[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by JUREK

Muncle. Every time I visit my roots in Canada I get sticker shock. I compare my wages and taxes to my Canadian friends. Their medical care is not free because they are taxed to death. Watch out if you need a non critical operation. After a lengthy wait two of my friends traveled to USA and payed out of pocket to have procedures.

Evertime I spend six months in the USA, I am astonished at how inexpensive everything is. Canadian medical care is definitely not free .. it is funded by tax payers. However Canadians aren't really "taxed to death"! Many Canadians are able to own homes in Florida and spend half the year here. But Canadian tax rates are definitely higher. And we have giagantic "sin" taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, etc.

For every "horror story" I hear about the Canadian health care system, I know of ten great stories about people getting immediate help when they need it. I personally have had some non-critical surgeries with no problems with wait times.

Every country struggles with health care dilemmas. Canada is currently struggling with a "two-tier" health care proposal. Those who are wealthy could shoot to the top of the heap. The rest would wait in line. But the line would be shorter because the wealthy would be using private facilities.