After I watched Michael Moores’ SICKO way back when, I did find it interesting as to why the US has such a different health care system than the Canada. I mean, really.. some things in life (this is my opinion) are much more important than money… the biggest one.. is health! And if someone is sick.. they should be treated!
Don’t get me wrong however, in the US.. the common consensus is that if you go into the hospital with a headache, they’re checking you out for a brain tumor before you leave.. whereas here in Canada.. they’ll send you home with some Tylenol. That is a huge generalization of course, but like most things in that documentary.. if even 25% of it is true.. it’s scary. The Medicare supplement companies in the US offer extended benefits which I don’t believe Canadians have to worry about.. but I do know a lot of people whom are having tough times making ends meet when they have to pay for their medications, etc. It really sucks.. that’s why I pray to stay healthy!
I found this article online and it offers a little insight to the Presidents thinking:
ABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports: President Obama defended Canada’s health care system as one that works for them, not the US and pushed back against critics who attempt to use Canada’s health care system as a boogeyman to scare those away from his calls for reform.
At a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Harper, and Mexican President Calderon, following their trilateral meetings in Guadalajara, Mexico today, Obama said that while the Canadian system is often used as a “boogeyman” in the US debate over reform, he does not find the Canadian’s version of providing health insurance all that scary.
“I’ve said that the Canadian model works for Canada,” Obama said, “It would not work for the United States, in part simply because we’ve evolved differently. We have a employer-based system and a private-based health care system that stands side-by-side with Medicare and Medicaid and our Veterans Administration health care system. And so, we’ve got to develop a uniquely American approach to this problem.”
Canada’s single-payer, publicly funded model of health care has been used as a political football domestically by critics of Mr. Obama’s. Groups like Patient United Now have put up ads to give dire warnings about the negatives of Canada’s health care system, having first person testimonials of long waits and refusals for treatment, connecting those problems to the administration’s proposals.
Mr. Obama, standing on stage with the Canadian Prime Minister said that he doesn’t anticipate that tactics to demonize his Northern neighbors system will stop soon, but made it clear he does not agree with the characterization.
“I suspect that you Canadians will continue to get dragged in by those who oppose reform, even though I’ve said nothing about Canadian health care reform. I don’t find Canadians particularly scary, but I guess some of the opponents of reform think that they make a good boogeyman. I think that’s a mistake.”
Obama said the debate going on in over the best way to move forward with health care reform the US right now is healthy.
Mr. Obama said once Congress comes back in the fall and people are able to look at the actual legislation that is being proposed that a “more sensible and reasoned” argument will start to take over and then reform will be passed this year.
-Sunlen Miller
The issue is actually government wanting to set prices for Health Care. The way they will do it is by regulation and subsidy. We all know that when you make something more difficult, fewer people will want to do it. That creates scarcity and raises prices. So then to make things affordable they will subsidize it. We all know that when you subsidize things they get more expensive. So we will all be paying more for fewer services.
The correct way to go about this is to expect individuals to enforce prices. Give the money directly to the individual to spend on the doctor and he will find the cheapest best care. Competition drives prices lower and services higher. Right now with the government and insurance companies setting prices and stopping services from being competitive prices rise with inflation instead of drop due to innovation.
Take Lasik eye surgery for example…Insurance does NOT cover it… prices DROPPED big time and the service has improved greatly. If there was no profit motive there would not be innovation and competition to bring prices down.
There is a right way to do everything, and if the nation wants health care for everyone, we must focus on reducing prices. Competition is the only way prices come down. If government sets prices services go down. If government subsidizes, prices go up. So give everyone in the country Health Savings accounts with $2000/annually , and let the individual come up with the best plan for their own health. And get the insurance companies out of paying for normal doctor visits. Obviously give more to disabled. Imagine if individuals could save up more in their account if they keep themselves healthy? Preventive medicine in the form of capital preservation. Perfect economic sense.
That's a really great response you've written.. thanks for taking the time.
Totally agree with you about the Lasik eye surgery example and reducing prices.
That's a really great response you've written.. thanks for taking the time.
Totally agree with you about the Lasik eye surgery example and reducing prices.