[rustyp]

Originally Posted by Byte1

You don't live in Canada. I have or rather had a sister-in-law that received Canadian health care treatment. She resided in Toronto. She had to wait so long first just to see a doctor, then another wait to see a specialist, and then too long to recieve treatment. She died of cancer and it was not pretty. Her only treatment was pain killers in the hospital while family was allowed to come in and say goodbye. Now, her daughter-in-law is a nurse in Canada and when she wants treatment, she comes to visit us so she can take advantage of our superior health care system.
I have lived in countries that have socialized health care and I can tell you first hand how bad it is. Do the citizens like it. Sure, they grew up with it and it seems like it is free. Although free is when they take half your paycheck in payment for the gov. FREE stuff.
I had to go to one hospital for a ultrasound and had to pass down hallways without lights to the basement. I also observed a few windows that were broken. My spouse had to go to a hospital in one country where the family had to bring blankets and food for the patient. Next time you folks wish to complain about our system, give me an idea how bad your "struggle" is with American health care. And yes, it can be very expensive some times. I know. I have had to pay the ER bill a long time ago when I didn't have insurance. And yes, it did go to collection, but I still paid it all off. Sorry if some of you can't afford to pay over time, when the bill is too high. Guess it may interfere with your lifestyle, but that is life. This is not Obama's Utopia that was promised.

I didn't live in Canada but i was there every weekend for 4 month/year for 25 years.

Our best friend in TV was bounced around for two years in TV trying to diagnose her health issue. Even had one Doc suggest a psychiatrist. Last time she seen a new Doc was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was given 6 months to a year. We lost her in 6 weeks. Point ? You can't take one case and claim it's the norm.

As far as ACU - I retired at 55. I could not move to Florida full time due to inability to get health insurance because I had a pre existing condition until the ACU was passed. For the few years prior to ACU health insurance with my former employer paying for 50% of mine and $0 for my wife until Medicare was $1650/month our share with a $10000 deductible before anything kicked in - not even mammograms or colonoscopies. After ACU we we able to become Florida residents and procured health insurance through ACU for $400/month. Now I'm on Medicare (socialized medicine) and I think it is the best thing since tab top beer cans. I could write a book about my experiences with bad billing (never once in my favor) prior to Medicare. How about this one - I was being charged $3700 for a CT scan in NYS and had one done in TV for $800 with double the resolution. I would hold out till I was in TV for the winter to get my scans. If I was up north I would fly down to TV simply to get the scan and save boatloads of money. You know who says our system (not Medicare) isn't broken- I'll tell you. The lucky ones that are healthy enough to only use it very infrequently.

[Aloha1]

Two data points: First, in 1980, I was on staff at the American College of Emergency Medicine. Had dinner with two Board members who originally were UK Docs. Asking why they came to the U.S. they both replied "to actually practice medicine". They both felt the UK National Health Service was nothing more than a splint and bandaid system that was failing the citizens while here, true cutting edge medicine could be done.

Second: Was at a board meeting in 1996 in Toronto. One of my colleagues suddenly complained that he couldn't feel his left hand or arm. We took him to the nearest hospital and the diagnosis was a small brain aneurism. He was also told they could schedule him for surgery in about 3 months. Next day he went over the border and had the aneurism clipped. Still with us today.

Bottom line, I prefer a system that allows cutting edge research and medical practice as opposed to any government bureaucrat run system. We do pay for Medicare. It's not free. and that's fine.But that's insurance, not health care.The two should always be separate.

[chet2020]

Interesting, whenever I talk with Canadians about their healthcare plan, they like it.

[oldtimes]

Our Canadian neighbors cannot come because they cannot afford the insurance to leave the country.

[cmj1210]

I for one was saved by being able to use ACA. I have a pre existing condition and it was a lifesaver. It always seems to amaze me that people complain about government healthcare yet almost everyone in The Villages has a government run healthcare. It’s called Medicare.