I'm sure you know there is a lot of politics and talk going on down here about health care. Long story short- I heard an interview of the Canadian woman that is being used to bad-mouth your system big time. You know I have some very personal friends up there that have always held up your system as a primary Maple Leaf advantage.

We know there are exceptions in every system, but on the whole, what is the Canadian Pixie's view of your system? We all know you don't carry guns but your taxman should have one for the holdups he does and is 'supposedly' acceptable as a fair exchange for the care you get. How do you as an individual see it?

(help the dumb Americans)

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Please!

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Put me on wheels and I'll turn tricks.

Clever? Nah, I ran out of that years ago. But if you find this, let me know, k?
"The road goes ever on..." ~ Tolkien

In memory of my friend skip...
Go then, there are other worlds than these

Well, as a student, I don't pay income tax. And I certainly appreciate being able to go to the doctor for free!

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Si à travers nos veines coule encore le sang...
Si dans les jeux d'enfants on entend encore l'accent...
Si nous sentons encore l'espoir de nos grands-parents...
Si dans les voiles du large souffle encore le vent...
Y'a jamais eu de Grand Dérangement.

No tax as a student? WOW! Learning that alone was worthwhile and mind blowing.

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I started this thread asking my Canadian neighbors what their personal experience has been with a federal medical program. I would like to ask all the English speaking nations (since only the USA doesn't have one) how their individual life experience has been living with such a system. It is a VERY hot topic here that has been forced to the forefront by the world economic crises our *financial experts* have created/permitted and isn't able to be sweep under the rug this time.

I'm sad to confess I do not believe one word coming from ANYBODY over here. You have to understand the normal process here regarding any 'real topic' is for every political, special interest and causenik group to throw up a cloud of mud, smoke & mirror and bullshit with everything from half truths to outright lies so thick the people just cover their ears and go away as long as they are not bleeding or starving, and the ones with the most power continue with business as usual. Now that things are heading towards torches and pitchforks, it's a mushroom clouds of crap that is blossoming up.

I would like to know from real, honest people that have lived with another health system how it has been for you overall.

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I'm not sure anyone can comment unless they have lived in a nother country, as we have nothing to compare it to!

In Britain we are facing our own issues with the NHS. The big bug bears over here are things like the post code lottery (if you live in one part of the country and have cancer, a life saving drug may be available to you, where in another part of the country, the local management have decided that it's too expensive and therefore not available). We also have issues with superbugs since hospitals are a) unclean and b) getting old with no funds to replace them with newer/refurbished facilities. Some of these issues come from being one of the oldest National Healthcare schemes there is (we have similar issues with our rail and sewage networks - the disadvantages of being among the first to establish them). The list is endless when it comes to faults and vulnerabilities in our system, especially when it comes to overworked and underpaid staff, who for the most part do a fantastic job.

In terms of personal experience, I am very lucky in that I have had little need for much medical care, but I felt that my antenatal care and subsequent birth experience was fantastic. I also know, that I am in the minority of women I know who say that and I have heard their horror stories. I think our system works well if you remember that it is free. As soon as you start to think that you have a 'right' to a home birth in a pool with two midwives there attending solely to your needs or whatever it is that you want, then I think you're going to be disappointed. Healthcare is all about what you NEED not what you would like and our NHS provides a fairly no frills service. I certainly think they do the best they can with their limited resources although like most government run operations I do see an awful lot of wasted money - mainly wasted on middle managers who are all about 'target chasing' and not about patient care.

So to sum up, I don't have a clue if it's a good or better system than in the states, although certainly over there it's a lot more clear cut 'If you can pay for it, you can have it, if you can't, then tough'. The moral implications of that system, are a whole different ball game though.

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"Time flies like an arrow -
Fruit flies like a banana"

M Y - N A U G H T Y - P I C T U R E S ! !

Thank you so much Lou. That is exactly what I was hoping to get. You have given me 'honest' points to consider and each made sense as to their merit or concern as I read them.

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I'm Canadian, and from what I can tell you about our health care system , it's slow as hell but it gets the job done, I really can't imagine being without free health care, the idea that if something happened I'd be completely screwed was one of the big things that prevented me from moving to the states a few years back.

It took about 3 years to get into surgury for my issue the first time, though it is hard to find an eye specialist in nova scotia, but I'd rather take the time to wait for it , then have it done and end up living on the street trying to pay medical bills.

Plus I've known so many good friends in the states that have talked to me concerned that they MAY have a serious condition, but refuse to go get it looked into because they can't afford it. That's just extremely disturbing.

Taxes are never fun, but I figure if anything ever did go wrong, I'd easily dump more into medical procedures then what I'm paying into taxes.

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Well I've seen love come, I've seen shot down, I've it die in vain

Maybe someday I'll see you again, and you'll look me in my eyes and call me a friend.