02-14-2021, 10:43 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-14-2021, 01:26 PM by Patrick.
Edit Reason: spelling
)
I happen to be a Canadian seeker. 
I can share some personal experiences related to our Universal Healthcare (not free healthcare) and some more general opinions as well.
After loosing 110lbs of extra weight, I had to get an abdominoplasty done. This sort of thing can become a health issue if blood circulation is impacted too much within the loose skins, but that was not the case for me. If it is not an health issue then it is considered just plastic surgery. Thus it makes it low priority on the queue of surgeries. I would have waited about 2 years for something like that to be done. So instead I chose to pay myself a private surgeon to have it done within weeks.
It is my understanding that in the USA, this would have played out similarly since health insurances generally do not cover what is considered aesthetic surgeries. BUT with a glaring difference, in Canada you would still have gotten it "free" if willing to wait for your turn.
Now on the more general side of things, the wait times within our healthcare system are a bit longer than the USA, but never to a point where your health is threatened. If you have cancer for example, you're going to be handled in the same way as in the USA. It does get more murky the further away you are from being a priority. For example, if you want to consult a specialist for a skin issue, you might have to wait a couple weeks.
But in the end, if you had a choice in between waiting a couple weeks while ensuring that everyone in your society has access to healthcare or instead waiting just a couple days if you're in the lucky ones having access. I know what I would chose. So I support and greatly appreciate our system. Yes I do lose about 55% of my income in taxes of all kinds (including a 35% income tax) and about half of government spending goes to healthcare. But I am glad to do my part so that NO ONE ever has to worry about healthcare coverage.
It should also be noted that the USA pays a great deal more money for the same health services that Canada does. The fact that in the USA Healthcare is a for-profit adventure ensures this.
I can share some personal experiences related to our Universal Healthcare (not free healthcare) and some more general opinions as well.
After loosing 110lbs of extra weight, I had to get an abdominoplasty done. This sort of thing can become a health issue if blood circulation is impacted too much within the loose skins, but that was not the case for me. If it is not an health issue then it is considered just plastic surgery. Thus it makes it low priority on the queue of surgeries. I would have waited about 2 years for something like that to be done. So instead I chose to pay myself a private surgeon to have it done within weeks.
It is my understanding that in the USA, this would have played out similarly since health insurances generally do not cover what is considered aesthetic surgeries. BUT with a glaring difference, in Canada you would still have gotten it "free" if willing to wait for your turn.
Now on the more general side of things, the wait times within our healthcare system are a bit longer than the USA, but never to a point where your health is threatened. If you have cancer for example, you're going to be handled in the same way as in the USA. It does get more murky the further away you are from being a priority. For example, if you want to consult a specialist for a skin issue, you might have to wait a couple weeks.
But in the end, if you had a choice in between waiting a couple weeks while ensuring that everyone in your society has access to healthcare or instead waiting just a couple days if you're in the lucky ones having access. I know what I would chose. So I support and greatly appreciate our system. Yes I do lose about 55% of my income in taxes of all kinds (including a 35% income tax) and about half of government spending goes to healthcare. But I am glad to do my part so that NO ONE ever has to worry about healthcare coverage.
It should also be noted that the USA pays a great deal more money for the same health services that Canada does. The fact that in the USA Healthcare is a for-profit adventure ensures this.
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