[Arlington2]

Originally Posted by Laraine

I lived in Canada for five years, and found it just the opposite. As a personal example, I was having what appeared to be heart problems, and failed a stress test. It took me about 4 months to get a heart scan and see the cardiologist. I also had back problems, and the doctor signed me up for pain management. About six months later, I returned to FL, and a couple months after that, I got a call from Alberta Healthcare saying they were ready for me to start my pain management (don't know how they got my FL telephone number). A co-worker's mother had a steel rod in her spine that snapped, leaving her humped over in terrible pain. It took her 1.5 years to get into pain management, which immediately (finally) solved her pain. The main hospital in Edmonton was overcrowded, had roof leaks that impacted their operating rooms, and long waiting lists (which were jumped by people with the right connections). Wealthy Canadians went to the U.S. to get treated. And free healthcare isn't free--income taxes were about double, to pay for it.

You were fortunate they didn't recommend MAID. From what I have read they are doing that for a variety of reasons including being indigent, depression or no family caretaker. That could be the plan to reduce the demand for medical services.