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And I know someone who spent 18 months in total agony, waiting for knee replacement surgery. (A recent case, BTW) The average wait for surgery is 17.9 weeks.
http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/shared/readmore.asp?sNav=pb&id=705

Most proponents of the health care monopoly -- including our previous Liberal Health Minister, want to close those private clinics down.

The insurance I'm referring to would actually pay for a treatment you need, when you need it. If it were no different than what we have now -- why would it be prohibited on the basis of "creating a two-tiered health care system"?

If you can pay out of pocket for a service in the U.S. -- why are you not allowed to do so in Canada?

If the public health care monopoly is so great -- why are proponents so afraid of allowing any competition?

In the absence of any competition, how do you know that our system is the best possible system?

The possibility that competitors would skim the youngest and healthiest people, and leave the public system to treat the oldest and sickest; has long been one of the main rationales for maintaining a monopoly. Now, we see signs that the public monopoly is moving toward skimming -- and leaving the oldest and sickest without treatment. Rationing through waiting lists was tried (and still exists) -- now, it seems there is a movement toward rationing by targeting specific client types. These people are first demonized -- not worthy of treatment, because of poor behaviour. Even though I'm not fat, nor a smoker, nor a boozer -- I'm still concerned about this trend. Partly, because I don't think it's ethical; partly because I don't know where it'll end (who's going to be added to the list next); and partly because of self-interest (I want to be able to access treatment when I get old).

Even though I'm not fat, nor a smoker, nor a boozer -- I'm still concerned about this trend...

I'm a little confused. You're initial beef had to do with the
apparent trend of doctors cherry-picking the healthier lifestyle
folks and giving them preference over the fat slobs, smokers and boozers.
Then you claim that you are a victim of this trend even though
you aren't a fat slob, smoker or boozer...
Are you an exception to the rule, or are you in denial about your weight
and alcohol problem???