Say, About That Wonderful, Awesome, Monumental, Going Broke Canadian Health System
Wait, what was that last part?
Pressured by an aging population and the need to rein in budget deficits, Canada’s provinces are taking tough measures to curb healthcare costs, a trend that could erode the principles of the popular state-funded system.
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, kicked off a fierce battle with drug companies and pharmacies when it said earlier this year it would halve generic drug prices and eliminate “incentive fees” to generic drug manufacturers.
British Columbia is replacing block grants to hospitals with fee-for-procedure payments and Quebec has a new flat health tax and a proposal for payments on each medical visit — an idea that critics say is an illegal user fee.
And a few provinces are also experimenting with private funding for procedures such as hip, knee and cataract surgery.
So, they are looking to make it more privatized, not to mention doing away with many of the measures that make the system “free health care for all!”
In some ways the Canadian debate is the mirror image of discussions going on in the United States.
Canada, fretting over budget strains, wants to prune its system, while the United States, worrying about an army of uninsured, aims to create a state-backed safety net.
Not, the United States doesn’t want this, the Democrats do. And poll after poll after poll show that the majority are against the Democrats plan (Rasmussen’s latest has 63% in favor of repeal).
Healthcare in Canada is delivered through a publicly funded system, which covers all “medically necessary” hospital and physician care and curbs the role of private medicine. It ate up about 40 percent of provincial budgets, or some C$183 billion ($174 billion) last year.
Wait, Canada spent $174 billion? Over 10 years that will approach $2 trillion. And the Dems want us in the USA to believe their legislation will only cost a bit less than $1 trillion over 10 years? Our population is much higher. We have quite a few baby boomers.
Repeal and replace.
Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach
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Posted by William Teach on June 1, 2010 10:45 am
» Filed Under Democrats, Government malfeasance/misfeasance, Healthcare, Nanny State, News, Polls, Social Engineering, Socialism, Taxes, Totalitarianism, social parasites
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3 Responses to “Say, About That Wonderful, Awesome, Monumental, Going Broke Canadian Health System”
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No, that should read “Repeal!” There should be no “Replace” for this abominable idea…
I’m beginning to think that just as Gettysburg was the “high water mark” of the Confederates, ObamaCare will be seen, in retrospect, as the high water mark of the Democratic Party. It’s all downhill from here, baby.
I daresay even His Eminence, Barack the First, riding the stratospheric currents above us all, has to eventually realize that not even he can ignore the laws of gravity and judgements in the court of public opinion.
I live in Canada. Next week will be 1 year I have been waiting to see a specialist. This sucks. I could go to Havre Montana and see one in a week or less.
Add nurse or hospital workers strikes to your list of cost cutting measures. Provinces allow strikes every few years to save money. And when they go on strike, you’re screwed.
p.s. July 8th is when I get to see the specialist…unless he cancels due to double bookings again.