The following is obviously anecdotal, but nonetheless:
I am a Canadian who immigrated to the U.S. some years ago. I can state with near certainty that my father, who has suffered three heart attacks (from a genetic defect causing blood clots) would be dead right now if the last two of those attacks had occurred in Canada (he nearly died from the first one in Canada). The difference in treatment and service he received in the USA vs. Canada was like night and day. He currently struggles to pay his health insurance bills, but he’d much rather be in debt than deceased.
My grandfather still lives in Canada, and he is currently dying from a curable form of cancer because he was forced to wait MONTHS on a waiting list before he could begin to receive treatment. By then his cancer had spread.
I personally have experienced both health care systems. The Canadian system is a disaster. Waiting lists for everything except the most basic service. Need to see a specialist? Get in line and wait for months. Hospitals in shocking states of disarray and with service you’d expect in a third world country. Oh, but their prescription meds are cheap. Hurray.
The American system: it is the best in the world. The brightest, most qualified doctors. The best, most professional hospital staff. No waiting lists for lifesaving treatment. Do we pay too much for it? Yes. But that’s because of lack of competition, overly stringent state-by-state regulations on allowable insurance policies, and countless hidden costs courtesy of the trial lawyers. We CAN fix this. But in the mean time, I’d rather be in debt than dead.
