Many people complain about the Canadian healthcare system, saying the wait times are too long. Others say it is excellent. What is your opiinon? Should we move to privatize it to some extent to get the best of both worlds? The advantage of getting rid of free health care would be lower taxes, but I don't think many Canadians would favor that.
Public or Private healthcare for Canada?
- Thread starter stinkynuts
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Someone who is financially well off would probably want private, no problem for them. For myself wouldn't care but I have friends who don't make as much and I don't want to see my friends potentially making tough decisions etc. Or any family with kids for that matter.
Rent, child care together alone are skyhigh.
Rent, child care together alone are skyhigh.
I am 100% in favor of universal health care., and have no complaints about it.
I believe it is a mistake to not allow private health care in Canada.
We effectively have a 2 tier system anyway, because we are so close to USA. I had surgery in USA some years ago.
Why not keep the money, doctors and nurses in Canada, instead of people going to USA for care.
I believe it is a mistake to not allow private health care in Canada.
We effectively have a 2 tier system anyway, because we are so close to USA. I had surgery in USA some years ago.
Why not keep the money, doctors and nurses in Canada, instead of people going to USA for care.
We already have private insurance in Canada to some degree.
Is pure single payer the best system? Most of the evidence seems to say no, but there aren't many examples of it so it is hard to say.
Is pure single payer the best system? Most of the evidence seems to say no, but there aren't many examples of it so it is hard to say.
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I figure the only way to keep the public system well funded and in good shape is for everyone, including politicians and very well off, have to use it.
Once you let people pay into a 'better' system they'll complain about paying for other people's health care.
They complain already. Most systems in the world, even the ones considered better than Canada's have some level of private insurance. Having it as a completely separate two-tier "I can avoid the public system entirely" seems like it would just eat away at support, like you say. Private as add-on and tightly controlled seems the more stable solution.
But anybody can go across the border and get health care, or fly to London or somewhere else.
I paid for my surgery in USA but I do not complain about the universal health care in Canada.
The one thing that people complain about in UK and other places with a two tier system, is that doctors within the universal system also can offer faster and better services for pay. The same thing happens in Canada for some services, for example eye surgeries.
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True, and that's probably the best solution.
Because nobody is going to fly for anything in an emergency.
Taking away the public option or making the system two tiered is cause for civil war.
I do not see that. Why would you not be happy with people going to USA or somewhere else to get medical care? It frees up slots for Canadians.
Why? I do not believe any other country than Canada has a prohibition for private health care.
It sees to me that urgent issues are dealt with promptly in Canada (unless you live in a small town where access is an issue). Yes, if you need something less urgent you might have to wait but in my mind, a 3 month wait for an MRI on my shoulder if it's free.
Our history.
Public Universal Healthcare has been a staple of our society, Tommy Douglas worked very hard fighting for it. We simply cannot ever afford to dismantle it, and I'm sure even the most right wing of politicians would realize that it would end their careers to even suggest adding a private option at the expense of what we have.
Most people are not going to ever want to give that up. I'm sure labor movements and social action groups, along with the average everyday Joe will be ready to raise hell in terms of "General Strike" level proportions to protect it.
We agree on a universal health care system. Absolutely.
But you have not presented any argument against allowing private health care companies to operate in Canada. They operate in Buffalo, fercrissakes.
Actually, in Denmark, where they have an excellent universal health care system, the public system will pay for treatment at a private hospital, if the public system cannot provide service within a reasonable time.
There are several dangers to having private health care in conjunction with public.
Privatizing health care is risky for all of us
A two-tier system would be almost as bad for the wealthy as for the poor, not to mention bad for business
www.google.ca
Why private, for-profit health care is a terrible idea
A two-tier, for-profit health-care system will not end “hallway medicine” in Ontario or elsewhere; evidence from around the world shows that private payment increases wait times for the majority.
www.google.ca
Private hospitals might take up all the doctors, for one. The same effect can be seen in the education system. Public schools are competing with private schools, and private schools are taking up resources such as good teachers, sometimes leading to teacher shortages.
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All of Europe allow private hospitals beside the public systems. Don't tell me public health care does not work in Denmark or Germany.There are several dangers to having private health care in conjunction with public.
Privatizing health care is risky for all of us
A two-tier system would be almost as bad for the wealthy as for the poor, not to mention bad for business
There are private hospitals just across the border in Buffalo. How can you argue that a private hospital 10 km closer in Niagara Falls would ruin health care in Canada. I will guarantee, that there are Canadian doctors and nurses working in Buffalo.
Yes, but those doctors could have been working in Canada. Because of that there are doctor shortages and longer wait times. Private hospitals probably pay more as well, so there’s less incentive to work at a public hospital.
Also when there is no option but the public one there is an incentive by the rich and powerful to make it first class. When a private option is introduced I think there will be less pressure and incentive from the politicians and wealthy/influential to make it excellent
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Just so that people can discuss this from a basic level of shared understanding.
www.vox.com
Private health insurance exists in Europe and Canada. Here’s how it works.
The debate over eliminating health insurance is actually offering a false choice.
These private insurance plans only supplement certain things not covered such as prescription drugs, dental and vision. They do not offer alternative private medical care as in the US for services like surgery.Just so that people can discuss this from a basic level of shared understanding.
Private health insurance exists in Europe and Canada. Here’s how it works.
The debate over eliminating health insurance is actually offering a false choice.
