Health insurance of the Canucks.
Posted on 07/19/2009 6:34:50 PM PDT by Lorianne
The Canadian health plan remains our most popular government program. However, if we could start over, we could transform a very good system into a great one. Our main obstacle to reform is the very success of the system to date. Politicians admit privately that reforms are needed but they hesitate to speak out. This does not make for thoughtful debate.
Most problems stem from one cause. From the beginning, we ignored advice and made taxes the single source of funding. But there never are sufficient revenues for an open-ended system. This is why we struggle with scarcity of staff and equipment. While the U.S. probably spends too much on health care, Canada needs to spend more. We have to pay the price if we want a first-class system.
Our system, while very good, is due for an upgrade. But it is not realistic to expect Canadian governments to increase their share. Health-care costs have been climbing to the point where they are crowding out other essentials such as education and welfare, which are also important determinants of health and happiness. Increasing taxes is not recommended as Canadians are already overtaxed. If we want our economy to thrive so we can afford these services, we have to be sensitive to these issues.
When the government is the only payer, it rules out market signals that improve service and efficiency. We provide free coverage for minor services so we don't always have enough resources for timely major services. A more sensible system, while excluding no one, would include co-payments for front-end costs up to a reasonable maximum, depending on the patient's ability to pay.
Only an adequately funded universal health plan can protect all of us from major and catastrophic occurrences. But there will never be adequate funding if we continue to rely solely on government to provide for every minor expense.
Co-payments based on income would introduce a new source of funding to remedy this imbalance. It would encourage improved service rather than rationing. It would offer incentives for patients and providers to do the right thing. The more affluent would pay modest co-payments so the system could provide first-class service for all, rich and poor alike. This proposal would set the top co-payment at $2,500 a year for those earning more than $100,000, tapering to zero for those with incomes less than $25,000. In comparison, U.S. private premiums can be $15,000 a year plus co-payments.
Existing levels of tax funding should remain as a floor upon which the system can be upgraded. Funds should be distributed the same way as university funding through an impartial commission. Government's role would then be to set standards, which it can do well, rather than to micromanage, where it is not so good. New revenue based on service provided would create an incentive for hospitals, which now receive global budgets, to provide more timely service rather than rationing it through wait times.
New sources of funding would empower Adam Smith's concept of the invisible hand that matches services with resources. Waiting lists would be reduced as hospitals could use their facilities more efficiently. Surgeons, who now complain of lack of operating room time, could treat more people. Additional funding could make possible a major drug plan and keep pace with best equipment and practices. Surveys have shown that the public, while supporting our system, is aware that it needs upgrading.
(excerpted)
Some interesting admissions in there about Canada's health care system (and taxes).
Read the comments, too. There is some vigorous debate there.
The dumbest statement I've ever read. Well. maybe not. It's sure protected them from hurricanes. Why I've never heard of a hurricane in Canada, come to think of it.
Why is it that most Canadians I’ve met in my life were coming down here for US health care?
No longer will people be able to just cross the border to obtain expensive but otherwise unavailable medical resources to supplement the primitive Canadian system.
Replacing the infrastructure they now make use of in the United States will cost the Canadians hundreds of billions of dollars they do not now have.
Yes, the comments are quite illuminating.
Only an adequately funded universal health plan can protect all of us from major and catastrophic occurrences.
Only in a dream world. Disease and sickness are part of life and will evolve as humans evolve. Major accidents can be reduced but never entirely prevented.
Existing levels of tax funding should remain as a floor upon which the system can be upgraded. Funds should be distributed the same way as university funding through an impartial commission. Government's role would then be to set standards, which it can do well, rather than to micromanage, where it is not so good.
So the taxes would stay the same, but people have to pay out of pocket as well. Great. Oh, and an "impartial commission" -- what planet are they from? Haven't read about that anywhere in human history.
The wonderful Canadian system survives because tens of thousands of Canadians come to the US for services every year. If they didn't the mortality stats would be an outrage.
From what I read there’s nothing wrong with socialized medicine that capitalism couldn’t cure. Sounds like we’re heading in the wrong direction.
This is hilarious. The way to solve the problems with the "free", singlepayer healthcare system is to make another (double) payer help pay for it? You can't make this stuff up. Commie healthcare don't work.
So you're saying the numerous reports we hear of people waiting months for simple tests and surgeries are lying? I read just such a story the other day where a woman and her husband had to spend their life savings getting her life-saving surgery done in the US as her Canadian directed healthcare was basically leaving her to die.
Pardon me, but we don't believe you. Most of us know Canadians, I do for certain, and they have nothing good to say about Canadian health care. Like wise with the few brits we know. All one has to do to find out about the British health care is to read the British papers. Either you are flat out lying or haven't had to actually use Canadian health care.
If this Obama Health Care program passes everyone in the US that has a problem will be jacked up on drugs like Michael Jackson waiting to see a doctor or have an operation like they are now doing in Canada.
You know, we hear different stories from CANADIANS.
Reading the comments just from this story you get so many different views from CANADIANS.
Frankly, Americans don’t know what to believe about Canadian health care. But I wouldn’t blame Hannity (or any other show host) about that. Canadians themselves can’t seem to agree whether their system is good or not.
Look at sign up date. My troll meter just went off the charts.
I don’t believe you for a minute. I don’t know a single Canadian that doesn’t have nightmare stories about it. 7-8 posts and you’re here praising Canada’s heath care. Not buying it for a minute.
Health insurance of the Canucks.
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