Why Canadian Healthcare is BETTER than the USA
HEALTH CARE:
In 2002 estimates suggest that health care spending will be over 14% of GDP in the USA, while Canadian costs were expected to be 9.3% of GDP. YES CHEAPER.
While health care spending as a % of GDP is expected to rise to close to 16% in the USA in the next few yrs, in Canada it has been fairly stable for much of the last DECADE.
While there is little question that AMerican doctors and hospitals for the most part have better average access to CAT scans, MRI units, up to date radiation therapy, Canada is beginning to catch up. Yes there are problems in Canada that need to be solved but they are no where NEAR the severity of problems in the USA, especially for the lowest 40% of earners, the POOR and UNEMPLOYED.
United Nations Figures:
-In terms of Infant Death Rates (per 1000 live births) Canada fluctuates within the top 5
while the USA is tied for 29th place.
-Canadians on avg live to be 79 years old. Americans 76.
-In 1999 the # of poor children without health insurance increased by more than 350,000
to reach over 12 MILLION, while some 50,000 Americans lost their life savings because
of medical bills. And in Canada, health care is FREE.
-There are 44 million Americans right now without health insurance and another 39million with poor quality or inadequate. At the same time premiums continue to climb
and employers have begun to cut benifets to workers. In California, Full coverage for 2 parents and 2 children cost approx $7400 a year. In Canada, this is none of our concern.
And yes I know we pay it through taxes
-****Yes waiting lines in Canada tend to be longer, but in the USA MILLIONS, yes MILLIONS of Americans never even get to be on a waiting list because they have NO INSURANCE.
-37% of Unemployed Americans are uninsured, and 14% of the general population. Everyone in Canada no matter if you have a job or not has equal health care.
-In the USA because of private health care the bureaucracy is enourmous. Boston vs. Toronto, in Boston a hospital will have 317 people working in the Billing department, in Toronto there are 17 people. And dont say "it increases jobs", even though it does, if your an American, YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUMS are paying those wages. And thats ONE hospital.
-In a national poll only 18% of all Americans said they were satisfied with their system. hmm might that be the rich 18%?
If your going to read any of this read this part.
What would happen to you if you lived in the USA and got cancer, or any other serious illness and didnt have insurance? Or if you DID have insurance and were told which doctor you HAD to see? Or if your doctor was told by the HMO that X-rays you needed wouldnt be paid for? Or if the doctor you were ASSIGNED to was incompetent or indifferent? Or if you qualify for Medicaid but you cant find a doctor who will take you because Medicaid pays such low fees?
In the USA "uncomplicated" open-heart surgery can cost $50,000-$70,000. a Complicated one can cost around half a MILLION BUCKS.
Numerous studies show that private hospitals are more expensive than public ones and that patients in private hospitals have a higher risk of DYING than in non-profit hospitals.
Every country with a national health insurance plan spends FAR LESS $$ than the Usa, the USA example is NOT to be copied, but to be shunned.
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