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Hi: I have to disagree to a point. First of all, it just doesn't seem right, that some should receive better health care simply because they have more money. I'm not arguing for totally free care for all the poor, just a basic level, although I don't know where I'd draw the line.

Surely, prenatal care and care for new infants should be free along with equal education. Wouldn't that go a long way to helping people become more self sufficient and prosperous?

I agree that socialism generally doesn't work (Sweden is the exception).

You don't have to be poor to live in a poor environment, smoke and drink etc. Wealthy people do that a lot, but can afford rehab and medical care, and I'd guess that most of us here don't eat a proper healthy diet, excercise and are of optimal weight.

Should anyone, regardless of wealth, be eligible for a lung transplant if they smoke, should they be eligible for a new heart if they are obese?

There was a stink last year (in Ontario) about a young man who died in the ambulance, as the emergency dept. close by was full and they were rerouting patients to different hospital. (they do that regularly)
He had a severe asthma attack and died, so it hit the fan in the papers about the lack of funding for hospitals - however, the chap was a heavy smoker. Who was to blame?

Well, you know the conservative gov't took the heat for that -their fault for cutting back funding you know. So, I would say most Canadians feel that no matter what - you get looked after.

Maybe in the US it should be mandatory to carry health insurance, but from what I've heard, its not great, the HMO's are rip of artists and don't pay up etc.

We hear that there are 30 million or so people in the States without health care - and can't get medical attention - is that true? And are all low income people entitled to medicare and prescriptions? cheers

Thanks for your reply. I suspect that most of the people who are moving to Canada won't be eligible for medical care anymore than I was. And we couldn't even pay for it.

I'd also like to comment on your questions to Thommas - In the US, everyone gets care for life threatening conditions. It's a Fed'l law.
Medicaid covers the poor. Particularly children.

We hear that there are 30 million or so people in the States without health care - and can't get medical attention - is that true?

No, that isn't true. The 30 million number is the number without health insurance. Some people choose not to pay for insurance. Some of them are young (20 somethings) who would rather spend money on other things, because they don't usually have high health costs. Some are people who don't believe in medical care for religious reasons. And others are people who live in areas - as I do - where there are plenty of walk-in medical clinics. The costs in the clinics are cheap, and if you don't have any chronic disease, you spend a lot less on medical care in the clinics than you would on insurance.
And, yes, that's one reason why insurance is expensive. People who are generally healthy don't bother. The insured people are the ones with the highest costs.