Video: Canadians talk health care
posted at 2:52 pm on October 13, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Courtesy of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Canadians want to tell their American cousins all about the joys of the Canadian system that Barack Obama admires so much. They have a number of these videos in which Canadians explain terms like “medical vacations” and communicate the thrill of wait-listing. It also generates new business opportunities, too — or maybe you missed the explosion of wait-list insurance north of the border. The fun never ends in the Canadian health-care system!
Why do Canadians speak up now? They have at least had the option of crossing the border if they can get the resources to avoid the long wait times for treatment. Some of them worry that the ObamaCare overhaul will put an end to that relief valve. Where would they go for treatment? One Canadian has a suggestion, which he laughs off … for now. Be sure to watch this and the other videos at Mackinac.
Blowback
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looks like we’ll be going to mexico or the far east for treatment..
right4life on October 13, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I guess Michigan and New York will lose money on Canadians.
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I lived in Thailand for a time and the health care there was excellent and relatively cheap. The forces of the market and the laissez faire nature of the Thai government was an excellent breeding ground for good health care.
E9RET on October 13, 2009 at 3:00 PM
looks like we’ll be going to mexico or the far east for treatment..
right4life on October 13, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Texas will have a booming medical tourism industry once we secede.
txag92 on October 13, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Actually, one of the doctors I work with said that some doctors may go to the islands and set up there for people who can afford that.
We know of many doctors who are already planning their way out of medicine if this horror passes. I haven’t met one doctor in this large community hospital that is in favor of this, which makes me wonder where Obama got all those other “doctors” with the white lab coats for his photo op (BTW, our doctors, NPs and PAs all wear white coats).
And this is in NYC.
Mommynator on October 13, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Except the experiments they have done on their citizens for a profit as well as lacking the funds to help those who have Aids.
Yeah great government healthcare.
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Anyone want to invest in building a hospital in the Caribbean for Medical Vacations for Americans? Good treatment and rehab on the beach! Sounds like money.
txlitigator on October 13, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Yup, giving those honorable politicians life and death control over every American is just what I want.
The Rock on October 13, 2009 at 3:03 PM
I love a lot about this system. I’m pretty liberal on this stuff.
But comparing Canada to the US is silly.
We have such different issues.
AnninCA on October 13, 2009 at 3:03 PM
This North Carolinian might just ask to be your neighbor if this crap passes. Texas looks and sounds more like home every day. I’ll miss green (the color – not the pc concept), but I’ll get over it.
tickleddragon on October 13, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Yep. Maquiladora hospitals. Coming soon to Tijuana, Juarez and other border towns.
Mr. D on October 13, 2009 at 3:04 PM
I don’t like the sound at the very end… I thought 3 people signed off my buddy list right in a row.
RightWinged on October 13, 2009 at 3:05 PM
AnninCA on October 13, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Yeah, cos they’ve just done it wrong. Everyone else has just done it wrong. We can do it differently, and better.
This is the utopian’s gullibility, and our ultimate downfall.
tickleddragon on October 13, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Actually, one of the doctors I work with said that some doctors may go to the islands and set up there for people who can afford that.
We know of many doctors who are already planning their way out of medicine if this horror passes. I haven’t met one doctor in this large community hospital that is in favor of this, which makes me wonder where Obama got all those other “doctors” with the white lab coats for his photo op (BTW, our doctors, NPs and PAs all wear white coats).
And this is in NYC.
Mommynator on October 13, 2009 at 3:01 PM
AnninCA on October 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM
at least it would be easy to girls and drugs to ease your pain…
right4life on October 13, 2009 at 3:07 PM
AnninCA on October 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Yeah! Damn those folks that study up on all that medicine stuff. Egomaniac greedos. We don’t need them anyhow…
Ann, you really are a moron.
tickleddragon on October 13, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Committee passed it
14-9
upinak on October 13, 2009 at 3:08 PM
oh, you guys are all too negative…in the immortal words of Sen Snowe this morning…when history calls, history calls.
