I apologize for hijacking this real estate forum to ask a non real estate question but I have a question that can only be answered by our friends to the north and I appreciate any answers.

Here in the states we are having a debate on universal health care and the opponents are using your system to scare us.

Are the horror stories we are hearing about Canadian universal health care system accurate or are you happy with your health care?

I would imagine that there are some exceptions to the rule, but in general people in Canada would be lost without the Health Care System that we have in place. Each resident has a photo ID Health Card that they present when requiring medical attention, whether it is at (any) doctor's office, clinic or hospital, the choice is theirs alone.

The ID Card ensures that the patient is covered under medical insurance and that their treatment will be paid for by the medical plan and pre-existing illnesses, etc. have no bearing on the coverage whatsoever.

People with low incomes can also obtain their prescriptions free of charge and is a necessity to many senior citizen living on a fixed pension income.

I am familier with the insurance coveraged I had while living in California and believe me that Canada has the better coverage also the coverage extrends from the cradle to the grave.

The situation reminds of the time when the insurance companies in the State of Massessatutes justified their ever increasing rates for auto insurance because they claimed that because of the high number of claims, that it was a money losing area of insurance. But when the state government proposed that they take over the auto insurance business, the insurance companies spent millions to defeat that proposition.

When I lisiten to those that oppose universal health care, I can only conclude that they don't know what they are talking about... or they have a hidden agenda.

Insurance Companies do not like competition and they have deep pockets.

Why don't they ever talk about the German health care system?
Because, it probably is better than most countries that are held up as an example to US citizens.
No health care system is perfect. But look at health statistics and results that mean something for the overall population instead of political beliefs and individual benefits, and I think we will have a society that will be more productive and competitive.

It's worth listening to President Obama's address to Congress this past Wednesday to understand what the Republican opposition is attempting to do. Just punch in the phrase in Google et al.
Certainly, no system is perfect and the Canadian one has its faults and failures now and then. On the whole, though, it's efficient and effective and streets ahead of the US set up, be it the existing one or any proposed changes to it. The scare tactics being used against improving what the US has are just that -- scare tactics.
Interestingly, a current survey among Canadians shows that some 70% of us reckon that the US would be considerably ahead if they simply copied what we have here. But don't expect Fox News or any of its kind to mention this fact. Hey, they've even brainwashed your president into dismissing any thought of switching to what we have.
But also -- please, please, pretty please -- do take note that you pay more than anyone else does in the civilized world and your health isn't one jot the better for it.

Duncan

As fairly conservative person, do I believe that we have the best health care. No. Do I believe its better than the American system overall. Absolutely. What about the american horror stories of the uninsured or the cost of the insurance?

Good luck with the health care down there among other things.

I believe most western nations have universal health care with
the US being the exception. Personally I have only had good
experiences with out health care system.

Having just had my car bashed into and suffered a serious
concussion I have not enjoyed dealing with the insurance
company at all, even though I'm not at fault and have never
made a claim in 25 years. The insurance company is looking
for the cheapest way out of there commitment and are far
more experienced at this than me. This is not fun at all
when compared to visiting a hospital or local doctor.

Have any of you had life threatning issues or loved ones who have? A concussion is a serious issue Hunter, but I mean a mortal condition, open heart surgery, cancer, etc. If so, what is your experience about access to treatment and how timely was it?

Personally, I love my insurance company. I will continue to pay them, even after my rates have gone much higher. They paid to save the life of my daughter. I am a biased I admit. But I will never return to them in premiums the amount they paid to the most excellent medical care we had available to my baby girl. And in the next room we had a medicaid patient getting identical care. For those up in Canada, that means my daughter's neighbor was uninsured (privately).

As much as I hate participating in a thread necro, I feel compelled to comment.

As a Canadian I have no issues with our health care system. When I have to take my kids emergancy we are seen right way, when friends or family have had serious illness they have had surgery or treatment in short order.

Of course there are problems with every system in the world and Canadian health care is not exception. In Canada if you don't have a critical situation you may end up waiting for a few hours in an emergency room or months on a waiting list.

However note that in Canada we spend approx 2/3's of what the US does on health care. If in Canada we spent the same amount of money on health care as the US, most these wait time and other problems would go away.

I was intially concerned when I first heard the US was going to reform there health care system. Since I view our Health Care as a competitive advange we have over the US when foreign companies want to invest in North America. However, I'm not concerned any more since the US reform may be an improvement on the old system, but it is still messed up.

Bottom line however is that the average Canadian lives longer than the average American.

I agree with Kjmendy.. Every country has an issue with their health care system. Sometimes it all depends on the situation of the patient, sometimes giving the assistance is right a way sometimes this doesn't happened.