Its only for the insured. The ones who can't afford a plan that is included are still screwed. So the ones who could sorta afford it can now afford it but those who couldn't afford it still can't.
Ya! If you make it to 65 years old, you’ll possibly qualify for Medicare!
Woohoo (like, you know that’s when it starts right?)
The U.S. government is paying more than any other country per capita for healthcare (Medicare - paying 3x more than Canada) for worse coverage and treatment.
All while covering a very small portion of citizens, vs 3x less and everyone gets coverage in Canada…
We can go into infant mortality, life expectancy, wait times etc in the US... and how they're demonstrably worse than most other developed (and some 'underdeveloped nations) but that would be pointless. and that's IF you can afford it - the vast majority of Americans surveyed say they wait to get treatment if they go at all because of fear of debt - even when they're insured.
Wait times in Canada are the same as there - I've travelled extensively in the US, I've been to the emergency room and have waited 4 hours to get into a room and another 45 to see a doctor. 20 hour wait times are a myth - Covid has made them worse just about everywhere though.
Some people will choose to wait 10 hours to get seen instead of going to their GP because they have a cold and want a note. They wait because that person who has a severe head injury from a motorcycle accident will take priority, and the next person through the door in anaphylactic shock is about to die... You get it (I hope)
Here in Ontario, I needed a specialist for something, had an appointment the next day...
AND I got to choose which one, what hospital, etc.
The same story with my partner - she literally shopped around for a specialist, no referrals needed, just went from one to the other until she found one that she liked and felt comfortable with.
The whole process took about 2 weeks because of her work schedule... but she could have found one in a few days otherwise.
I don't have to let my employer decide what insurance company to choose, who then decides what "network" I am in. We actually have the freedom to choose...
AND I don't have to pay $800/month for my family to have the bare minimum basic insurance (Either you buy it yourself, or it is through your employer - then it comes out of your cheque)
On top of the $10K/year, I would have to pay $8K (PER PERSON) before insurance would cover part of the cost.
When someone has a baby here, the biggest cost is $40 for parking. AND statistically, that baby has a higher chance of surviving birth in Canada than in the US.
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u/[deleted] Oct 12 '21
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