Canadian universal health care

Hi everyone
I read the posts here everyday and the posts on the Ontario, Canada forum.  The Ontario posters tend to be a lot younger than I am, so  I enjoy being here more.
Yesterday, an American asked people on the Ontario forum to discuss Canadian health care.  There were 30 responses the last time that I looked.  You might benefit from reading what 30 other Canadians (and at least one expat American) have to say.
Have a good day!
Margaret

I swear I don't know why everyone is so up in the air about universal health care.  Every single bit of reserch that I have done indicates that the care that the people get is number one free, and number two very standard of in some cases above standard.  DH pays almost five hundred bucks a month to cover both himself and me and we still pay out of pocket like crazy while we meet our deductable.  Our dental and eye care sucks as does our hearing care.  I cannot believe that middle class and below in this country are fighting so hard to keep everything status quo when they would benefit so much by not having to pay their insurance payments and copayments.  It's like this:  I pay taxes on public schools and don't have children in school; likewise, I pay taxes on the highways and don't really drive that much or enough to do damage.  Why not pay healthcare taxes and be done with it.  No copayments, no out of pocket expense.  Just taxes.  Hell, we are already paying taxes for bombs that are never ever denotated and cheese that is stored in silos.  Okay, I'll stop.

I love when you rant, Jeannie  You always make so much sense.  I think it's the fear of the unknown for most people.  They don't do research, which you love to do , frankly it bores me to do research.

I am not trying to be a smart ass here, but how in the world can you just take someone's word for it.  That's how our country has gotten in the mess it's in now.  Someone said we have to invade Iraq and everyone said okay.  I, for one, want to know what it is and how it works and how it is going to affect me and mine and others before I make an informed consent.  I sure don't rely on the crap going around through the email to get my information.  Girl, read and do your reserach and make your own decision. 

I've only heard, and value the opinions of those who've used the Canadian health care.  They seem to like it for the most part.  I don't feel that I can do anything about what Obama is going to do with our health care.  I'm a fatalist I guess, my opinion isn't going to matter, and there's nothing I can do about it.  I would be in favor of universal health care, but we'll see what happens.

Nothing is free.

I think for most its just better the devil you know. And for me and my hubby we are against it because like most we like our health care just like it is. But it is provided by tricare and at a military installation so I can hardly judge everyone else. I do know my kids pay through the nose, one kid has good coverage the other one has whopping big deductibles every year but they still say they would prefer paying what they do than chancing substandard care for their children.

I wanted to make others aware of what Canadians have to say (those who are on the Ontario forum) because I was asked my opinion on this forum of the Canadian health care system. 

As a Canadian who has lived and worked in both the US and Canada and who had a Masters degree placement in a Detroit hospital, I can tell you that the substandard care that I saw was in the US and not in our universal health care. 

In the next two weeks, I'll have an MRI, an echocardiogram, and a nuclear stress test.  I will not pay for any of these tests; I have not waited to have them done; none of the care that I receive will be substandard.

I say this in an effort to clarify understanding of our health care, which I hope will help others understand our system a little better as I know that there has been a preponderance of misinformation about universal health care in Canada.
Margaret  

Margaret, my husband and I have excellent health care after we pay about 500 dollars a year deductible and even then, we still have to pay a copayment when we go to the doctor or for test.  Since Jan., hubby has shelled out 1500 dollars just in deductibles for his test and copayments.  The fear and propaganda that runs through the united states is usually propagated by the insurance compaines, who have tons to lose if we go universal.  I remember when the insurances took over.  I had been a nurse for about seven years and saw patients being sent home after surgery and mandatory discharges after a set time.  All of that came about because of insurance and not the medical board.  Doctors tried to take control back but insurance companies just black listed them and they were not on the insurances list of doctors and we know what that's like.  So, I am happy to hear positive news about universal care.  I, for one, am looking forward to the government controlling health care.  Right now, insurance controls it and not the doctors.  At least with the federal government, we know that there will be committees made up of both medical people and nonmedical and that they will be regulated.  I am for regulations.  That is not communism but good sense.