this is all for history you know, for them, it is all about them
r keller on October 13, 2009 at 3:09 PM
yeah the government will take SO much better care of you…sure…do you even have a clue what goes on in Britain or Canada??? unbelievable.
the best doctors will quit…then you’ll have DR. PLIARS For your dentist, and a postal worker for your internist…
right4life on October 13, 2009 at 3:09 PM
An offshore medical center would be flaky now, but maybe not after all the professionals get shut out.
exception on October 13, 2009 at 3:10 PM
As a Canadian, my wife and I are paying over 50% of our salaries in income taxes, and that does not include sales taxes. We are lucky to have a family doctor after waiting for over a year. On top of that, we buy our own private insurances to cover prescription drugs, dental and other health related tests. So for the US to adopt something similar to our system, be prepared to pay 1/2 of your income in taxes and some extra on you own if you want quicker access to the system.
poxoma on October 13, 2009 at 3:11 PM
I’ll miss green (the color – not the pc concept), but I’ll get over it
–Stay in North Texas; it’s as green as the Chicago suburbs up here.
Jimbo3 on October 13, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Your use of quotes matches your thinking – backwards.
fred5678 on October 13, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Thanks for the tip. It’s looking more and more likely each minute.
So….
The stars at night… are big and bright…! (*hand cups ear*)
tickleddragon on October 13, 2009 at 3:14 PM
–Stay in North Texas; it’s as green as the Chicago suburbs up here.
Jimbo3 on October 13, 2009 at 3:12 PM
The hill country is beautiful. Just stay away from Austin.
txag92 on October 13, 2009 at 3:16 PM
*taking notes* :)
tickleddragon on October 13, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Well, AnninCA, I’d rather put my life into the hands of someone who busted their butt in pre-med, than 2 years of med school, then internship and residency, rather than someone who drank/bleeped their way through 4 years of poly-sci.
But that’s me.
MNHawk on October 13, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Ann, I would rather give my money to someone who strives to be good at what they do in pursuit of more money than someone who has no incentive to do more than the bare minimum because they get paid the same either way.
I wish I could go through life being so ignorant….what bliss.
Youngs98 on October 13, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Yeah, those Hollyweirdos deserve multimillion dollar paydays playing doctors more than the real doctors.
Tom
marinetbryant on October 13, 2009 at 3:20 PM
There speaks ignorance.
1) Doctors are in school for 8-12 years and would like to pay back their student loans before they die.
2) Medical malpractice insurance.
3) Family practitioners of all kinds don’t make much more money than engineers, IT developers, and others than only have 4-year degrees. But they have a lot more risk and a lot more expenses.
4) I don’t want doctors whom I depend on for my family’s health be the lowest common denominator like they are in the UK.
5) The cost for the doctor is probably the smallest of everything you pay for – drugs, hospital room, nursing care, supplies, etc. And those thing are made far more expensive by insurance mandates and the run on ‘free’ medical care by illegals.
I think you should shop around for the cheapest doctor you can find and take your family there and see what you get.
Common Sense on October 13, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Yeah, they don’t have the inner cities and giant population centers that we have. Socialized care will be an even worse nightmare here.
The US population is about 9 times the size of Canada.
mankai on October 13, 2009 at 3:26 PM
they sure hate the dude don’t they?
sesquipedalian on October 13, 2009 at 3:27 PM
My dad in Ottawa needs to get a hernia operation. His date for the initial visit with the surgeon..mid February 2010!! That’s just for the initial consultation. Who knows when the surgery will be!
Caper29 on October 13, 2009 at 3:29 PM
What profession doesn’t make somebody materialistic? Actually, I have no idea that that means.
