Universal Healthcare - Reality of Canada's System

cul over at Ratboy's Anvil links to "Mythbusting Canadian Health Care Part I". It lists 10 complaints/assumptions/what-have-you that many throw up to scare Americans away from universal healthcare. I have looked for such succinct information on Canada's system and I loved the way this article addressed each issue.

I had no clue as to the cost of Canada's system for a family. $100/mo for basic coverage and when they say basic, it's not the same as when we say basic let me tell you. Add coverage for the rest of it through private insurance and it's another $300/mo for a family (if you pay individually - cheaper as a group)! $400 total! And that's for the whole enchilada!

If you've ever had a serious health issue in your family, you may know the fear of being denied coverage and specialized care. When my youngest son was born 3 months premature with hydrocephalus and hyperthyroidism secondary to my Graves Disease, I was so thankful my husband's company (Microsoft) covers absolutely everything. We received bills from the hospitals that totalled almost $600K. /choke! A 15 minute visit from a specialist can cost you a few thousand dollars! Microsoft paid the whole bill - we didn't even have a copay. (This is why my husband remains a loyal employee even though other opportunities have come along btw.) But most folks aren't that fortunate. If you have the common 80/20 plan, your 20% of that bill would have been $120K. I think folks who have never had a big hospitalization or treatment really don't have a clue about the cost of healthcare in this country. That's what makes it so easy for them to denounce those that file bankruptcy after a big health issue because they don't fully comprehend the actual costs. They're thinking a few thousand, not tens or hundreds of thousands, as your percentage. Then to top that off, insurance companies put caps on individuals. You reach that million dollar in services cap, you may be denied coverage. (I believe they are raising the cap to 1.5 or 2 million.) Who needs that kind of stress on top of the stress of the health issue? It's just wrong and inhumane. We need and must demand universal healthcare in this country.

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