Thom Hartmann - The myths and truths about Canadian healthcare

[thomhartmann]

Run time: 06:06 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gl0kXfzcsk   Posted on YouTube: July 28, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: July 29, 2009 By DU Member: thomhartmann Views on DU: 2993

 
Go to http://www.thomhartmann.com for podcasts and more information.

[sasquatch]

1. watch it later

[suede1]

2. I'm glad this is posted. Caught just the end on the radio. K&R

[indimuse]

3. Moral

*NO-BRAINER* I like it! knr

[puebloknot]

4. K&R "Good Samaritans" everywhere need enlightenment like this. nt

[Joe the Liberal]

5. Single payer just makes so much sense and it's sad that it's not even on the table.....

Hopefully one day it will be but being that this is the US I'm not holding my breathe.

[JBoy]

6. This was good, mostly accurate, and highlights the fundamental difference between Canada and US

In Canada we accept that urgency and need should be drivers in determining who gets care first. A person who gets hit by a car and needs surgery to save their life will always get care ahead of a person who can (medically) wait. Sometimes that can mean waiting. But it's fair; it's moral; it's right. Most provinces are rigorously tracking wait times as a metric to determine where additional resources are needed.

One nitpick, that was glossed over a bit in the interview -

Health insurance in B.C. (and some other provinces) while universal, is not "free". Aside from what's subsidized in the health care system by various levels of government, I do have to pay directly for coverage. I'm required by law. If my income is low enough, I can get this subsidized, perhaps even fully. Otherwise I have to pay (monthly): $54 for one person, $96 for a family of two, or $108 for a family of three or more. These costs are standard and low enough that most employers will pick up the costs, which is why most people even here actually think it's "free". They never have to think about it. Most employers will also offer some kind of supplemental insurance plan to cover dental, vision, prescriptions, etc. The value of these perks would be a taxable benefit.

[ProudDad]

11. In other words, you pay less than I pay for Medicare...

except I just got hit with about 40% more in co-pays and uncovered charges on TOP of my monthly Medicare Premium...

In other words, I just had to pay $127.00 out of pocket for one doctor visit and my "free" Medicare physical exam...on top of my monthly premium payment of nearly $100...

USAmerica just can't get it right, no how, no freakin' way!!!!

Because we're selfish, greedy bastards who fucking think we own the fucking world!!!

[onestepforward]

7. Great video. It makes me sad that we are missing out

on basic, human care in our country.

[ihavenobias]

8. K & R n/t

[grahamhgreen]

9. A Canadian's PS

I had someone I'm working with in Canada tag this onto an email:

PS:

Don't believe any of the bad press that Canada's universal health care system as gotten,

I am very grateful we have it, I can't imagine living without it or ever having to worry about paying medical bills for my family. There are no wait times for serious illnesses and I can get an appt with my family doctor within 24hrs and a specialist within two days at the most if needed. My father-in-law had open heart surgery for a valve replacement (he probably would not have been able to afford insurance in the US and has a preexisting condition) but here he had a great doctor and had his surgery and didn't have to pay a penny. We are very grateful for Canada's universal health care system indeed!

Keep up the good work!

[irislake]

12. My prescription meds ran out this morning.

I got an appointment with my family doctor for three forty-five this afternoon. Sat for three minutes in waiting room.Got prescriptions, pneumonia shot, blood tests, blood pressure in no time. Have appointment with specialist for eye test this week! No waiting.Beat that.

If you go to emerge in this small community (pop 3,000) you will be seen immediately if it's serious. Otherwise you might wait for three hours or more.

I'm grateful for Canada's health care.

[ProudDad]

10. K&R ! (n/t)

[democracy1st]

13. we should have been debunking this years ago

[Segami]

14. Absolutely! Its amazing how effective these industry fast talking health care shills have become.

They have cleverly kept the masses heavily sedated while providing nothing more than a good stiff dose of FEAR enemas to keep their mindset in check. Now we see them pushing back once again throughout these health care discussions with more outrageous lies, distortions, misinformation and fear tactics so that we can continue subsidizing their hideaway homes, yachts & mistresses.

[Serial Mom]

15. And these "shills" will spend MILLIONS fighting against healthcare

with LIES instead of using that money to help cover people

[democracy1st]

18. Here in Houston they have ran anti lawyer commercials for 20 yrs

now whenever a jury tries a case more often than not they favor the corp

[Segami]

20. Poisoning the Truth Well. Indirect jury tampering using behavioral sciences.

[LuckyTheDog]

16. The myth about how "the Canadians are all coming here for care"...

... needs to be confronted. Here in Michigan, people sometimes meet Canadians at specialists. They assume it is because the poor Canadians have to flee to Michigan to find care that their government refuses to provide. Not true. Often, those Canadians are coming here because the Ontario health system contracts with U.S. clinics to provide care -- which the provincial plan pays for.

That makes sense. Why shouldn't Canadians offer access to all the good services within a reasonable distance? Detroit is just across the river from Windsor. So, why reinvent the wheel? It makes sense to send some cancer patients to the facilities in Detroit, rather than duplicate things on their side of the river.

The fact that Canadians sometimes cross the border for care does not, by itself, mean that those patients are "fleeing" the Canadian system.

[Serial Mom]

19. Thank you...

There are so many misrepresentations of how the Canadian system works.

They do the best they can, for all the citizens, as well as they can - more than ANY private insurance could ever come close to even saying they do for the insured, and then they do nothing for the underinsured or those who have no insurance.

[DuaneBidoux]

17. I would have liked to hear the cost of two similiar procedures compared.

I'm still of the opinion that the biggest problem we have is cost. Medical care is simply so expensive that the country can't cover everyone and not go broke (even NOT covering everyone we're till going broke).

[jimmyzvoice]

21. So... Take Action NOW

Keep the pressure on. Call, write, and e-mail both your Senators and your Congressman once a week, every week until Health Reform is passed. That’s what I am doing.

Tell them: (1) we must include a Strong, Comprehensive Public Option; (2) we must pass healthcare reform this fall, and (3) support President Obama to reform healthcare for the American People. Tell them, “Either you are supporting the American People or the Insurance Companies. Which is it?”

Even if you never did this before, now is the one time we must all participate. Act like Healthcare Reform is now or never, because it is.

Congressional Switchboard: [phone]
House on the net: http://www.house.gov/
Senate on the net: http://www.senate.gov/

[jayschool]

22. "Deserved" care

As with so many debates in America, this really comes down to the philosophical divide:

Those who believe that all Americans deserve a reasonable level of health care/public spaces/financial security, etc. versus those who believe that every aspect of our lives should be governed by our "merit," which is defined by personal wealth and property.

There's no single event that's going to wipe away this divide, which means that when those of us who believe the former have the ability to make changes, we can't let the opportunity slide.

Seize the day, Congress.

[LaPera]

23. Thanks Thom!