I dont get why Americans arent down with our Canadian healthcare system

[jw]

ok i'll try to make this as concise as i can. people that can't afford to have kids, shouldn't have kids.

I'd go one step further and start taxing people after one .. you have no kids .. you get a $10k tax break .... you have one kid - you break even .. two kids - you pay an extra $5k, and then an extra $5k in tax per kid per year after that ... That should fix a lot of things ... no tax breaks for children ..... I'd also slap a big fat tax on any church that has more than 50 seats ..... time to face facts .. religion is the second oldest business there is ... tax it .... they claim they want to help the poor .. what better way to pay for free healthcare for everyone than to tax religion .... see .. Jesus really does heal the sick .....

[dinaro7]

univesal healtj care should not
be used in the us

[losturmarbles]

I'd go one step further and start taxing people after one .. you have no kids .. you get a $10k tax break .... you have one kid - you break even .. two kids - you pay an extra $5k, and then an extra $5k in tax per kid per year after that ... That should fix a lot of things ... no tax breaks for children ..... I'd also slap a big fat tax on any church that has more than 50 seats ..... time to face facts .. religion is the second oldest business there is ... tax it .... they claim they want to help the poor .. what better way to pay for free healthcare for everyone than to tax religion .... see .. Jesus really does heal the sick .....

is this the sarcasm you refer to in your avatar?

[Dirty Sanchez]

But we have "Teabaggers"...which is kind of cool

[DwightShrute]

But we have "Teabaggers"...which is kind of cool

you act like they are a radical group or terrorists like Al Qaeda, out to destroy America but instead they only wish to hold government accountable and keep taxes from going through the roof. you should be thanking them rather than name calling.

T.E.A. - Taxed Enough Already

Yes, they also fight for even those that call them names, uneducated and lazy. Usually one in the same.

[jw]

is this the sarcasm you refer to in your avatar?

that's the one ....

[BigdaddyQH]

... sure they do .. I know plenty about healthcare .. the difference between me and you however is that I have lived in three different countries and experienced three types of healthcare .. therefore I feel qualified to comment on it - you on the other hand appear to like to try and belittle people who can actually bring something to the conversation. Republican by any chance?

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2009-09-15-insurance-costs_N.htm

"Average family health insurance policy: $13,375, up 5%"

I'm self employed here in the US ... when did you last shop for insurance ... ? What did you pay?

I "shop" for insurance once a year, when I have to decide which insurance I want. My current insurance provider gives me "no limit" coverage. I have had proceedures that have cost thousands of dollars recently, and I paid $10.00 per proceedure. That includes an Angiogram, and many other sophisticated tests. There is no limit on what money is spent on me. You quote about an "average FAMILY", not an individual. I suggest you do a little more research. I also suggest that you see exactly what is included in your "Average family health insurance" policy. If you really have researched things, you know that there are many different types of insurance, from HMO to PPO and everything in between.

[losturmarbles]

that's the one ....

maybe next time you should aim higher on your retorts and they won't get mistaken for incoherent ramblings... no wait, that's what you were going for.

funny though, you inanely suggest using the tax code to regulate behavior (typical), but that's exactly what goes on now.

so thanks for providing an example of how irrational moonbats like yourself fail to comprehend simple principles of freedom and liberty.

[jw]

so thanks for providing an example of how irrational moonbats like yourself fail to comprehend simple principles of freedom and liberty.

You're welcome .... though in actuality - I would indeed vote for anyone that had the balls to run for election on the taxing of Church and children .... I believe in neither. As for freedom and liberty - America is a long, long, long way down the list of countries that offers anything even close to its citizens.

But nice try - play again soon.

I love the fact that my vote will occasionally counter yours .. it gives me a warm tingle inside.

[Data]

I have a great story .... my wife works in a cancer hospital ... a colleague of hers got cancer .... great right - they are covered 100% if they can be treated "in house" ... well it was great - until the company decided after a couple of months that they had to let him go as he had no more sick time left and had used all of his vacation time.

So now he has Cancer - he is without insurance, and while he lies there dying - he is racking up $80-100k of debt each day that his family will get the bill for after he dies .... God bless the current system ...

