http://thepatientfactor.com/health-care-stakeholders/patients-health-care-stakeholders/why-its-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-single-payer-health-care/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:26:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://thepatientfactor.com/health-care-stakeholders/patients-health-care-stakeholders/why-its-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-single-payer-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-501 Kartik Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:04:30 +0000 http://thepatientfactor.com/?p=820#comment-501 I'm an immigrant to Canada and I was lucky to find a family doctor, as tough as it was/is. If I point out something that's wrong with the system (and there's a lot), some people get furious! A lot of them bring up the US, even though it's a waste of time. Canada and the US have the potential to reform their systems! I’m an immigrant to Canada and I was lucky to find a family doctor, as tough as it was/is. If I point out something that’s wrong with the system (and there’s a lot), some people get furious! A lot of them bring up the US, even though it’s a waste of time. Canada and the US have the potential to reform their systems!

]]> http://thepatientfactor.com/health-care-stakeholders/patients-health-care-stakeholders/why-its-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-single-payer-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Kartik Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:19:19 +0000 http://thepatientfactor.com/?p=820#comment-459 I'd say: we pay for our care dearly through our taxes and that bureaucrats and the worst kind of unions have too much control over our decisions and what kind of drugs and treatments are available, when and where. And as we are beginning to know - most cancer drugs are NOT covered by provincial plans for cost reasons. As well intentioned as the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada is (http://www.fraserinstitute.org/publicationdisplay.aspx?id=15863&terms=cancer+drugs), they're proposing the SAME 'solution' to the problem. Governments have been rationing care (beds, doctors, services) since the 60s, exacerbated since the 80s. We demonize the US but we take full advantage of their strengths (with millions of OHIP and other provincial plan dollars going to the US). The US system isn't even close to being a free market - with third parties paying the vast majority of bills. Socialized and Managed care don't work - Insurance should return to it's traditional role. Canada has the potential but unfortunately, we're behind most other countries (such as the US) in terms of access to drugs and technology and doctors per capita. What about the poor? Empower them with money AND philanthropy will help many of them. In Canada too, the poor have mediocre to terrible access to care. And this thing of poor Americans don't get care? Most of them are covered by Medicaid (where it's really hard to find a doctor) and many of them get care at low cost free or retail clinics (market based reforms - that WORK!). I’d say: we pay for our care dearly through our taxes and that bureaucrats and the worst kind of unions have too much control over our decisions and what kind of drugs and treatments are available, when and where. And as we are beginning to know – most cancer drugs are NOT covered by provincial plans for cost reasons. As well intentioned as the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada is (http://www.fraserinstitute.org/publicationdisplay.aspx?id=15863&terms=cancer+drugs), they’re proposing the SAME ‘solution’ to the problem. Governments have been rationing care (beds, doctors, services) since the 60s, exacerbated since the 80s. We demonize the US but we take full advantage of their strengths (with millions of OHIP and other provincial plan dollars going to the US). The US system isn’t even close to being a free market – with third parties paying the vast majority of bills. Socialized and Managed care don’t work – Insurance should return to it’s traditional role. Canada has the potential but unfortunately, we’re behind most other countries (such as the US) in terms of access to drugs and technology and doctors per capita. What about the poor? Empower them with money AND philanthropy will help many of them. In Canada too, the poor have mediocre to terrible access to care. And this thing of poor Americans don’t get care? Most of them are covered by Medicaid (where it’s really hard to find a doctor) and many of them get care at low cost free or retail clinics (market based reforms – that WORK!).

]]> http://thepatientfactor.com/health-care-stakeholders/patients-health-care-stakeholders/why-its-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-single-payer-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-458 admin Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:29:00 +0000 http://thepatientfactor.com/?p=820#comment-458 Kartik, Yes, a gigantic iceberg! What would you say to those who can't see it? Kartik,
Yes, a gigantic iceberg! What would you say to those who can’t see it?

]]> http://thepatientfactor.com/health-care-stakeholders/patients-health-care-stakeholders/why-its-time-to-pull-the-plug-on-single-payer-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Kartik Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:14:43 +0000 http://thepatientfactor.com/?p=820#comment-457 this is but the tip of the iceberg.... this is but the tip of the iceberg….

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