“They have a hybrid public/private health insurance system.”
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From what I understand, they have a system like that in Sweden, I believe.
Canada really needs to look into that. For some ridiculous reason, they have made it illegal to buy private insurance, leading to long wait times, etc.
They act like a jealous sibling to the U.S. who is acting out, not wanting anything to do with the bigger sibling’s system (formerly private insurance).
A hybrid system eases the pressure.
I once had to wait 12 hours in the emergency room with my crying 18-month old daughter who had a painful ear infection. I went up to the nurse and said, in my terrible French, “no one has been called to see a doctor in at least an hour. What’s going on?”
The nurse said, “The doctor is at dinner.”
I said, “This is a hospital! Are you telling me there are no other doctors that can see us?”
I turned around to the crowd and said, “Why do you people put up with this?”
Well, within ten minutes, my daughter was seen. :)
Canadians just put up with it. I have no idea why.
Canadians are proud of their politeness. But the flip side is docility, passivity and spineless conformity.
[[I once had to wait 12 hours in the emergency room with my crying 18-month old daughter who had a painful ear infection.]]
I knew folks that damn near died after contracting infections for basic operations in canada- they couldn’t get in to see a doc- came very close to dying- they were very sick- one person faced that same crap twice- lucky ot even be alive now-