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The Day After An Inconvenient Truth 
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July 22, 2009 at 11:50 pm
girlslashwoman
I own Sicko. Watched it a ton of times and I love it. Honestly. It makes me feel good to be a Canadian.
But the advice I give anyone when watching Moore’s films is… take it all in with a grain of salt. Canada’s healthcare system is better but not much better.
July 23, 2009 at 10:31 am
Cara
Anything is better than having your child turned away from care that would save his or her life because you have no insurance or the hospital will not take you as you are not covered there. In Canada you have a better chance getting what you need, especially more so than an uninsured American, with so much wealth in this country we should use it to take care of each other. It would be a better country and world if people just did the right thing.
:]
Cara
July 28, 2009 at 3:42 am
girlslashwoman
Well sure if you’re putting it that way, yes. If you are uninsured, you have a better chance of getting some help. It may not get you all the help you need because Canadians do actually need insurance here as well. Healthcare is not free. So yes, to the unfortunate members of society, it’s a better bet.
Here is the hitch though, if you actually do have insurance, you’re better off in the States.
We have an immense shortage of family doctors. We need to wait a minimum of three months before we can get an appointment to see a specialist. Any specialist- even a dermatologist. It would be about the same for a surgery or to get back test results.
If my child is insured and needs a heart transplant asap, I would rather be in the US. If they need it urgently enough, Canada may not pull through.
July 28, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Cara
You’re child would never get a heart transplant here asap, unless you are a very wealthy person and law means nothing. Don’t believe everything you see on TV. ;-] For every organ, there is a list…just because you may die does not put you ahead of the many others who may also die. You are in a line that you hope to reach the end of before you reach your end.
For good doctors here you also have to wait that long (three months) and sometimes even longer. Every time I have to schedule my gynecological appointment the soonest she has is in three months and she has not accepted new patients in years. For good doctors and dentists there usually is a wait. I mean I live in a huge city (NYC) with thousands of doctors and the only one I can get an appointment, maybe in the same month, is my endocrinologist. He is great, but I think has a smaller number of patients.
If you are rich enough here you can have the doctors come to you, as I am sure you can in Canada, even if they have to cross the border. I am not so concerned with the rich getting by. There will most likely be privatized medicine in the US forever. What I think would be fantastical is a good, free health care system with awesome doctors, even if there is a three month wait, and great emergency rooms for those time when you just can’t wait. :]
If only we were in charge, we could talk out a reasonably awesome and realistic health care system for all of North America!!!
-Cara
July 29, 2009 at 2:01 am
girlslashwoman
I’m not saying that they will get it ASAP. But getting a transplant in a few months is not an insane idea in the USA. If you are willing to pay, you will get your transplant. In Canada, even if you’re willing to sell your house… tough luck. Your heart will probably get there in a year or two if you’re lucky. And this does apply to middle-class citizens. You can plunk down your savings or have a fundraiser to save your kid but you won’t be able to do it unless you travel down to the USA.
As for getting a good doctor here, there are none. No waiting list will get you a doctor. Most people rely on clinics just like in America.
The benefits of the Canadian system are kind of completely based on if you have insurance vs no insurance at all in the US.
But like you said, both countries need a better system. Something European based would be ideal.