Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Despicable US Healthcare Commercial - Not Right!

As already stated, the Canadian system isn't perfect, but it works. I'm sure a few people have fallen through the cracks.

Cam, I wish you the best results on your tests.

A good 10 yrs ago, my parents moved from Ontario to the Southern States, mainly for the warmer winter weather and to get away from higher Canadian taxes(to quote my father). After a few years down South and then in Washington State, they moved up to BC because health insurance was so expensive down there...I can't remember the exact figure, but I believe it was in the neighbourhood of $1500+ US per month.

This tells us what all of us already know, firstly, yes, Canadians DO pay more taxes than Americans do, so health care isn't really "free". However, as you'll hear from most Canucks, we are happy to pay a reasonable tax into a system that has been setup for all of us, regardless of their financial situation.

I'm wondering if, in the US, it's all about $$, catering to the big insurance corporations or possibly a simple fear of becoming more "socialist"...I don't know.

Amen to what Ajax said. It's just a commercial.

But the fear of "socialism" is very real for an entire generation of people.

In the US, for just about everyone born between 1950 and 1991, you grew up being taught to hate Russia, hate "communism", to fear "socialism", and to embrace capitalism as "the American Way". For better or for worse, a lot of people still feel that way. And those commercials play to that. I live in a very conservative area, and you'd be surprised how many people are truly afraid of anything "socialist". And they're not happy with you when you point out that the Police, Fire Department, Public Schools, roads, public libraries, & their beloved Social Security check are all, to some degree, "socialist" things.

I've met (or overheard conversations) of many coworkers, acquaintances, even random strangers in at a restaurant or waiting in line somewhere that'll be telling some story about health insurance, healthcare, and cost. It usually goes

1) they have/had some health problem
2) it cost $$$$$$
3) They had no insurance|insurance paid half|insurance dropped them after paying for the first treatment
4) They|their cousin|their relative now owes $$$$, which is more than their house ($$) is worth.
5) how they had to sell their home|liquidate their 401k|declare bankruptcy to pay for it.

Then the kicker...

6) But damn those communists in the White House and Congress for wanting to socialize health insurance. Because healthcare in those socialist countries - Canada, the UK, France - is AWFUL. And no one wants that.

For our Canadian friends, the comparison between the US vs Canadian healthcare/insurance system is pretty simple....

1) Do you know anyone that died because some Canadian Government regulation prevented them from getting care? Anti US-healthcare reform advocates (i.e., the Health Insurance Industry - that commercial) would have us Americans believe that it's a common thing. I highly doubt it is.

2) Do you know anyone that lost everything (even their lives) because of healthcare costs? I know several.

Peter, you bring up an interesting point. I always thought of unions as being a socialist organization.

In a union every one is equal and gets paid the same amount regardless of their job. That is socialism, and even boarding on communism. If you talk to any UAW or Teamster worker, they will swear by capitalism, but also swear by his/her union. That doesn't make sence. Something about having cake and eating it too.

Peter I have lived in Canada all my life, 40 years, and never have heard of anyone ever loosing everything they own because of healthcare costs. Never! It wouldn't happen here.

I could loose my marrige, my house, my job, my car, my HT, but I would always have healthcare.

To me, that is a basic human right!

pn

They absolutely are. For the workers, by the workers. Could be a union slogan, could be that of a socialist republic. Unions have a lot more in common with the doctrine of Karl Marx than they do to Adam Smith.

I agree, whole-heartedly.

Regarding 1) Its this kind of deliberate misinformation and scaremongering that has me concerned about how people are being manipulated south of the border. I'm glad you see it for what it is.

2) Me too.

As a Canadian I always get insurance before crossing the border even if I am going over there for only a few hours. I am sure there are quite a few that don't, some probably do not even think about it. My mom is American and the majority of my relatives live all around the United States. If I would get in a car accident or have any type of serious health problems travelling that could create some very devastating finanical problems. Possibly ruin my life.

Question: how hard is it to emigrate, on an official basis, from the US to Canada? Haha, I have no intention, but I am just curious how that works. Also, if a non-Canadian citizen is injured/sick while in Canada, I assume they are covered for the initial hospital stay, is that correct?

If you know the secret handshake, you don't have to pay.