Don’t we want bright, ambitious people to enter the profession? Or should we wait for the Council of Vocations to choose for us?
mankai on October 13, 2009 at 3:29 PM
AnninCA: Sweetie, we all have the same issues–the desire to live, the fear of death(unless you know Jesus), the right to live in dignity, an innate creativity, and the instinct to preserve our lives by any means necessary. Obamacare SERIOUSLY hampers these things. Our government has already tried socialized–government run medicine. Take a close look at Medicare/Medicaid (many doctors/hospitals no longer take that insurance.) Take a look at military medical (I had no problems with it, but then I was healthy when we were in the system. Others I know, not so much.) Take a good long look at Indian Health and the “don’t get sick after June” mantra they repeat to each other on the Rez. And just how long has it been since we could say that anyone in government has come up with an innovation in anything? The private sector, through COMPETITION, breeds innovation in better diagnostics, treatment, and patient care. The government isn’t equipped for this. (Have you been to the DMV lately?) The Canadians have found this out. The Brits have found this out. There at TWO miserable examples for you. The government, at all levels, works ponderously hard at keeping the status-quo. Bright ideas and government are an oxy-moron. People with innovative ideas are quickly told to “shut-up and color.” No AnninCa. Our issues are the same. We all want the freedom to decide things for ourselves, to live our lives to the fullest, to be treated with respect and as an individual. Have you noticed that at the aforementioned DMV they call your number instead of your name? They do that at Kaiser as well. The depersonalization of America. No more of it, thank you.
Driefromseattle on October 13, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Care to elaborate?
E9RET on October 13, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Is he the one who called the system a failure?
mankai on October 13, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Oh..yeah. My mother also in Ottawa had to wait four weeks for an MRI last year. Because of the MRI shortage the MRI’s are going 24/7 her appointment was for 3:00am in the morning!
Just saying.
Caper29 on October 13, 2009 at 3:31 PM
The “dude” equates to reality. Or something.
lorien1973 on October 13, 2009 at 3:32 PM
http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/26/father-of-candian-healthcare-system-now-disowning-it/
mankai on October 13, 2009 at 3:32 PM
That was someone else. One of the guys who originally proposed the current system. But I don’t think it was him.
lorien1973 on October 13, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Yet I will bet anything all those doctors who oppose it voted for Obama. At least most of them probably did in NYC.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 3:35 PM
I figured DryWall would be ALL OVER this by now…
Hello….???
BigWyo on October 13, 2009 at 3:35 PM
You’re certainly brave. You keep saying the same thing knowing you’re going to get blasted, but I’m tired of listing the reasons why you’re wrong, and besides I’m sure 10 people have already tried to talk sense to you. I imagine the weather is always lovely in your world.
DFCtomm on October 13, 2009 at 3:36 PM
Amen! My husband just surgery to fuse two cervical discs and we found a great spine surgeon here in the Dallas area to do the procedure. Under Obama-care my husband would have to deal with debilitating pain and nerve damage for months and then have a Dr. do the surgery that may or may not be fully competent. That scares the hell out of me!
Esmerelda on October 13, 2009 at 3:36 PM
My husband is a psychologist, and a conservative one at that (who was the last psychologist you knew who drove a pick-up? :D ). He has a private practice and is appalled at what government-run might do to this country and our family’s bottom-line.
If psychologists are forced to work under a government-run healthcare plan he’s already come up with a way to practice without calling himself a psychologist anymore. Plan on seeing a lot of psychologists going by any name other than that if this passes.
Niere on October 13, 2009 at 3:36 PM
I guess it’s not funny that Obama makes the Canadians jittery, but it’s funny. And I have to also have to say, I am nation-shopping now, and if Texas Seceded, it’d be at the top of my list.
Just for the sake of expediency, I thought I’d share the Texas anthem. As a son of Massachusetts, it pains me, but I have to admit, it might be the last bastion of freedom very soon, so I’ll do my best to memorize the words.
WashingtonsWake on October 13, 2009 at 3:37 PM
That was CBC set up and a joke! It’s like Obama winning the Noble Prize. C’mon that joke beat out Terry Fox or Fredrick Banting? Sure…
Canadians who love their health care system love it because they haven’t had to use it yet.
Like Paul Krugman so famously finds out!
