Canada vs. US health care: Canadians live longer, pay less
Need we say more?
It’s hard to sit up here in Canada, addicted to American cable news as we are, watching the US health care reform debate play out. It doesn’t take a genius to see that the insurance industry has deployed a well-financed campaign of misinformation, obfuscation and doubt to put the fear of god (or in this case, Obama) into all those angry gun-totin’, real Americans – most of whom are probably un- or under-insured. I mean, from this vantage point, you can practically feel the US insurance industry pressing their boots deeper into the throats of sick Americans, grabbing at their patient’s increasingly thin wallets while their victims call the guy who’s trying to save them a traitor and a nazi.
But what really grinds our gears here at CIB is the slander that is being flung at the Canadian health care system by lackies and shills and this nutbar. Not only does our beloved Canadian health care system manage to keep Canadians living healthier and longer than the corrupt American system, but it costs about half as much per person than the yankee system to do so. And we love it – 85% of Canadians are satisfied with their system. And no Canadians ever go broke for getting sick. Ever.
For the benefit of our confused American brothers and sisters, Canada is Better is pleased to present our humble offering to the health care debate – a simple infographic which we hope will enlighten anti-reformers (read FoxNews viewers) on the folly of their ways. Put down the assault rifle and give it a read. And here’s a PDF version in case you want to print it out for your weaker, ailing friends.
January 15th, 2011 at 2:45 am
I agree, Canada is better and I am trying to move there. I love the people and the land. You have a great country
April 20th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
You are right about insurance industry and their grip on Washington. Our corrupt politicians are not going to change health care system any time soon. I pay $480 a month for “Catastrophic” insurance for my family. Insurance has $5000 deductible per family member (so X4 =$20 000 a year max. Every time I go to see my doctor I pay $35 copay and i can see my doctor max 4 times a year. After that I have to pay 100% of the cost. All services even after deductible are covered at 80% so I have to fork 20% even after paying $5000 deductible. Some services are covered only 50% and some not at all. Better insurance will cost about $1200 a month. And who can afford that? Anyone that lives in USA knows this and yet you can always hear ignorant idiots that say “Canadians are going to USA since their health care have long wait and to survive long wait times they need to go to USA. BS. Which Canadians are these? 1 out of 5000? If any. If you get seriously sick in USA insurance companies will find a way to deny your claim and will dump your coverage ASAP like a hot potato. Is that happening in Canada? I don’t think so. Once they drop your coverage and you are seriously sick you are done. Only option left is to sue insurance company and you can imagine what your chances look like. They have best and most aggressive lawyers and you can’t afford to fight them. So you die in peace as nobody will help you. Americans are robed and terrorized by most corrupt and inhumane health system in the developed world and it will stay this way for foreseeable future as nobody here has any will or power to change things. You Canadians are blessed with humane, civilized and reasonable medical system that you can be proud of. If I could I would move to live in Canada in a heart beat.
September 12th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
Bill,
Before you go telling Canadians they are blessed with a humane,civilized medical system you should know that people in Canada have few rights .So if you injured by a doctor you will have to most likely suck it up.Good luck getting tests to find out how much damage you have.A study in Ontario showed 99 percent of complaints are investigated in secret.So much swept under the rug..YOU have no idea.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
Donna – sure, Canadian courts don’t allow for the huge payouts that US courts do when suing your doctor for malpractice. But you’re focusing on the minute fraction of cases where the patient was hurt by a doctor. What about the huge overwhelming majority of cases where for decades Canadians have received top-notch care without ever having to worry about negotiating with an insurance company – or for that matter – without ever having to open a bill? That’s the humane, civilized medical system that Bill was talking about. The one that keeps Canadians living longer and healthier lives than our American neighbours – all under a single payer system that works quite nicely in 99.99% of all cases.
And this Ontario study you’re talking about? If you’ve got the goods – post a link and we’ll read it. If not, then you’re just blowing smoke and it’s you who should be swept under the rug.
Our health care is better, Donna. It just is.