Badassbab said:
HappySqurriel said:
Badassbab said:
Healthcare spending in the developed world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_system
As you can see the US Government spends far less on healthcare compared to other developed countries relying more on the private sector and yet it's also far less efficient. What a shame. With the size of the US GDP it should have had by far the best healthcare system in the world if it had a universal healthcare system in place like all other advanced nations. But unfortunately due to the lobbying and buying out of US politicians by the medical insurance lobby as well as those ideologically opposed to any idea of helping out others using the State (though not opposed when it comes to other services such as the Police, Fire fighters, Postal Service etc), many Americans are suffering as a result. |
Universal healthcare is fantastic unless you actually need healthcare ...
I don't have a primary care physician because (almost) no GP within 100 KM is accepting new patients, and if I need to see a doctor it is (usually) a 4 to 8 hour wait at the local clinic. For similar reasons my 1 year old nephew doesn't have a pediatrician, and he has been on a waiting list since before he was born. I have a friend who broke their arm tobogganing and spent 6 hours in the ER before seeing a doctor, and my father spent 3 years waiting on a variety of waiting lists to get through the process of getting knee replacement surgery.
In Canada the Universal Healthcare system has brought about significant equality among the masses by making it equally poor for everyone who is not super wealthy or well connected.
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In all countries around the world poor or advanced, there is the private option to take out if you want. Doesn't cost an arm or a leg in the UK and compliments our NHS quite well. Presumably you can take out private care in Canada as well. Also based on the figures I provided, despite what you say the Canadian healthcare system is still a lot more efficient than the US equivalent.
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While private healthcare isn't illegal in Canada, except for a handful of private clinics that provide care for well connected (often politicians), private healthcare has effectively been banned under the Canadian health act; and efforts to increase access to healthcare through privately paid for or delivered healthcare are often met by threats to remove federal funding to the province that initiates the changes.
Although, in a round about way, Canadains can pay for healthcare by traveling to the United States, India, Mexico and several other popular destinations which (often) provide a better quality of care at a lower price with shorter wait times.
