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Originally Posted by Calgaryborn
I do know that there are missionary societies who will not allow Americans into Canada without carrying American medical insurance. They have this policy even though their guys are eligible for Canadian coverage. Apparently the view is that the quality of care in Canada although high doesn't meet the standards they demand. Their view might be simply a matter of prejudice but, then our view of the Canadian system might be clouded as well. I do know that the Americans have us beat hands down when it comes to quick access to specialists and tests. The backlog here in Canada does cost lives.
As far as the States go the bottom line is that they are out of money. If there is currently waste in medicare and other government programs they should fix it. Tort reform and removing the competition barriers between States for insurance coverage would help. Tax incentives for companies who chose a high level of insurance coverage. Requiring an insurance company to cover an employee who has lost their job for say 6 months at the company's group rate would take 10 million uninsured off the total just by itself.There is a lot that could be done without spending borrowed money. And that is the biggest worry with Obama's plans. Nobody including Democrats believe it will be revenue neutral.
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The medical technology in the US is phenomenal--Pittsburgh is an example of that, it's the main reason SW Pa hasn't been as destroyed by the current economic disaster as many other parts of the country.
The issue isn't the level of the care one receives. The issue is that in an emergency, someone is given excellent care, and then a month later the bill comes and the person's life is destroyed because they're in debt so deep they won't ever claw their way out of it.
And if it's not an emergency, the specialists are there, the tests are there, the technology is there--but most people can't afford to access it, and the insurance companies are all too happy to screw customers out of the coverage for it.