Debunking Myths on Canadian Health Care

[DroppinScience]

Since there is a TON of misinformation regarding universal health care, especially now that health care reform in the U.S. is such a big issue right now, it's worth sharing this article on the many myths those on the right-wing launch about this issue.

Some of the myths include taxes, wait times for health care, and many more.

Give it a read. It's very important to set the record straight.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/07-0

[Schmeltz]

This is a good article, it confirms all of the impressions that I gathered living for 25 years under the Canadian health system - for good and for ill.

For the record, I have my own story to tell about elective surgery in Canada, so listen if you will. I destroyed my (good side) shoulder when I was 15 and was told that the joint would always give me trouble but that surgical intervention was not a priority. I dislocated it again at 17 and was told that surgical reconstruction would be needed to stop the same thing from reoccuring - but again they sent me home with a sling and some painkillers, because as a young male I wasn't considered an urgent case. After hearing that this was going to keep happening I went two hours north to see a specialist, and he said bascially the same thing - that even with a second injury he couldn't justify moving me up the list for surgery.

Now comes the relevant part. I took my shoulder out for the third time when I was 21 and went to see my hometown specialist. He was incredibly rude and insensitive to the degree of my problem - he basically told me to suck it up and that if it happened again he would consider putting me on the list for surgery. I thought that was bullshit and so again I went two hours north to the next major city to see the other specialist, the guy I had consulted after the second injury. He took one look at me and said, and I quote, "This is not right." He had me under the knife ten days later, and reconstructed my shoulder from front and back. He gave me an extremely thorough diagnosis, told me exactly what he was going to do and what I was in for, and scheduled multiple follow-up sessions to make sure everything was going according to plan. He even got in touch with the physiotherapist at my university and outlined a plan for me to follow to get back in shape after six weeks in an immobilizing sling. And I haven't had any problems since.

Two surgeons, two cities, two hospitals, two experiences, one system. And do you know what it all cost me? It cost me exactly zero dollars. The ambulance rides and the on-the-spot drugs might have cost a few hundos, but as a university student with a dirt-cheap provincially funded plan I found that them shits was free too. And even though I did have to wait a few years before I got the procedure that turned out to be necessary, I would much rather have put up with that than have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars for reconstructive surgery that I could not possibly have otherwise afforded, and for which I would still be paying now if not for our system.

Yes I had to wait. Yes I had a shitty doctor who couldn't care less about my problem. But I also had an excellent doctor who personally involved my case in his care, and I also never had to worry for a single second about paying to have a quarter of my body put back together. For an advanced elective procedure I'd call that pretty good - probably better than someone like me, without a life-threatening illness or injury, has any right to expect. And so long as Canadian health care continues to work at least this well, I will defend it until the day I die.

With all that said, I wish that this article had done a better job citing its sources. But if anecdotal evidence counts for anything, I'll say it does a good job making its point.

[RobMoney$]

Cool story.

Just wondering how you came to know about this other specialist that was two hours away?
Did you know he'd be more attentive, or was that just a shot in the dark that you got lucky with?

[DroppinScience]

Is the case of one shitty doctor and then one good doctor really reflective of the health care system? I mean, I'm pretty sure you'd fine the same in the U.S.

But I guess your overall point is you didn't have to pay out of your pocket to visit EITHER of them (which your American counterpart most certainly would have had to in order to seek the proper medical attention).

[RobMoney$]

I mean, I'm pretty sure you'd fine the same in the U.S.

I've never heard of any primary care physician refusing anyone treatment or referral to a specialist in America. In fact, second opinions are encouraged by most doctors and specialists.

In other words, if Schmeltz walked into a doctor in America and said he's uncomfortable with the state of his shoulder, the primary care doctor would be more than happy to refer him to a specialist to talk about surgery, and in most cases would be encouraged to seek several opinions as to find what he's most comfortable with in a specialist's opinion on how to proceed.

