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Insuring illegal aliens is pure madness

Paying for "life style illnesses" <were you blind drunk when this happened? Have you been smoking 2 packs a day? You are morbidly obese... you have one of those "Let those that ride decide" tee shirts and a tramatic brain injury to go along with it...your heart attact/stroke was the direct result of smoking cocaine...and on and on...> should cost the sick person way more than paying for the health care of folks who are more responsible.

As someone who has been blessed with good health for all of his life, I am probably not that qualified to assess health care services, anywhere. The few minor health complaints I have experienced have been well treated by the Canadian system. However, if I were to come down with some hard to treat uncommon disease, I would probably want to have that diagnosis and treatment carried out in one of the top US medical care facilities. I have no facts that confirm this but from what little I read about medical research and technology, the best in the world probably exists at some place like the Mayo Clinic or John Hopkins. So if I had unlimited funds and some sort of hard to treat disease that is most likely where I would seek treatment. The USA probably has the best available medical services in the world if you have money, but not necessarily the best medical system. Canada�s system is far from perfect, but we are working to make it better.

Family friend LOVED Canadian health care.. she had a bad knee, and they wouldn't put her on the list for getting it replaced until all the cartilege finally wore away. Lots and lots of pain waiting for that to happen. Then once all the cartilege was gone, she was told it would only be a 2 year wait for the surgery.

Yep. Awesome.

One of my hunting partners just had his second knee replaced, had the first one done six months ago. He had no problem getting the procedure done and was able to pick his dates to have the least amount of effect on his hunting season.

You better like your system in Canada, because you lost your ability to choose.

We in the USA, have not lost that ability, yet. This debate goes beyond Health Care. I don't beleive for an instance that altruism has overcome Washington. This is a ploy to make more people dependent on Government. Howard Dean is a huge supporter of the so called "Public Option". This has been Ted Kennedy's campaign for decades. Howard Dean, as DNC chairman wants more Demoract voters. Ted Kennedy wants a legacy other than Chappaquiddick.

This was to be Bill Clinton's legacy in 1993-94, but it went down in flames. He has no legacy beyond Monica. Obama comes to power and is asked by his handlers "What will be your legacy?" In the true spirit of FDR, he looks to expand the role of government.

Exactly, Hatari.

Beyond the simple issue of health care, is the expansion of government into private life. All you have to do is look what has happened to the education system after the Federal government too over for the states. Big bureaucracies like ones size fits all solutions. That's not often a good approach.

Yep - yet another friend of a friend anecdote. By the way - I've had a total knee replacement - in Canada.

But have any of you noticed the fact that even on this politically right-leaning hunting forum, not ONE of the many Canadians on this forum (meaning those who LIVE with our system every day - not just people who HEAR about it) has come out against Canada's public health-care system?

Not ONE...

I just learned that the local school system REQUIRES a doctor's excuse for a child's absence from school... they will let the parents "slide" for a few absences but the REQUIRED doctor's note rule applies after only a very few absences...

First I couldn't believe it.... then I realized how dangerous such a policy is from a public health stand point<not to mention the civil liberties violation>... lots of parents can't afford to take off work and /or pay to have a kid with just a cold go to the doctor...

So... they just keep sending them to school when they are most contagious... sure hope this swine flu thing doesn't morph into an especially deadly strain... it would spread like wildfire due to school rules

Being next door to the USA, how has Canada managed to keep the insurance industry out of its healthcare system?

Is there a developed country that has a medical insurance system other than the USA?

How about Japan?

I only know, personally, one Canadian. He does not appreciate the Canadian system. He stated Canadians come to the US for diagnostic things in order to get them completed more quickly. I'm not familiar with the system, but if he's correct in what he says about it, people come to the US to get MRIs and other similar tests and as such those with the money to come to the US for testing get diagnosed more quickly and have a better success rate. Seems those with more money get better overall treatment because they can use the private care in the US and the public care system of Canada.

Well, I try to stay out of the non-hunting/gun related threads, but here is one native born Canadian who would prefer private health care, where I could keep more of the dollars I earn, and choose where, how, and when myself and my family seek medical care.

I was raised to believe in taking care of myself, not to just cludge along and rely upon the state, and the taxpayers who support it. I suppose you could say that I am not against public healthcare in itself, but rather I am against the broader socialism associated with it. The difference in taxes I pay in realtion to US engineers and contractors I deal with would pay for a top tier private insurance program for my family several times over.

There is no doubt, that I am in the extreme minority of Canadians though. Canada is a socialist country, where most believe in, and welcome state govenance (some would call it interference) over their lives and finances.

The problem with these discussions, is that Canada and the USA are very different countries, and to use one against the other to support or refute public or private heathcare is not logical. Canada's socialist society embraces public healthcare, and will make it work and accept it in spite of all costs and obstacles. The USA's less socialist society will not.

BCBrian - do you know anyone who works in the health sector - doctors or nurses? The current system is not sustainable - I think everyone on the inside is aware of that, and if you are not, I really have to question how well informed on the issue you are.

The doctor shortage we are experiencing in Ontario and the long waits for critical things like cancer diagnosis are how we are seeing the funding shortfall in Ontario. People are dying now because of it - but it's no big deal - they're old and sick anyway.

It's only going to get worse unless Canadians and their leaders can get over their bizarre hangup over privately run health care facilities.

Notice I addressed BCBrian and his comments and never got a reply
I suggested you all check it out this is one Canadian that left the system to go south. Medical care was only one of the reasons
You cann't tax yourself into prosperity. Cheers NC

Well, isn't she Canadian?...jorge

northcountry did.

People are dying every second of the day everywhere in the world, except in the USA.

Brian,
Disraeli said: "There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics."

Take the homicides and accidents out of the equation and the US has the longest life expectancy of ANY nation.
Change the semantics from "Health-care" to "Treatment" and the US has the Highest level of care. Anyone can go into a Canadian clinic and get aspirin for their sore knee. If that knee needs to be replaced - well - better plan a trip to an American hospital.
In the US almost anyone can get a knee replaced. Illegals and itinerants MAY have a problem. Logistics and fear of deportation enters into the patients decisions - not lack of treatment.

I have been thru all aspects of the health care system in the US and I understand the need for some reform - but - the idiots in D.C. are wrong. Socialism is never the answer!!

Johnny $

Ask Natasha Richardson about the effective health care she received in Canada.

And the Canadian healthcare system killed Natasha Richardson in what way ?

Lynn D

From what I heard she had a treatable head injury and no access to a helicopter...