Canadian Health Care System Bad Model for USA

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 3-10-10 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

A government retiree from Wentzville, Mo., expressed deep reservations about ObamaCare based, in part, on his own daughter’s experience living in Canada.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

During an interview prior to the health care town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) this morning in St. Charles, Mo., I spoke with Joe DeVincent, a government retiree from nearby Wentzville, about the prospects of government-run health care (a.k.a., “ObamaCare”). He expressed deep reservations about ObamaCare based, in part, on his own daughter’s experience as the wife of a Canadian citizen living north of the border.

INTERVIEW VIDEO

“She doesn’t like it at all,” he said. “You can’t see doctors when you want to see doctors. The few doctors that are even practicing there, their business is just so full...

“One time, my wife and I went with her to see her primary care physician. She had an appointment, and it took three hours to get in. The waiting room was just so jammed, because nobody one can see doctors there.

“The doctors only work until they’ve made a certain amount of money. When they make that amount of money, they don’t get paid anymore,” he continued. “We definitely don’t need this system in the United States."

The problem is so bad, he said, that his daughter has been forced to come to the United States on more than one occasion.

A fix, he said, would be new legislation that gave everyone the same coverage.

“If they want to put a health plan in, make it everybody, including Congressmen, senators, the president, everybody falls in that plan. Then, they’ll put one in there that’ll work.”

Asked if he thought it would ever happen, he was doubtful.

“It’ll never happen. They’re gonna take care of themselves and, if this goes in, we’re gonna suffer.”

[max americana]

Of course the canadian HC system is a model for all Americans.

Just ask the Premier of Newfoundland...

[Former Proud Canadian]

I know I'm going to get flamed, but here goes.

I don't know where this person lives, but where I live there are plenty of doctors. There are doctors who are advertising for patients.

That said, I do not advocate "Canadian style health care" for the US. It would not work.

Please be advised also that "Obamacare" is not anywhere near "Canadian style health care". It is closer to Cuban or Soviet health care. Good luck with that.

[BenKenobi]

Out here, that’s not the case. I’m glad I’ve got a family member who’s a doctor.

But, if I need to see him, it’s still, wait 2 weeks for an appt, and then, like you said, 3 hours of waiting in the room until you get to see him.

[Former Proud Canadian]

I don’t know where you are. I had a sick kid (well he’s 23 but still my kid) in September. I had three choices, a clinic, the University clinic, or the family doctor. We went to the family doctor’s office without an appointment. We got in within 30 minutes.

[BillM]

Aha, the family doctor! In Canada this is the gatekeeper to the system. If you have one (20% of the population doesn't and can't find one) every access to the system goes through him/her. That's why that 3 hour wait. If you have a mole or wart that you want looked at you must see a GP who will then attempt to make an appointment with a dermatologist - 2-6 months.

The average wait with an appointment is probably 2 hours. The average contact time with the family doctor will be 7 minutes. In that time he will take your blood pressure, glance at the notes from your last visit and give you a requisition for the lab. You are not permitted to go to a lab on your own to reduce the time and number of visits.

If you have a true (triage makes the decision) emergency the system works here. Otherwise, it is an incredible pain in the ass. It IS the post office taking care of your health!

[BenKenobi]

I live in a town of 80k in northern canada.