how is it not relevant? They pay into a tax system that provides universal health care. They pay more taxes per person than we do. How do they spend less on health care, virtually no military but still have a higher taxation per person than us? Doesn't add up at all. Id have to see all the detailed numbers to but into that one.
I covered Western Canada for nearly 35 years and most Canadians I knew (many) were not all that pleased with Gov provided health care, primarily long wait times and not able to select own doc. I knew numerous folks that traveled here to have serious operations performed because they could afford it, but couldn't afford to wait.
Should we make @Chris Craig work and create a thread for universal health care discussion and make him move these there? Seems we may be muddying up this thread a bit. Just a thought.
You are already paying for people's "bad habits". You don't want to do that? Move out of society. Instead, you are actively advocating for dystopian systems so you can control people who aren't like yourself and remove their freedom. Who determines what bad habits are? Yikes.
What about the health care costs of people getting hit by cars out of the cross walk? So we don't care about offsetting that with risky behavior anymore? Why are we only worried about people who get caught? Wouldn't the weekly health questionnaire catch those that engage in this type of behavior?
I showed you their healthcare budget compared to ours. This is not controversial. If you want to challenge that data bring some evidence with you. Honestly, get serious or exit the conversation.
Americans are 10 times more likely (1.83% of the population) to seek healthcare outside the their country than Canadians (0.17% of their population). Americans (0.4% of the population) are more than twice as likely as Canadians to leave their country seeking healthcare (0.17% of the population). "In 2016, an estimated 63,459 Canadians received non-emergency medical treatment outside Canada" (0.17% of the population) https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/leaving-canada-for-medical-care-2017.pdf "We estimate some 1,400,000 Americans will travel outside the US for medical care this year (2017)." (0.4% of the population) https://patientsbeyondborders.com/medical-tourism-statistics-facts 1.4 million versus 345,000. That is a ratio of over 4:1; that is to say, 4x more people leave the United States for care than come to the United States for care. And this statistic of 1.4 million is counting only the Americans that physically left the country and went to another for healthcare. Millions of additional Americans take advantage of other countries' healthcare systems in additional ways. For example, as Fred Hansen continues, "5.4 million Americans purchased drugs from other countries over the Internet last year." And millions of Americans do this each year despite the fact that it isn't even legal! So including medication, 1.83% of Americans seek healthcare from outside the US, as opposed to 0.17% of Canadians. And most Americans can't pick their doctor either. And our wait times are long as well. In my experience Canadians who live in America prefer Canada's healthcare system. As most first world transplants prefer the healthcare system they came from.
Insurance is not the right method to provide healthcare. Insurance works for automobiles and homes but healthcare? Insurance was never designed as something you file claims on multiple times a year. Imagine if we used our car insurance like we used our health insurance. We'd have to file claims for gas, tires, oil changes, maintenance, mechanical repairs. "I have a $2000 gas deductible then I'll only have a $20 co-pay at the pump!" What about homeowners insurance? "Gotta get the pre-authorization before I can get paint at Home Depot." Again, insurance is not the right way to provide healthcare.
I’m late to the discussion but my understanding is that OB does not want government subsidized healthcare because he, as a tax payer does not want to pay for the consequences of other people’s unhealthy lifestyles. I agree 100%. However, anyone (including employers) who is paying for any kind of heath insurance whatsoever is already paying for the unhealthy lifestyles of others and always have. It’s one of the major reasons insurance premiums are so high. Seems like six of one, half dozen of another to me. The only real difference is that the individual has the choice of paying the premiums or going without under the current conditions. They don’t have a choice with “government healthcare”. Other than that, same shit, different roads…… And if this has already been pointed out……oops.
There are far worse things we're paying for, as tax payers, than someone elses health care. I don't have children, but my taxes go to schools. I don't believe in wars, but my taxes go to paying for them.
I had a part-time job at Sacred Heart hospital when I was going to U of O. One of the benefits they offered was dental. Their dental coverage was unique. They started off paying 50% of costs. If you went to the dentists every 6 mos the 2nd year they paid 60%. Every 6 mos, the 3 rd year 70%. 4th, 80%, all the way to 100%. If you missed a 6 mos appointment you dropped back to 50%. Now I think this was a very easy way to incentivize good dental care by the patient. It's also a good way to cut down on dental costs by the employer. Because if you're going to the dentist every 6 mos by the time you reach 100% coverage your dental needs are going to be much less vs a person who doesn't regularly see the dentist. Fewer root canals, crowns, etc. You're catching problems sooner and fixing them for cheaper.
Interesting numbers, I can tell you living on the US/Mexico border that a lot of people head south for all kinds of medical treatments and prescriptions because the cost is FAR less!
Bingo. My grandparents take vacation to Arizona every year just to go across the border and get dental work, glasses, and hearing aids. They come out so far ahead that it pays for another full vacation. Every year.
