[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: Besides, this "failing socialist nanny state" has quite a bit more personal freedom than we do and they have bested us economically for several quarters (on improvement percentages, not on total economic volume of course). In fact, the only thing "socialistic" I can think of about them is socialized health care, which is obviously serving them better than our piece of crap system is working here (erm... unless you're rich, then it's allll gooood here). In fact, several thousand Americans buy meds from Canada and several state governors are considering making bulk government purchases from there (directly challenging our asshole agencies and rules here). Viva la capitalism.

I'll have to challenge your assessment of Canada's health system vs ours, Timber. The socialized free health care comes at a very high cost - and I don't mean financially. I mean in the cost in lack of new equipment, length of time required for patients to get in and see doctors, length of time required to schedule surgeries and other medical procedures.

It is my understanding that most Canadians have to wait months to schedule a surgery. Even if the surgery is for a life-threatening condition, the wait to get into the O.R. is several months (residents of Canada can correct me if I'm wrong on this).

As for the equipment, I know for a FACT that is true. Because my own personal physician came here from Canada. At the time, I worked in the Purchasing Dept of a different hospital and we were in charge of ordering all the supplies he would need to set-up a new office here. We had a list of standard equipment needed for an office, which we faxed to him for his approval. His response was "I get all of THIS...for an OFFICE. I could open my own HOSPITAL here in Canada with this much stuff". The long waits for surgery are based on old (and possibly outdated) media stories, but the lack of equipment is straight from the horses mouth (so to speak).

When I had my surgery back in September, the surgeon was willing to schedule the procedure for the following week once he determined I was a good candidate. Yeah, our health system is expensive - VERY expensive. That is why we have Health Insurance companies. My current health insurance comes with a drug card, so I don't spend more than $25 for ANY medication I take...and I know from past experience that one of my current medications runs about $100.00 per bottle. And I am taking about 4 different types of prescription meds at the moment.

Now I have been limited by my disease in the types of jobs I could seek, because I have to have Group Insurance. Because of my illness, I am un-insurable on a private basis. There isn't a company in the world that will sell me health insurance on an individual basis because of the Crohn's Disease.

But with insurance, I have deductible to meet and an out-of-pocket cap. I pay 100% until the deductible is met (which is small, relatively speaking), then I just pay 20% until my out-of-pocket cap is met. After that, the insurance pays 100%. Trust me, I am paying a FRACTION of my actual medical costs.

So I will take our expensive health care system over the socialized, free alternative any day of the week.

SIDENOTE: I've heard that France also has free health care and doesn't face near the number of problems Canada does - so it IS possible that a socialized system could work...I just know from first-hand information that Canada's has a LOT of flaws in it.