Real life political humour
Offline I find this really amusing. Just when many left-leaning Americans are celebrating the introduction of something somewhat similar to socialized health care in their country, one of Canada's major parties is seriously considering backing away from the semi-socialized health care we have here. The federal Liberal party had a "policy renewal conference" recently. They're the opposition these days. They're more accustomed to being the governing party but they've lost several elections in a row to the Conservatives. So, get a load of what one influential Liberal is saying:
Dodge, a former deputy finance minister, told the Montreal conference it's time to re-think the program, the cost of which is increasing at seven per cent a year -- twice the rate of growth in the economy.
He told delegates there are "really only four" options to rein in health spending:
- Impose or increase dedicated health-care taxes or levies.
- Reduce the scope of medical procedures covered by public health insurance, forcing people to buy private health insurance for services not covered.
- Introduce "significant" co-payments.
- Continually reduce the quality of services provided -- letting wait times increase and limiting drug coverage, for instance -- and allow people to buy upgraded, private health care. In other words, "so-called two-tier medicine."
"These are stark and unpalatable choices we face with respect to health care," Dodge said.
"There is no magic solution and we absolutely must have an adult debate about how we're going to deal with this."
If you're interested, you can read the full article here: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100327/liberal_conference_100327/20100327?hub=Canada
Politics -- more fun than a barrel of monks.
Reality is the graveyard of the gods.
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You know, the US health care reform does not institute anything like Canada's system.
It is still private, no government option.
People will pay premiums unless they demonstrate inability to pay.
People will pay co-pays and deductibles and I haven't seen anything that limits the amount of those costs.
People will still be denied health care by insurance flunkies who aren't doctors or nurses. The insurance companies can't drop someone or refuse to cover someone based on pre-existing conditions or put a lifetime cap on benefits, but there isn't anything in the bill that says the insurance company can't deny a claim. They just need to get a little more creative with the excuses - uh, reasons - for denying the claims.
People will need to buy insurance and face fines if they don't, but you can claim exemption because of religion or if you are American Indian. Sounds like an easy out to me. As people have pointed out, car insurance is also required in every state in the union, and about 30% are still uninsured. Your choice on whether this makes you feel great that people are fighting big government or nervous that the next person who hits your car will be uninsured.
It isn't socialism - and a long ways to go to be anywhere close to the Canadian system.
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.
Just a few comments...
I pay monthly premiums. If I earned significantly less money than I do, I would pay little or no premiums. In some Canadian provinces there are no premiums but in many there are.
I'm "free" to opt out but a big chunk of the taxes I pay would still go toward the health care system. Private health care insurance isn't available except for things that are not covered by the government program, such as dental and optometric care, prescription drugs, etc.
One thing that people need to understand about the Canadian system in its present state is that it is simply unsustainable.
Reality is the graveyard of the gods.
And.... medical insurance for traveling to the US - since in the US you would have to pay all of your medical costs if you fell ill or were injured.
I wouldn't know - I sometimes wonder about the argument. We have had the same discussion over Social Security and Medicare and somehow, the money to continue the programs is found, year after year. (The republicans back in the 1930s when SS was first started were certain the US would be bankrupt in just a few years after SS became law.) Maybe there isn't enough money now or later - and maybe people will have to face up to paying the bills eventually. But I don't know enough about either the US or Canadian systems to hazard a guess about their long term viability or the exact date of the collapse - with any luck, I'll be dead by then.
I have never advocated the Canadian system for the US. I just think comparing the most recent health care bill to the Canadian system is bogus.
-- I feel so much better since I stopped trying to believe.
"We are entitled to our own opinions. We're not entitled to our own facts"- Al Franken
"If death isn't sweet oblivion, I will be severely disappointed" - Ruth M.