Canadians are probably quite worried at these developments. Where will they have left to go for timely, quality health care treatment instead of waiting lists for things like MRIs and other basic diagnostics?
Yet, before President Obama has even announced any changes, we are seeing expansions of health care entitlements that were added into the economic stimulus package. These changes are incrementally leading us into an expanding national health care program. Once these entitlements are in place, it is unlikely they will be rescinded.
If your doctor suspects that you have a brain tumor, do you want to wait four months for a MRI?
Actually, as a Canadian, I would just say that we are generally extremely proud of our health care system, even as we recognize room for improvement. Whenever we learn about the American health care system, we tend to be shocked at how much we have taken for granted.
Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, I guess, Chike. I wouldn’t stand for a system which might make me wait four months for an MRI. Around here, it’s maybe four days… and that’s at the charity hospital.
The American system is being demonized for political reasons, but what goes unsaid is the reason we spend so much more on health care is primarily that we demand more. Well, that and we develop the drugs and technology for most of the rest of the world, and that’s pricey. But from an end-user standpoint, we demand a lot more than people in other countries; our expectations are quite high. When I’m sick enough to want to go to the doctor, I call and get an appointment usually within a few hours but no later than the next business day. I go and wait on average ten minutes, see the doc, if I get a prescription I can drop it off and then pick up the meds an hour later. If further testing is required, it’s usually done the same day or within a few days…. none of this is typical according to Canadians I know. But if we Americans get such a “free” system rammed down our throats, once they see what it means in terms of rationing you’ll hear the howls – just open your window.