Duh! That is far from the only tax. Most Americans don't go in the
hospital every year and most have free or low cost health insurance through
their employer or can buy it for a lot less than what it costs the
government to provide it "free."

mike


"BradandBrooks" <BradandBrooks (AT) shaw (DOT) ca> wrote

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote

The truth is the US has a National Health Care Plan -the worst one in the
world from a financing standpoint. The chief beneficiaries of our patchwork
system are greedy insurance companies and trial lawyers. The whole rotten
mess should be pulverized. I have two solutions - 1) Outlaw all forms of
health insurance - arrest anyone who even suggests allowing private
insurance, 2) National Health Care. The current system chiefly benefits the
rich and insurance companies. I've not spent much time in the medical
system, but over the past few years I've had to attend to my parents while
they were abused by the system. I've been in the emergency room and watched
as more people were doing paperwork than patient care. I've seen people
turned away from "private" hospitals because they couldn't provide proof of
insurance (non-critical cases of course - if you are dying, they'll keep you
as long as it takes to get you stabilized and transferred to the county
hospital).

Ed

Are you suggesting the poor and indignant do not get free medical care in
the US?
Search the federal governments Hill-Burton act and how it sets the high
medial care costs, for all hospitals and all of us in the US.

You might search for the reason I MUST, by law, sign up for part 'B'
Medicare, even though eligible I never applied for SS retirement benefits or
Medicare, before I am 'allowed' to buy the medical coverage I want to buy.

mike

"C. E. White" <cewhite (AT) mindspring (DOT) com> wrote

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote

Well, the system works in Canada, it's not perfect, but then what is? I will
soon be 67, and have had cancer 3 times. There were some waits, but I got
first class treatment on time! Our system is not free, except for those on
low incomes. Most of the low income people have paid into the system at some
time. Anyone making over $20,000 a year must pay a monthly premium. By
paying taxes, and premiums, we do not have to put out huge sums of money
when we need medical care. On the other hand, a person cannot admit
themselves to hospital. Only a doctor can admit a patient. This keeps the
hypochondriacs from plugging things up. Each province has it's own "plan",
governed by federal statutes. With millions of people paying into the system
in each province, premiums can be much lower. After 3 doses of cancer, I
still have my house! The premium information is explained at:
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/premium.html

Steve R.

The health care program in Canada only stifles the industry. How many of
the advances in health care or medications originate in Canada, for example?
What's next, will they provide you with 'free' transportation to get to a
specialist that lives in another Province or is only available in the US or
buy a car for those Canadians the live in the boondocks to get to medial
care providers?

The US Constitution and the capitalist system have made the USA and its
people the richest, strongest, freest country in the history of the world
that offers the finest health care. The government does nothing to produce
wealth. To give something for 'free' it must first take it from those that
do produce wealth to 'give' it to the people after deducting the cost of the
taking and the distribution of the money it took. Personally I prefer to
pay for the things I want and need directly, rather than pay more to receive
the same things via an inefficient and bloated government program

mike


"Steve R." <ud233 (AT) victoria (DOT) tc.ca> wrote

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2 (AT) mailcity (DOT) com> wrote

You missed the point, it's not free! We all pay into it. Yes we do have an
air ambulance service, which will fly people to another province, or the US.
The plan will pay for some treatments not available in Canada! We also help
each other. There are numerous volunteer driver programs to take people to
treatments, if they cannot get there on their own. By the way, I am one of
the volunteer drivers! The program is run as near to cost as is practical,
and is far from bloated. We also have major medical research labs all across
the country. Not bad for a vast country with only 34 million people!


Steve R.

Now back to gas prices! It went up again yesterday, now $1.259 CDN per litre
on south Vancouver Island.

Steve R.

"Steve R." <ud233 (AT) victoria (DOT) tc.ca> wrote

<...>

And Canada has some of the best health care in the world, including
Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. McGill University is one of the best
universities in the world, with world class researchers.

Canada's health care and research is just as good as that anywhere on the
planet.

Canada spends far less per person for health care, compared with the US.

Excellent health care, research and relatively low cost. What's not to love?

Jeff

"Steve R." <ud233 (AT) victoria (DOT) tc.ca> wrote

I paid $2.849 Sunday, and it was the same price today.

Jeff

You are entitled to believe what ever you choose.

mike


"Jeff" <news (AT) googlemail (DOT) com> wrote