Caper29 on October 13, 2009 at 3:37 PM
AnninCa, are you serious or just spreading hate and discontent today?
countrybumpkin on October 13, 2009 at 3:38 PM
I’ve been in a near-panic ever since I realized this thing was likely to pass. Add cap and tax on top of it, and I’ve been in a funk for months. I’m surprised my husband can stand me.
We’re looking at a move to Mexico in 2013. I hate to move away from the rest of my family, and I’ll miss my children and grandchildren, but if I stay I fear my lifespan will be cut tragically short.
hachiban on October 13, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Sort of like “American Idol” for special interests.
mankai on October 13, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Or to that millionaire film-maker’s tropical medical paradise, with Doctor Fidel.
Steve Z on October 13, 2009 at 3:39 PM
Ann,
Nice you see you back to your moronic ways. You almost made sense in the other threads today.
I want my doctor to be greedy and materialistic. I also want him to make a ton of money. Because if he doesn’t make the money as a doctor he will be a lawyer or an investment banker or something else that will provide him with a good income. Nobody in their right mind will spend 10 years in school after college to make $40K a year when they can go make $150K a year instead with only a BA or an MBA. Do you not understand this very simple concept?
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Got any room for a Connecticut Yankee? I lived in Houston for four years, and I’ll drive you safely if it snows.
Texas is the only state that used to be a Republic. May it will be again!
Steve Z on October 13, 2009 at 3:44 PM
+100. Those smart enough to become doctors are also smart enought to not become doctors.
Caper29 on October 13, 2009 at 3:47 PM
The battle of anecdotes is great, but in the end, I think conservatives would do a lot more good by devoting their time to explaining to people the economics of health insurance (hell, insurance in general) and the practice of medicine.
If carefully explained, I seriously doubt Dems would be able to pull this off. The GOP needs to take a full-throated stand to identify the specific problems (list them), the cause of those problems, and then their solutions to those problems.
How can Baucus be allowed to champion a bill that cites so many billions in Medicare cuts that won’t, in fact, get cut or are based on discovery of fraud and abuse that they’ll never agressively look for?
BuckeyeSam on October 13, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Most Windsor, Canadians don’t mind that river seperating them from Detroit where bullet wounds are treated promptly,…EH!
RobCon on October 13, 2009 at 3:51 PM
Yea because a poll by a TV station is representative of the public. It would be like PBS having the poll and Jimmy Carter coming on top.
You can’t be that stupid….can you?
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 3:53 PM
There may be some isolated cases of greedy doctors. Say …the doctor that treated Michael Jackson, or those plastic surgeons to the rich, and famous….but over all, every doctor I’ve had, has been humble, decent, and caring. You really must think for yourself, and stop listening to the dishonest rants, of the man/boy President.
capejasmine on October 13, 2009 at 3:57 PM
I live in Montana, we have a lot of Canadians coming down for surgery here.
By the way, all you Texans, my husband was born in Fort Worth and lived there for two years, does that get us a free pass in?
akerralls on October 13, 2009 at 3:58 PM
For the last 10 years I have been paying for my own health insurance and I have been pleasantly surprised with Kaiser here in Colorado. They actually call my name and I’ve had the same doctor (female, who I chose) for years.
However, if the fools in Congress end up doing something lame I will immediately drop Kaiser and go gov. Why would I continue to pay my premium and the tax increases so some tool that “can’t afford it” (but has a flat screen tv and cool rims) will now have health insurance. I mean it’s free, right? This is called the Tragedy of the Commons…
yubley on October 13, 2009 at 3:59 PM
As a Canadian let me say this….propaganda…yawn.
BL@KBIRD on October 13, 2009 at 4:01 PM
When it comes to health care, this site is worse than Orly Taitz.
MrX on October 13, 2009 at 4:03 PM
By the way, all you Texans, my husband was born in Fort Worth and lived there for two years, does that get us a free pass in?
akerralls on October 13, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Depends. Do you have a gun and are you willing to use it?
txag92 on October 13, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Not if you want to live. Try Panama or Colombia. Safer too. In fact if you’re in the market for lasik you can have the procedure done in Colombia at half the cost including travel.
jdkchem on October 13, 2009 at 4:12 PM
When it comes to health care, this site is worse than Orly Taitz.
