinics? never heard of such a thing.

[Opinion Owner]

really? I go to school in a city...in a poor city. and there are free clinics all over the place

[Asker]

you don't have to pay them back or meet any requirements?

[Opinion Owner]

No. the doctors are all volunteers and come in and help out

[Asker]

Sounds too good to be true to me. Are they paid by the state? I would think it would be really dingy and rundown and roach infensted quality : /

[Opinion Owner]

No. I've been there before when I was younger and we didn't have insurance. it's clean. you have to wait a little bit because a lot of people are there though. I don't know who pays them though. I don't think anyone does. they jsut come in, they have shifts. they take turns coming in throughout the week

[Asker]

huh. Where do you live if you don't mind me asking?

[Opinion Owner]

philly

[Asker]

huh. You always got good care?

[Anonymous]

If you're that jealous, why don't you move there? Become a Canadian citizen?

[Asker]

that takes years of time and money dude.

[Opinion Owner]

Really? Wow. I guess I'm used to living in Europe where you can move relatively easily from country to country.

[learningthegame16]

There's also free health care in Australia :)

[Visionaryxx420]

you should get a medical marijuana license

[dIO_oIb]

lol no it's not wrong.