Debunking Canadian Health Care Myths
Leave it to the superior state-side political blogs to take up this issue with such focused clarity…
I learned quite a few things by reading this post and hope you do to. It’s all about debunking some common American (and frankly, Canadian) myths about the Canadian health care system.
1. Canada’s health care system is “socialized medicine.”
False. In socialized medical systems, the doctors work directly for the state. In Canada (and many other countries with universal care), doctors run their own private practices, just like they do in the US. The only difference is that every doctor deals with one insurer, instead of 150. And that insurer is the provincial government, which is accountable to the legislature and the voters if the quality of coverage is allowed to slide.The proper term for this is “single-payer insurance.” In talking to Americans about it, the better phrase is “Medicare for all.”
There’s also a part II to this post here.
Heath care is shaping up to be a major knock-down drag-’em-out issue in the upcoming U.S. federal elections. Exciting times ahead.
