Canada's health system is as good or better than the US new research suggests

noggin_wise · Apr 18, 2007

this is really good news. I agree we should cap all medicaid recipients to $2800 dollars from tax payers. Thanks for posting the info.

Simplepleasures · Apr 18, 2007

this is really good news. I agree we should cap all medicaid recipients to $2800 dollars from tax payers. Thanks for posting the info.

Yes lets just cut out all social programs altogether, and we could use the money for corporate welfare instead. The sick and poor are of no consequence anyway, hey noggin?

noggin_wise · Apr 19, 2007

Corporate welfare is just as bad as any other welfare why would you want to give the money to them?

HM2VikingRN, RN · Apr 19, 2007

Corporate welfare is just as bad as any other welfare why would you want to give the money to them?

#1 Health care is not welfare.

#2 Every succcessful industrial democracy in the world spreads the cost of health care for all through the broad base of societally assumed risk.

#3 Good primary care reduces the cost of specialty care which reduces the cost of medicare spending.

HairCanada · Apr 19, 2007

Absolutely laughable!!!!!!!!!:rotfl: ...........try asking a an actual canadian about their health care!!

Ya know, i have been very worried that America might try the universal thing like us,...but now I am not worried anymore. Because, there is no way that American's would put up with the sh#t we do, and pay twice as much!

1 year of it, and they would be throwing crash carts into the Boston harbor!!

newyorknursey · Apr 19, 2007

this is really good news. I agree we should cap all medicaid recipients to $2800 dollars from tax payers. Thanks for posting the info.

No cap of 2800 was suggested; medicaid for all is the SOLUTION, not the problem. And MEDICAID patients are taxpayers. You need to invest in reading time. Much thanks!!!!!

newyorknursey · Apr 19, 2007

Absolutely laughable!!!!!!!!!:rotfl: ...........try asking a an actual canadian about their health care!!
Ya know, i have been very worried that America might try the universal thing like us,...but now I am not worried anymore. Because, there is no way that American's would put up with the sh#t we do, and pay twice as much!
1 year of it, and they would be throwing crash carts into the Boston harbor!!

OK. I AM CANADIAN, AND A NURSE IN NEW YORK. I GREW UP IN A HOSPITAL AS ALL FAMILY IS IN HEALTHCARE. READ THE STUDY - most canadians who have knowledge of both countries would prefer to get care from and work in Canada's system. Read the study!!!!!!!!INSTEAD OF JUST POSTING WITHOUT THINKING/READING FIRST. Seriously I would love to hear what experience of healthcare you have had;

Much thanks!!!!

Kabin · Apr 20, 2007

In spite of what they claim, that study is similar to comparing a Mercedes Benz to a Kia.

The US healthcare model is broken, of course, as many are not covered but those that are have very good healthcare. The problem is the current healthcare system can't be scaled to healthcare for all.

On the other hand, the Canadian system covers all and is good with preventive care, but falls short with tertiary care. As an example, I just treated a Canadian citizen that came to the US for a Whipple procedure. It cost him about $110k but it was worth it for him. He said in Canada it would have been months before he was considered for treatment and even then his post treatment outcome would have been well below US standards of care.

Kabin · Apr 20, 2007

No cap of 2800 was suggested; medicaid for all is the SOLUTION, not the problem. And MEDICAID patients are taxpayers. You need to invest in reading time. Much thanks!!!!!

The government doesn't take in enough money with the current Medicaid coverage population and you think it can cover everyone?

newyorknursey · Apr 20, 2007

Health care just as good, half as much as in U.S., report says
Canada's health system is as good or better than that of the United States and is delivered at half the cost, new research suggests.
A review in the inaugural issue of online medical journal Open Medicine, which was launched yesterday by a group of doctors who left the Canadian Medical Association Journal last year over an editorial dispute, examined the results of 38 major studies that compared health outcomes of patients in the two countries.
It found that while the United States spent an average of $7,129 U.S. per person on health care in 2006, compared with $2,956 U.S. per person in Canada, more studies favoured the latter country in terms of morbidity and mortality. They covered a wide range of diseases and conditions, including cancer and coronary artery disease....
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=b4ad7870-f58f-4772-8e9d-a10d2dc163db&k=13532

it's more like comparing a mercedes to a stable of workhorses; only the people with the most resources are going to be able to drive a mercedes(or have a whipple). Preventative or primary care is the key to health, not so sexy, but gets the job done.

It is true Canadians have to cross the border and pay high prices for the most advanced specialized care- but maybe what they save with a lifetime of solid primary and secondary care balances it out.

That would be an interesting study. How many users of the American system can tell you a story of the husband/child/father/best friend's expensive unexpected trip to the emergency room? Every one can; so that's money in the bank for the Canadian.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2007

I think only a pragmatic approach with moderation will solve the US healthcare financing problems.

This should not be a liberal v. conservative war but rather a common problem in need of a practical solution.

Other advanced countries spend far less than us and have more to show for what they do spend as far as longer lifespan and better health.

My Canadian relatives think Americans are stupid regarding healthcare financing, quite honestly. Sure they have complaints here and there - but they wouldn't want to live in the US system for anything. I have several Canadian relatives who live half and half in each country. So they do in fact have knowledge of both systems.