First Trip Down South

[Sterton]

Hi again. I got my first shot of Twinrix and travel insurance of course. I registered with the government saying I'm going. I still have to find something to keep my cards safe (it's on my "to do" list). I will also keep my opinions to myself. Thanks all!

Next month

 

[Lastpointe]

Interesting seeler. When i am in the states i quite openly talk about the pros and cons of our health care system.

There is no question there are pros but thee are also lots of cons.

I find most americans i meet are curious. They only get the news feed info and as we all know, all news is biasd.

Of course i am biased too, but they are interested ti hear about hiw we work things.

The biggest thing i find americans are interested in is the idea that anyone can get expert health care. Get sick, go to hospital and yiu get seen. Income doesn't matter here and if course it does there.

However, they Are amazed to hear that even if you want to pay for surgery you cant get it here. Waiting lists are an odd concept tothem. That is what they hear in the usa. Canadians fleeing to the USA for health care that is withheld here

 

[Justme]

It's funny when we go on excursions with Americans when we cruise one of the first (if not the first) question they ask is "what is your tax rate" and seem to weigh this against the notion of accessible medical care. Once, one even said that's what's going to happen to us with Obamacare (I think we were in the Faroe Islands where the tax rate is in the low 40%). If we talk about medical care they talk about the waiting lists and all the Canadians who go to the US for care but I don't think I know anyone who has left Canada for regular care (a couple for cosmetic procedures and stomach limiting and one for a MS treatment) - recognizing that these are stats just stories from my experience.

 

[Lastpointe]

Its tricky. They see us waiting a year or two for somethingsijple like aknee replacement and cant figure out why

Actually i cant figure that out either.

But that goes up against people who csnt get any treatment at all compared to ours where y can

But we do fool oursleqves.

Of course richer and better educated people get better care. Partly because they know what to demand

 

[Justme]

I actually think that by in large richer and better educated people don't necessarily get an advantage for wait times - my brother works in medicine and his family has all had to wait their turns for various surgeries. They might be better placed to ask questions and avoid rotten doctors but I think they usually face the same waits (here in Ottawa it is almost impossible to jump the queue anymore for knee and hip replacements because it is all centralized).

 

[Lastpointe]

Professional athlete?

Butyes, i think better educated people know who to ask, who to call, how to pull strings.

There are many good things about our health care.

But waiting for care is not one of them. S many things could be done outside of hospital, cheaper and easier

 

[Justme]

Yes, professional athletes do get preferential treatment - I forgot about them.