Also,
I think the fact that Schmeltz had to drive so far to get a second opinion had more to do with the Canadian population, or lack there of, than it was a statement about the kind of care that Canada is providing.

[Documad]

I've never heard of any primary care physician refusing anyone treatment or referral to a specialist in America. In fact, second opinions are encouraged by most doctors and specialists.

Depends on whether you have health insurance or can otherwise pay.

When I didn't have health insurance, I could get treated for things like an infection at a clinic and pay out of pocket. When I had something worse I had to prove that I could pay before the local doctor would see me but I could get taken care of at a hospital ER near my school, and I walked away with a fairly large bill. I was never able to get treated for free, but I suppose the health care providers figured out that I cared about having good credit so eventually I would have to pay them. I wouldn't have been able to afford to see a specialist or get a second opinion.

Since then, I've had health insurance through my jobs. I don't care for most of the doctors I see on a personal level. My primary clinic has a bunch of doctors and every time I find one that I sort of like he or she leaves before my next appointment. I don't feel like I have a real choice. And I'm an assertive person. But I don't feel like I've had poor care ever.

I'm happy with my dentist though.

[RobMoney$]

clinic?

Why do you use a clinic?

[Dorothy Wood]

I've gotten more thorough care at low-income clinics than regular doctors offices and hospitals. and better dental care at the local university clinic than any private dentist's office I've ever visited.

when I broke my foot, interns were the only people who treated me up until my surgery. every time I went in, it was a different intern. they originally set my cast wrong and injured my ankle in the process. when I came out of surgery, they hadn't given me enough pain medication and I woke up in a cold sweat feeling every severed nerve in my foot. after a few minutes, when tears started rolling down my face, a nurse finally noticed and juiced me up.

I tell that story to show a less than perfect hospital experience. sure, I never ended up having to pay for any of it because my income was zero at the time (I did have health insurance that paid like a sixteenth of it), but that just means that everyone else who can afford healthcare foots (no pun intended) the bill.

which is ultimately why I believe the american system doesn't work. or at the very least, isn't fair. I don't think anyone should have to worry about putting off procedures or even visiting a doctor for a check up because they're afraid they can't afford it. it just leads to even more expensive problems down the line that end up having to be paid for by everyone else.

[jackrock]

Sorry if this is hard to read.

When I was 11 we learned that I had "thin bone" beneath a small section of my gums. This prevented two adult teeth from being able to form. Braces were necessary to prevent other teeth from shifting and filling the gaps. They were also necessary to prepare for the grander scheme, bone implants and later teeth implants. I was made well aware of all of my options. Other than the orthodontist (braces) two other specialists were brought into the mix. One, the implant guy, who makes the teeth and will later put them in. Two, the maxillofacial surgeon, who recently took care of bone graft and bone implants. Both of them were in my city.

There was signifigant wait time to see the maxillofacial specialist, I'm talking making an appointment over a year in advance for the initial consultation. That wasn't a big deal because it's non-urgent and because time had to pass for my skull to mature before anything could really happen. All three doctors were working in close contact with one another so we were all on the same page at all times. Of the few times I've visited the implant guy (sorry dude I don't remember your official title) we had to pay up on the spot, from 70 to 300 dollars, because dental isn't covered by the government.

So in April I had my wisdom teeth extracted (for grafts) and bone implants done. My only complaint from the surgeon is that I could have had a better understanding of what to expect from the implant sites afterwards. Not a real big deal, not entirely his fault, and not really relevant.

Since I'm a minor I qualify to be taken care of by my parents health insurance from work. Unfortunatly they don't understand that my situation is congenital and not elective. Total cost out of our pocket, $10,000, which we aren't done talking with the insurance company about. (To be clear, the orthodontic work was covered by work insurance.)

I'm not done with the whole process until (hopefully) later in the summer, but thus far my experience has been relatively pleasant, aside from the cost.

[DroppinScience]

Yeah, unfortunately dental work is NOT part of the "universal" part in "universal health care." At least in Canada. Don't know what Europe does.