What?! You mean if you're rich in Canada, you can buy your way into good health? And the poor who can't afford it will be left holding the bags? Sounds like the US, right?
Not at all. But I'll let Illuminatus explain it:
SallyNow is referring, I think, to things like optometrist's services, which are covered in some provinces, and covered for children in the rest. It's also worth pointing out that insurance for these services is significantly cheaper than in the United States. (I pay approximately $200/year for optical, dental, and prescription drug coverage.)
And of course, many provinces cover prescription drugs if a person is, for instance, a student, or has fixed income.
Optical and dental are also covered when it comes to emergency services by most provincial plans, some also cover basic opitical check-ups and a certain limit on optical gear every few years.
Considering how many not-for-profit reproductive health centres there are in the USA... no. It doesn't seem so. Many women have to rely on services such as Planned Parenthood, and then worry how their child will be cared for after he or she is born. Some insurance plans in the USA also have the habit of both denying birth control payments and denying comprehensive prenatal care.
Sorry, an apologetics article about why the American infant mortality rate is so high simply proves the point.
Then you're lucky. You better thank your lucky star.
I don't have to thank luck. I have the system to thank. Everyone I know can get access to a qualified medical professional in a timely way without going to the USA.
It's not perfect, and there are better alternatives (such as Germany's health care system) but it's worth keeping and improving.
You're brushing the issue. More and more are seeking treatment in the private sectors in Canada and also going to the US. It's not for facelift, either. Private sectors are supposed to be illegal in Canada, isn't it? But more and more people are going to them. Why?
Here are some more misconceptions about the Canadian system.
The issue of private sector healthcare in Canada is far from clearcut. It's actually an issue that many provinces are wrestling with.
There are some user-pay services. They deal with secondary services or services that are not necessary for quality of life. For instance, if someone needs physiotherapy for a sports injury, they can easily go to a physiotherapy clinic, some of which is covered by healthcare.
However, if they decide they want surgery, and it's not a necessary one at all, they will be put on the bottom of the list at the orthopedic surgeon so that those with real life-changing injuries can get treatment first. The people with minor ailments are the people who are often the loudest in complaining. However, in some provinces they are free to go to sports clinics with user fees if they want to get the surgery.
LOL. That's because what I am saying is true and you can't refute that. I dare you come down to the ghettos and look around to see what cars they are driving. They drive nicer cars than I do and I make good money. How is that possible I kept asking myself?
First off, I wonder why Americans pay so much more than so many others in the developed world for the same basic services.
I can refute what you are saying. How? Well, let's see:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/health/2007-09-11-insurance_N.htm
$12,000 for a family. That's a lot.
That's more than a quarter of the median income of a typical American family:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States#Median_income
And Section 8 housing can only be offered to those making less than 50% of the median, therefore, they probably make less than $22,000:
http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2353&q=305208
So, if 30% of their income is going to housing -$7,000 a year - and then food - $100 a week, or $5200 a year - and $100 gas/month on the low end - $1200 - how can they possibly have money to buy Mercedes and BMWs in high volumes?
In other words, $13,400 goes to basic needs. How can they then have money for these BMW's and Mercedes? And moreover, how does that leave $12,000 for health insurance?
I do not doubt that some people cheat the system, but they are the minority.
That's what I thought. So, not every human are not worthwhile, then. You don't have to try to explain it to me. I am just pointing out the contradiction of your argument.
What? Please stop twisting my words. I never said anything of the kind.
America is a great nation which is why it is surprising that, despite state-of-the-art technology and world-class facilities and world-class medical training, it sometimes has a problem actually getting the medical resources to those who need it most.