Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: geode00 who wrote (262743)	4/25/2008 5:07:13 PM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

>> How many Brits, Canadians, Japanese, French, Taiwanese, Germans want to replace their systems with ours? I would! I have a dual citizenship with Canada and I can tell you despite what you hear, I am much happier with my healthcare here than in Canada. But there is a caveat. I get to have a very good health insurance plan, complements of Wall Street. I think my plan would have cost $4k/yr per family member, if I were to get it on my own. I don't think that is a realistic amount for most Americans. But since I only pay a very small fraction of that, I would not trade it with Canada's system. Canadians have been brainwashed into thinking their system is great. I know from personal experience that it sucks. This is not to say that there is nothing wrong with the US system. As a general rule, Canadian specialists care a lot more for the patient compared to the American ones who tend to look at you mostly as a source of funds to be milked dry. But once you know what to guard against, the US system works better for you (if you have a good insurance) than the Canadian one. All this aside, I have a fundamental problem with the way the Canadian system works, and the problem is one of human rights. In Canada, the government pays for your healthcare and therefore the government gets to decide how much your health is worth and how to prioritize it. As a patient, you do not have the right to undertake whatever expenses towards your healthcare that the government sees as unnecessary. In other words, the government of Canada has made it illegal for you to pay for the healthcare you deem as necessary. THIS IS INSANE!! Now this is not to say that the US system good or even ok, unless you happen to work on Wall Street. But the solution is not the Canadian way either. The proper solution is something in between; the government should define the basic healthcare level under which everyone is covered, and the people should get to pay for whatever extra they want to have. ST

To: geode00 who wrote (262743)	4/25/2008 5:37:47 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

I notice you ignore most of my sources. As for the part you do quote, its the expression of an opinion. I included it to show that even those who think that the other systems are better, still know (if they aren't ignorant or terminally biased) that the other countries have to ration and limit care as well. There is a difference between rationing health care and refusing to pay for available health care. No there isn't. When you ration it you aren't paying for it. If you are someone who goes to the doctors five times a week, there is something seriously wrong that the doctor isn't catching or you need a new hobby and more friends. Hypochondriacs (or people who need a new hobby<g>) are part of the problem, but probably not the main issue. The cost increases at the margin. Its not someone going from once a decade to 5 times a week, its the once a year guy, going to twice a year, the 3 times a year guy changing to quarterly, etc. And its not just (or probably primarily) more visits, but more demand for more expensive treatment or drugs, during or after these visits.