As has been proved many times .. even on this thread a couple of times - American Healthcare is not the best in the world .. it is not even close - it is not even in the top 10 - in fact it ranks well below an awful lot of countries that have socialized medicine .. I've experienced it ... I know it to be true ... is this another one of your beliefs that you just made up to support your argument.?

I have no interest to argue with people like jw but I do want to expose him. I will provide a few pointers to the younger posters who are capable of thinking on their own but may not know certain facts.
1. learn about CORBA
2. $80-100k is a cost per month, not per day
3. The American health care IS the best in the world. No other country can match the technology and research, they just do not have the resources. The WHO puts the US low in their rankings because this socialist organization empathizes equality and rates the countries that have no technology or other ways of treatment higher than the country that has those but does not make them available for everyone.

That does not mean there are no problems with the US health care system, there are plenty. With so much money spent on health care there are too many parasites and those species who exploit the system include the doctors as well as the patients. There is so much fraud in health care. For instance, there are families who can be considered professional "car incident victims" who live off the kick backs they receive from the health care providers who "treat" them and charge their insurances after the "victims" got into car incident that they staged themselves.

[forsberg21]

Americans aren't down with our health care system because Fox News tells them that, and we all know that Fox News is always right and is never biased.

[scarp]

Maybe we should get some Canadians to run the US

[betplom]

Maybe we should get some Canadians to run the US

[andywend]

The 85%-90% of Americans that have medical insurance receive far better medical care than the Canadian socialized system provides to its citizens.

The remaining 10% are most definitely "down with the canadian system" as they favor anything that resembles a government handout.

Hey BetPlom, how about taking this remaining 10% who don't have insurance off of our hands. THEY ARE ALL YOURS!!!

[shari91]

I can only share my experience because that's all I really have to base my opinions on. I've maintained health insurance in the US during all the years I haven't lived there because I'm provided with a great policy by my employer and it costs me very little each month to keep the policy active with all the extras I felt I needed when I was still a resident. My son was born 2 months prematurely. A week after he was born, he was added to my American policy - my insurance company has a 30 day window when you have a baby or else you have to wait until your policy renewal date.

About a month later, I started to look at the possibilities of moving back to North America because I was a basket case and felt stranded here in Australia. The best option for me would have been to return to the States because the company I work for is headquartered there with major offices in several cities although my family is in Canada. I contacted the insurance company and asked for an explanation as to what I would be facing if I brought my son to the States to continue his medical care. The woman I talked asked me to fax her a financial breakdown of all of my son's treatments so far as well as a report from the head Doctor in the Special Care unit as to what he will, or may, face in the future. My son's treatment had already exceeded $900,000 Australian dollars and the cost would only obviously climb. Three or four days after I finally gathered all of that for her she called me and said in no uncertain terms that my policy would be capped or at the very least, they would make the whole process extremely drawn out and difficult for me. She literally told me, and I'll never forget it, that "our claims department will take advantage of your emotional state and try to wear you down." She even said they may attempt to go so far as to try to argue that my son's premature birth was caused by a pre-existing condition in the womb and therefore he wasn't eligible for insurance. They would eventually lose that argument but the hope would be that I'd throw in the towel and pay a large chunk of the cost myself. So that was it for me - that's why I'm still in Australia.

I think yet another horseshoe was stuck up my arse that day I got her on the phone because that woman I talked to couldn't have been more frank or kind. Maybe she had put in her two weeks notice or knew someone who had a premmie herself. I'm not sure. All I know is that she changed the course of my and my son's life 10 months ago. I'm an American citizen as is my son. I'm not poor and I wasn't looking for a handout of any kind but I admit I sure as hell don't have an extra million laying around to pay a hospital. But anyone who believes that you simply pay a certain amount each month no matter how much it is and everything will be rosy should you require serious medical care, needs to have a major wake-up call about the state of insurance companies in the US.

