Posted on 09/26/2009 8:35:04 PM PDT by Steelfish
In Canada, A Move Toward A Private Healthcare Option
In British Columbia, private clinics and surgical centers are capitalizing on patients who might otherwise pay for faster treatment in the U.S. The courts will consider their legality next month.
By Kim Murphy September 26, 2009
Reporting from Vancouver, Canada - When the pain in Christina Woodkey's legs became so severe that she could no long hike or cross-country ski, she went to her local health clinic. The Calgary resident was told she'd need to see a hip specialist. Because the problem was not life-threatening, however, she'd have to wait about a year.
So wait she did. In January, the hip doctor told her that a narrowing of the spine was compressing her nerves and causing the pain. She needed a back specialist. The appointment was scheduled for Sept. 30.
"When I was given that date, I asked when could I expect to have surgery," said Woodkey, 72. "They said it would be a year and a half after I had seen this doctor."
So earlier this month, she drove across the border into Montana and got the $50,000 surgery done in two days.
"I don't have insurance. We're not allowed to have private health insurance in Canada," Woodkey said. "It's not going to be easy to come up with the money. But I'm happy to say the pain is almost all gone."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
PING.
Sounds like America is definitely “going in the wrong direction.”
Awesome news! Stephen Haroer is awesome too. The Canadian libs tried to hijack him winning the election and he smacked them down hard.
PIng
Its not about health care, Its not about insurance. ITS ABOUT POWER!!!
health control
Look.
I was still there in 06 when Harper won, before I moved Stateside. Having Harper compared to the past 2 anti-American prime ministers clowns like Martin and Cretin is like night and day.
What you pay in Vancouver is a “premium” paid monthly to the BC provincial govt, also known as the permission slip to see any doctor. Just like healthcare, car insurance, liquor and beer etc: the govt wants to monopolize everything and be your sole businessman.
Perhaps they’re deriving strength from the resistance demonstrated here in the States.
Yep. I see it.
Woollard said the public system has the nimbleness to provide speedy, quality care to those who truly need it.
“Just six or eight weeks ago, I had a patient come in who needed urgent attention to her knee. She was in severe pain,” he said. “She was seen by a [reviewing] team within a week, and she was slated for surgery that will probably happen in the next two to three months.””
The patient needed urgent attention to her knee and the surgery will happen in two or three months??? Obviously, urgent has a different meaning in Canada.
Note to self—do not get seriously ill in Canada. You may get treated in a few months.
But if you are a corrupt Canadian politician, you jump queue and magically get instant care.
We’ll see what the opinion of all the American lefties clamoring for a one-payer system say when the doctor says they have to wait a year or so before that life-threatening illness can be attended to. We’ll make sure those nuts are always the last ones of the list to get treated. “Oh, sorry you missed your appointment. You have to go to the back of the line, and wait another year.”
bttt
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