Mind you, I just wanted to offer a Canadian perspective on healthcare. At least from a citizen's point of view.
Frankly, Canadian Healthcare isn't running all that smoothly. At least not the way its being handled here in Ontario. Every couple of years, they keep cutting back on what is covered under OHIP and what isn't. For example, not too long ago, eye exams were free. Now, if you're between 19 and 65, you have to fork over over the $60 - $70 for an eye exam. You're only covered for one eye exam once a year if you have glaucoma or other another medical condition requiring regular check ups. And that list excludes a lot more of those conditions than it includes.
Eyeglass and prescriptions aren't even partially covered anymore either. And for some one who's prescription keeps changing every year, that's roughly about $200 with no relief coverage. Nevermind if you want to get some contact lenses.
And don't get me started on dentists. Dental surgery is only covered if its in hospital. The most common surgeries, such as wisdom teeth extraction, are all done in the dentist's office and can run anywhere from $300 to $450 per tooth. Your regular check ups at the dentist aren't covered either. That's roughly around $60 - $80 too if you aren't covered by an insurance plan.
The only thing that you basically don't have to pay for is your family physician, and Ontario probably has the worst reptuation concerning their doctors. Ever since the gov't put a cap on their salary, most of them rush to fulfill their quota and go on two and three week sabaticals. And when you do see them, they're often swamped with patients and you get five minutes to explain your problem before they rush away. It's getting increasingly difficult to find a GP that really takes the time to examine you.
Not all specialists are covered by OHIP. Psychiatry, for example, is only covered 30%. You get to foot the rest of the $150 per session bill. The most common prescriptions aren't even covered either--and you're hit with a fine dispensing fee too.
As for hospitals... well, the wait times are a nightmare. Unless you're in labor or about to die, you might as well get comfortable... you're going to be in that waiting room for several hours. My grandmother had fallen down the stairs the other year, and was suffering from a severe head wound. Wait time? 2 and a half hours.
Meanwhile, despite the decreases in quality and health care coverage in general, taxes are sure as hell not dropping. They're hiking higher. And health insurance rates aren't all that pretty either. Despite having a wonderful reputation for health care, the average Canadian household is paying an average of $30-40 a month per person for additional insurance for health care coverage. And if you've got an existing medical condition, you're just plain screwed.
It's not exactly a utopia up here either. I don't know how well that compares to other countries, but our system isn't ideal, that's for sure.
I meant FLAWED.