MrX on October 13, 2009 at 4:03 PM
When it comes to responses, your posts are worse than anninca.
txag92 on October 13, 2009 at 4:12 PM
More grist for the Malkin mill I see. Yawn…
starfleet_dude on October 13, 2009 at 4:15 PM
In a way their comments are beneficial. I’m reminded it’s time to clean the litter box.
jdkchem on October 13, 2009 at 4:22 PM
I sure wish you guys would hurry up and do it before I’m too danged old to move down there.
P.S. Where exactly is this “hill country” I’ve heard about, because after 3 years of living in Kingsville, my wife says she’ll divorce me before going back to a hell-hole like that.
Fatal on October 13, 2009 at 4:23 PM
Come on down, even before we secede, if you can.
Once it happens, there’ll need to be something on the order of China’s Great Wall to keep people out from all sides.
TXUS on October 13, 2009 at 4:25 PM
starfleet_dude on October 13, 2009 at 4:15 PM
MrX on October 13, 2009 at 4:03 PM
These are real people, and part of the problem is that we’ve created a system where doctors are materialistic and ugly.
AnninCA on October 13, 2009 at 3:06 PM
The idiots sure come out to talk about health care, don’t they? And about the Canadian system, something they’ve never had to live under.
AnninCA, you are clueless. My GP, who lives an hour away (I haven’t been able to find another GP since I moved out of Toronto 14 years ago), works full time at a clinic, then has a 2nd job at a walk-in clinic on the weekends to make ends meet. So much for greed and materialism, huh? And how many kids headed to med school in Canada will opt to be a general practitioner given the patient load and limited income?
My husband is an insurance broker, and one of his clients was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer which had spread. The surgery that he needed to have immediately was postponed twice because of scheduling conflicts. He opted to live, and went to the Cleveland Clinic on his own dime. Had the surgery the morning after he checked in, and the prognosis is good.
You 3 just keep your heads buried in the sand.
suzeecue on October 13, 2009 at 4:29 PM
You can tell them 1000 stories like yours and they still won’t change their minds. Remember, liberalism is a mental disease.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 4:31 PM
It’s mostly in central Texas, the eastern boundary on a line more or less from Austin to San Antone, going west and northwest from there. Beautiful country, but the whole state offers some sweet lands, if you travel it enough.
TXUS on October 13, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Texas has a bit of everything, lakes, pines, palm trees, praire, mountains, etc. Pick the place you like. And even better, the room for more people (Houston area is a bit crowded).
docdave on October 13, 2009 at 4:37 PM
You can tell them 1000 stories like yours and they still won’t change their minds. Remember, liberalism is a mental disease.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 4:31 PM
You’re right, I know, but I just don’t understand willful ignorance, even given that they’re liberals. I was a liberal once, too, so I know one can be ‘cured.’
suzeecue on October 13, 2009 at 4:40 PM
I have been battling the crud for over two weeks. I caled my doctor yesterday morning at 8:05, got an appointment at 9:45. Got a Sinus Cocktail Shot, presciption for Generic Azithromycin and paid cash for the doctor’s visit, shot, and presciption($136). Under Government-Run Healthcare, that would not happen. As a 50 yr old asthmatic, I would have pneumonia or not have to worry about anything by the time I was seen. No thanks.
kingsjester on October 13, 2009 at 4:48 PM
My GP here in Spring Texas is from Montreal.
Now, why would that be?
tomg51 on October 13, 2009 at 4:50 PM
I’m in Houston for 32 years…I love it…I can’t wait to tell the ‘Empty Suit’ and his minions to cram it. We have to secede in order to save our freedoms…
Ltlgeneral64 on October 13, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Many and my husband owns a reloading business. yes we will use them and i have two trained kids too?! Does that help?
akerralls on October 13, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Many and my husband owns a reloading business. yes we will use them and i have two trained kids too?! Does that help?
akerralls on October 13, 2009 at 5:35 PM
Welcome to Texas.
txag92 on October 13, 2009 at 5:54 PM
Are you kidding? Get on down here…
NOW!