[andywend]

Three or four days after I finally gathered all of that for her she called me and said in no uncertain terms that my policy would be capped or at the very least, they would make the whole process extremely drawn out and difficult for me. She literally told me, and I'll never forget it, that "our claims department will take advantage of your emotional state and try to wear you down." She even said they may attempt to go so far as to try to argue that my son's premature birth was caused by a pre-existing condition in the womb and therefore he wasn't eligible for insurance. They would eventually lose that argument but the hope would be that I'd throw in the towel and pay a large chunk of the cost myself.

Shari, I'm going to say straight out that I don't believe you or the story you're telling. All calls are recorded and any customer service rep telling you this would instantly find themselves unemployed.

But anyone who believes that you simply pay a certain amount each month no matter how much it is and everything will be rosy should you require serious medical care, needs to have a major wake-up call about the state of insurance companies in the US.

If you purchase an individual medical insurance policy, all of the terms of the policy are spelled out clearly and can NOT be changed once the policy goes into effect. The only thing the company can change is the premium you pay each month.

If you have an individual medical insurance policy and find yourself needing the most expensive medical care in history, the policy will cover exactly what it says it will. Certain things might be excluded but they are clearly listed and known to the individual in advance.

Im going to go out on a limb here and say you lean strongly to the left and you're either a democrat or a socialist who strongly favors socialized medicine type systems.

You are spreading outright lies about medical insurance policies and the U.S. medical care system in general.

[shari91]

Shari, I'm going to say straight out that I don't believe you or the story you're telling. All calls are recorded and any customer service rep telling you this would instantly find themselves unemployed. If you purchase an individual medical insurance policy, all of the terms of the policy are spelled out clearly and can NOT be changed once the policy goes into effect. The only thing the company can change is the premium you pay each month. If you have an individual medical insurance policy and find yourself needing the most expensive medical care in history, the policy will cover exactly what it says it will. Certain things might be excluded but they are clearly listed and known to the individual in advance. Im going to go out on a limb here and say you lean strongly to the left and you're either a democrat or a socialist who strongly favors socialized medicine type systems. You are spreading outright lies about medical insurance policies and the U.S. medical care system in general.

I'm sorry you don't believe me Andy but I have no reason to lie. I'm neither a registered Democrat in the States nor a socialist. I'm me. But I appreciate you taking the time to give me such a detailed response.

[forsberg21]

Shari, I'm going to say straight out that I don't believe you or the story you're telling. All calls are recorded and any customer service rep telling you this would instantly find themselves unemployed. If you purchase an individual medical insurance policy, all of the terms of the policy are spelled out clearly and can NOT be changed once the policy goes into effect. The only thing the company can change is the premium you pay each month. If you have an individual medical insurance policy and find yourself needing the most expensive medical care in history, the policy will cover exactly what it says it will. Certain things might be excluded but they are clearly listed and known to the individual in advance. Im going to go out on a limb here and say you lean strongly to the left and you're either a democrat or a socialist who strongly favors socialized medicine type systems. You are spreading outright lies about medical insurance policies and the U.S. medical care system in general.

Why would she lie?

[OTL]

The Canadian healthcare system doesn't work as intended due to a lack of government funding - and I say this as a Canadian living in Canada. People die here every day due to a lack of hospital beds, medical supplies, long wait times, and an inadequate amount of hospital staff. People who can afford and are willing to pay for premium service don't have the option as the governement doesn't allow it. Our quality of healthcare is among the worst of the developed nations.

[forsberg21]

The Canadian healthcare system doesn't work as intended due to a lack of government funding - and I say this as a Canadian living in Canada. People die here every day due to a lack of hospital beds, medical supplies, long wait times, and an inadequate amount of hospital staff. People who can afford and are willing to pay for premium service don't have the option as the governement doesn't allow it. Our quality of healthcare is among the worst of the developed nations.

That's a ridiculous opinion.

"People DIE here every day due to a lack of hospital beds, medical supplies, long wait times, and an inadequate amount of hospital staff"

Are you sure about this?

[losturmarbles]

That's a ridiculous opinion.

"People DIE here every day due to a lack of hospital beds, medical supplies, long wait times, and an inadequate amount of hospital staff"

Are you sure about this?

cite source please.