Coming Soon To America: A Two-Tiered, Canadian-Style Health Care System

Forbes ^ | 05/25/2013 | John Goodman

[SeekAndFind]

I believe we are moving toward two different health systems. In one, patients will be able to see doctors promptly. They will talk to physicians by phone and email. They will have no difficulty scheduling needed surgery. If they have to go into a hospital, a “hospitalist” (who reports to them and not to the hospital administration) will be there to make sure their interests are looked after. They may even have an independent agency that reviews their medical records, goes with them when they meet with specialists, and gives them advice on every aspect of their care.

In the other system, waiting times will grow for almost everything ― to get appointments with physicians, to get tests, to obtain elective surgery, etc. Patients may find that they don’t have access to the best doctors or the best hospitals. They may find that the facility where they are treated does not have the latest technology. In terms of waiting times and bureaucratic hassles, health care for these patients may come to resemble the Canadian system. It may become even worse than the Canadian system.

The evolution toward a two-tiered system was already under way before Barack Obama became president. But ironically, the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is accelerating the pace of change. It is doing so in four ways.

First, ObamaCare is supposed to insure 32 million additional people by this time next year. If the economic studies are correct, these newly insured will try to consume twice as much medical care as they have been. In addition, most of the rest of us will be forced to have more generous coverage than we previously had. There will be a long list of preventive services that all plans will be required to cover, with no deductible and no copayment ―

[pugmama]

I am a former Canadian living here. My opinion is it depends on the province you are in. Alberta seems to be improving re joint replacement. Not so good with CT scans and MRIs-there are very long delays.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Alberta+joint+replacement+wait+times+improve/8122566/story.html

[Truth29]

"What worries me is that is going to be more a social system - if you work for the Government or its subsidiaries, you get get the best health care. Otherwise, peons who work for a living get share miserable health care with those who do not, AND pay for their health care to boot."

How about one where if you have connections or are important to the Regime, you get first tier care, but if you are not connected or, worse, oppose the Regime, you get bottom tier designed to reduce or eliminate your category of opposition. Party Card Comrade?

[combat_boots]

Interesting, isn’t it? They think themselves immune.

[ThunderSleeps]

Given the scandals and mindset surrounding the commies in control now... I’d guess the two tiers will be “liberal fascists (aka democrats)” and then “everyone else.” With maybe a special sub-category for TEA party people, CC permit holders, etc. being even lower - trying to kill us off.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

bkmk

[Gay State Conservative]

Given my advancing age (much closer to the grave than to the cradle),my curiosity and my copious free time I've decided to dig deep into Canada's health care system,focusing at first on waiting times,as discovered on official government websites and in reliable Canadian publications.I don't know how long you've been here...and away from Canada...but although Canadians and Brits seem to be resigned to waiting for months (or longer) for vital treatments I,as a lifelong American who's quite familiar with our current health system,can assure you that our people will not tolerate waiting months...or even weeks...for treatments for which we currently wait hours.The fireworks that result will be,shall we say,noteworthy.

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