TXUS on October 13, 2009 at 5:58 PM
If I’m in a waiting room for me or my son and there is a Canadian in there, I’m gonna grab them by their hair and drag their a*s out of the waiting room and tell them to head back to their worker’s paradise back across the f’in river.
Obamacare is gonna suck. And I’m gonna make sure it sucks for spongy Canucks trying to get it here.
Sapwolf on October 13, 2009 at 6:04 PM
Stock up on Depends and Tylenol, people!
JayJay123 on October 13, 2009 at 6:15 PM
I was born and raised in Canada, lived there for almost 50 years (just moved to New Mexico a few months ago). About 3 years ago my doctor decided to close his office – I was unable to find another anywhere close to home. Yeah, I could go to the walk-in clinic for emergencies if needed, and for a flu shot every autumn, but the doctors in there will not see you if it is for a simple prescription refill – they tell you to see your family doctor for that…great huh?
The system in Canada is in dire need of reform. The answer from the Liberals (left of course) and NDP (crazier left) is to throw more tax $$ at the system and that is what has been happening for years and years, but it never gets better. You’d think people would wake up to that but as soon as you mention any kind of “reform” you are branded as a heartless right-wing bastard or something.
Paradox Drive on October 13, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Aw shucks your making me blush. My husband said if there are any PD jobs down there, we are coming!
Oh, and do you know any good quail places?
akerralls on October 13, 2009 at 7:00 PM
MEXICO of all places? You think Mexico is better than here?? Have you ever actually been there?
alohapundit on October 13, 2009 at 8:45 PM
True dat. To whit, when I first moved my family from Germany to OKC and the kids needed their immunizations; not knowing any better, we went to the gubmint operated free clinic. I had to take off more than half the day from work to do it. Last month, when the Kindergardener and baby needed shots, we went to the local pharmacy. 30 mins and 6 shots later, we were out of there.
Ironically, according to the Pharmacist, since these shots are mandated by law, the State subsidizes the shots. I forget the true costs, but my bill was only $67. If I used insurance, the co-pay would have been $15.
Since time is money, paying private was cheaper than “free” and in my case, cheaper than even insurance.
WRT DMV, in OK, it is mostly privatized, so renewing your OK DL or tags at the Tag Agency is something you do on your way to something else. There they don’t call you by a number, rather it’s sir or ma’am. OTOH, if you do have to go to the OK DMV, the bane of gubmint services applies.
AH_C on October 13, 2009 at 11:44 PM
AnninCa
I will provide you, free of charge, the frontal lobotomy you so desperately need. Plus, I am close by in Arizona. Come on over to Phoenix, we are in the Yellow Pages look for our clinic which is located in the back of our Midas Muffler Shop.
Doctor Duhh
Ghostbuster on October 14, 2009 at 12:28 AM
States, like Texas, have passed a law that says that they will ignore any federal law that is not supported by the constitution. So, would they also ignore government run healthcare?
The Good Lord willing, we will not find out.
JakeRightThought on October 14, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Why would America choose now to lower our standards to Euro/socialist levels when from the very beginning we’ve made strong efforts set ourselves apart from their failed models from the Kingdom governance model in the 1700s to the liberty driven free market, our individual competitiveness has always provided, bigger, better, higher standards of living.
Why are we no better now?
Speakup on October 14, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Because of the Tort Reform that we have had here in Texas, we have a waiting list of doctors from other parts of the country who want to move here. I have an old friend who went to Texas Tech (here in Lubbock, Texas) for his PhD. He lives in California now. He wants to move back here, but he is now on a waiting list to be licensed here.
That’s how it’s supposed to work. A state or two try experiments. If they work, then the other ones adopt them. If they fail, then they change back. However, if the entire country does these experiments, where do the people go in order to escape the misery which these experiments, in many cases, cause?
Theophile on October 15, 2009 at 3:43 AM