More on Canadian Health Care

Robin wanted to look at the fear that some have about Canada's 'socialized' health care system. She found a useful article by Rhonda Hackett from June 2009 in The Denver Post addressing myths about Canadian health care. http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12523427
Hackett is a Canadian who has been living in the U.S. for the past 17 years.

Here are 3 of the myths and some of the arguments she brings to bear in debunking them.

1. The Myth: Canada is a socialized health care system in which doctors work for the government.
The Reality: Doctors work in the private sector - most are self-employed - while their pay comes from a public source.

2. The Myth: There are long waits for care, and this compromises access to care.
The Reality: There are no waits for urgent or primary care in Canada. There are some waits for specialists' care and longer waits for elective surgery.

3. The Myth: Canada's health care system is a cumbersome bureaucracy.
The Reality: In the U.S. 31% of every dollar spent on health care goes to paperwork, overhead, CEO salaries, and profits. Canada operates with just a 1% overhead.